Deniss Rakels

Deniss Rakeļs

Rakels playing for Liepājas Metalurgs
Personal information
Full name	Deniss Rakels
Date of birth	(1992-08-20) 20 August 1992
Place of birth	Jēkabpils, Latvia
Height
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Cracovia
Number	92
Youth career
	Jēkabpils RSS
	Jēkabpils SC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2009	FK Liepājas Metalurgs-2
2009–2010	FK Liepājas Metalurgs	40	(27)
2011–2014	Zagłębie Lubin	9	(0)
2011–2013	→ GKS Katowice (loan)	47	(16)
2014–	Cracovia	61	(26)
International career‡
2008-2009	Latvia U-17
2009–2010	Latvia U-19	3	(0)
2011-2013	Latvia U-21	13	(6)
2010–	Latvia	15	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 December 2015 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 December 2015

Deniss Rakeļs (born 20 August 1992 in Jēkabpils) is a Latvian footballer, who currently plays for the Polish Ekstraklasa club Cracovia. He is also a member of Latvia national football team.

Club career

Early career in Latvia

Rakels started his youth career in his local club Jēkabpils RSS, later on moving to another club from the same city - Jēkabpils SC. In 2007 he left, signing for FK Liepājas Metalurgs-2 in the Latvian First League. While playing for the reserve team of Metalurgs, he was an outstanding team leader - he scored regularly and was impressive with his speed to finish the through balls. In 2009, only 17 years old, he was taken to the first team by that time Metalurgs manager Rüdiger Abramczik. He had no difficulties to fit into the first team level soon after joining, becoming a regular first eleven player. Even more - he scored in nearly every appearance. In fact, just after a few appearances Rakels had already completed 2 league hat-tricks. His technique and footballing skills impressed many coaches all around the world, despite him being just 18. In December 2009 he went on trial with the Italian Serie A side Sampdoria. In April 2010 he joined Swiss Super League team Basel on trial, but in August 2010 in a league game against FK Ventspils he was scouted by Werder Bremen scouts.

Zagłębie Lubin

In December 2010 it was announced that Rakels would go on a training camp together with the Russian Premier League giants Rubin Kazan in January 2011, but the player himself decided to reject the offer, because the Polish Ekstraklasa club Zagłębie Lubin were interested in signing him. This scenario turned out to be true and on 30 January 2011, after passing medical tests, Rakels signed a three-year contract with them. Later on the player himself admitted that till the very last day before signing a contract with Zagłębie the representatives of the Ukrainian Premier League club Karpaty Lviv had been trying to persuade him to join their club, despite several previous refusals from the player.

GKS Katowice

On August 17, 2011 Rakels was sent on a season long loan spell to Polish I liga club GKS Katowice to gain exparience due to his limited game time in Lubin. He scored 5 goals in 20 matches for the club, returning to Zaglebie after the season. It was reported that Rakels would be loaned to GKS for another season in August 2012. In his second season with GKS Rakels scored 11 goals in 27 matches, becoming one of the league's top scorers. In July 2013 he went on trial with the English Football League Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion, but did not stay with them, despite scoring a goal in a pre-season friendly match. Before the start of the 2013–14 Ekstraklasa season Rakels returned to Zagłębie Lubin.

Cracovia

On January 15, 2014 Rakels decided to sign a half-year contract with Cracovia.

International career

Rakels was a member of Latvia U-19 and Latvia U-21 football teams. In June 2010 he was firstly called up to the Latvia national football team for the 2010 Baltic Cup by the manager Aleksandrs Starkovs, who was impressed by the youngster's great form in the national championship. He made his international debut on 18 June 2010 in a 0-0 draw against Lithuania, coming on as a substitute in the 75th minute and replacing Andrejs Perepļotkins. As of November 2013, Rakels has made 5 appearances for Latvia, scoring no goals.

Personal life

Rakels is of Polish descent. He has 3 tattoos on his body - the first one is his name, the second one is his mother's name, while the third one is a wish for his parents written in Arabic.

Honours

FK Liepājas Metalurgs

• Latvian champion
  • 2009
• Virslīga top-scorer
  • 2010

External links

• Deniss Rakels profile at 90minut
• Player's profile soccerway.com
• Player's profile worldfootball.net