Eintracht Frankfurt faces Rigas Futbola Skola (RFS) from Latvia, a rising team that dominates its league since its founding in 2005. Despite limited tradition, RFS has achieved notable success, currently leading the Latvian league. Star player Janis Ikaunieks shines with impressive stats, while coach Viktors Morozs emphasizes a tough, character-driven recruitment strategy. Their recent performance against Galatasaray highlights their potential. Upcoming coverage includes a documentary detailing RFS’s journey in the 2022/23 Conference League season.
Little is known about Eintracht’s next opponents, RFS, who reign supreme in the Latvian league, have a bold coaching style, and an intimidating enforcer. A major Turkish club recently found this out the hard way.
Eintracht will host Riga on Thursday (18:45, live on hr-Audiostream). What sets this Latvian club apart?
The Club
The blue and white emblem featuring a lion bears some resemblance to the iconic crest of Rangers from Glasgow, bringing back memorable Europa League moments for Eintracht. However, RFS, or Rīgas Futbola Skola, lacks the rich history enjoyed by their Scottish counterparts. Established in 2005 when a youth coach decided to break away from JFK Skonto to form a new team, RFS initially carried the name FSK Daugava before rebranding in 2011. They made their debut in the top division in 2016 and have since secured two league titles and two cups in Latvia.
Presently, the team holds a six-point lead at the top of the Latvian league and has the chance to clinch their next title in November. They created quite a stir in the European Cup after a recent 2:2 draw against Galatasaray, although they did suffer a 4:1 defeat to Bucharest on the opening matchday. RFS initially qualified for the Europa League following a tense penalty shootout against Apoel Nicosia.
The Star
The standout player for Riga is the exceptional Latvian forward, Janis Ikaunieks. With an impressive record of 16 goals and 7 assists across 21 league matches, he has established himself as a key player. Agile and left-footed, Ikaunieks is also formidable in aerial duels. He showcased his skills on the international stage against Galatasaray, where he battled in defense, scored the equalizer, and assisted on the second goal. Just last weekend, he netted twice in the league while playing from an attacking midfield position behind the strikers. ‘We’ve developed a strong collective for some time now. We’re not afraid,’ commented Ikaunieks as the Europa League approaches.
The Coach
Viktors Morozs, 44, is in his first season as head coach of Riga but has been with the club for four years. His playing career included notable stops at ZSKA Sofia, alongside stints in Belarus, Cyprus, and Latvia. While some of these teams’ names might sound like medieval knights, Morozs prefers a gritty approach: ‘We only recruit players with strong character who are willing to fight. If you lack that, you’re not a good footballer,’ he stated regarding his recruitment philosophy for RFS. His coaching tactics paid off against Galatasaray, where his team mounted an impressive comeback from a two-goal deficit. Morozs referred to that match as one of the best evenings of his coaching career on Instagram.
What’s Next?
If you’re eager to learn more about RFS, their journey through the 2022/23 Conference League season is chronicled in a six-part documentary series with English subtitles, featuring stunning match footage and drone shots. Titled ‘Fight for the Dream’, the documentary highlights the club’s efforts, although Riga did finish at the bottom of Group A with just two points, marking the end of their dream in that campaign.