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| Career | |
| Position: | Midfield |
| Clubs: | Skonto Riga (1992-96), Austria Vienna (1996-97), Skonto Riga (1997-1999), Bristol Rovers (Eng/Jan. 2000 - 2003), Admira Wacker (Aut/since 2003) |
| International appearances: | 102 |
| International goals: | 10 |
| International debut: | 26/08/1992, Latvia-Denmark (0-0) |
| Last international appearance: | 06/06/2004, Latvia-Azerbaijan (2-2) |
| First international goal: | 02/07/1993, Estonia-Latvia (0-2) |
| Last international goal: | 14/11/2001, Latvia-Russia (1-3) |
Winner (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
Winner (1992, 1995, 1997, 1998)
Biography
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| Turkey`s Nihat Kahveci (down) and Ilhan Mansiz (back) fights for the control of the ball with Latvia`s Vitalijs Astafjevs (C) during their Europe 2004 qualifying match at Inonu stadium in Istanbul,Turkey 19 November 2003. AFP PHOTO/Mustafa Ozer |
Vitalijs Astafjevs is the elder statesman of the Latvian national side, the surprise guests at the finals of Euro 2004.
The day Latvia knocked out Turkey in their home and away play-off for a place in the last 16 in November, 2003, Astafjevs slipped on the Latvia shirt for a 98th time.
While Maris Verpakovskis is the leader of the attack Astafjevs, according to national coach Aleksandrs Starkovs, is the leader in the dressing room.
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| Albanian Rudi Vata (L) tries to intercept Latvia's Vitalijs Astafjevs in a Euro 2000 qualifying match in Tirana 04 September 1999. |
Starkovs has known Astafjevs for more than a decade, during which time they worked together at Skonto Riga, with whom he won eight national titles and four Cups. A run with the capital outfit that was divided in two parts after his one season stint at Austria Vianna in the 1996-97 season.
In Junuary 2000 he moved to lower division strugglers Bristol Rovers in the south of England, Bristol fans remembering him as their star player.
Since Starkovs took over the national side in 2001 and led them through their stunning Euro 2004 campaign he has handed Astafjevs the captain's armband.
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| Aleksandrs Starkovs (C), coach of Latvian National soccer team, trains midfielders Imants Bleidelis (L) and Vitalijs Astafjevs (R) in the ''Skonto'' stadium in Riga 17 November 2003. AFP PHOTO/ILMARS ZNOTINS |
The midfield general, flanked by Valentins Lobanovs and Jurijs Laizans, and with Imants Bleidelis and Andrejs Rubins on the wings, has been party to some highly entertaining football based on quick passing game.
As his swansong approaches he has chosen a return to Austria and a one season deal with Wacker for his preparation.
Out in Portugal, Latvia may cause an upset. Not that anyone expects them to emerge from their first round group, drawn as they were with Holland, Germany and the Czech Republic, but should they surprise a rival in the way they did Turkey, they could have a say on who does.