Baltic League
CountryEstonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Founded2007
Folded2011
ChampionsSkonto
Season2010–11
Most successful clubMetalurgs
Kaunas
Ventspils
Skonto (1 title)
Teams12 (2007–2008)
16 (2009–2011)
TvViasat Sport Baltic

The Baltic League (officially known as the Triobet Baltic League) was a Baltic men's football club tournament held four times between the top club sides from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.[1] Launched in 2007 inspired by the now defunct Scandinavian tournament Royal League and by the Baltic Basketball League.

History

The first two tournaments were held between top four club sides from each country. For 2009–10 the competition was expanded to 16 teams, with five sides from every Baltic state taking part. One additional slot was allocated to the sixth best team from the country of the previous winner.

A similar competition was the Baltic Champions Cup which featured the league champions of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The inaugural tournament in 2007 finished as a two legged final. This format was abandoned for the second tournament and subsequent finals were played as a single match at the home of one of the finalists. After this format was introduced, the team hosting the match did not win despite the added home advantage.

The first two tournaments were played from Spring to Summer with 12 entrants but this changed to a longer Winter to Summer tournament with four more clubs taking part.

Finals

SeasonWinnerScoreRunner-upVenue(s)Referee
2007Metalurgs8 – 2 (aggregate)
3 – 1, 5 – 1
VentspilsVentspils Olimpiskais Stadions, Ventspils
Daugava Stadium, Liepāja
Kristo Tohver
Audrius Žuta
2008Kaunas2 – 1
SkontoSkonto Stadions, RigaHannes Kaasik
2009–10Ventspils3 – 3 (a.e.t.)
5 – 3 (pen.)
SūduvaSūduva Stadium, MarijampolėSten Kaldma
2010–11Skonto1 – 1 (a.e.t.)
5 – 4 (pen.)
VentspilsVentspils Olimpiskais Stadions, VentspilsNerijus Dunauskas

Statistics

Performances by club

Club1st2ndSeasonsSeasons Won
Ventspils124 2009–10
Skonto114 2010–11
Metalurgs104 2007
Kaunas102 2008
Sūduva013 
Ekranas004 
Flora004 
Levadia004 
Trans004 
Dinaburg002 
Žalgiris002 
TVMK002 
Vėtra002 
Banga002 
Jūrmala002 
Kalju002 
Sillamäe Kalev002 
Šiauliai002 
Tauras002 
Rīga001 
Olimps001 
Blāzma001 

By country

Country1st2ndSeasons Won
Latvia33 2007, 2009–10, 2010–11
Lithuania11 2008
Estonia00 

All-time top goalscorers

PlayerGoals
1Aleksandrs Cauņa10
Ģirts Karlsons10
3Ričardas Beniušis8
4Rafael Gaúcho7
5Genādijs Soloņicins6
Egidijus Varnas6
7Mindaugas Kalonas5
Mihails Miholaps5
Andrejs Perepļotkins5
10Viktors Dobrecovs4
Aleksandr Dubõkin4
Vladimir Dvalishvili4
Oļegs Laizāns4
Vīts Rimkus4
Serhij Sernecki4
Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko4
Aleksejs Višņakovs4

References

  1. ^ "Baltic Club Competitions – Overview". RSSSF. Retrieved 18 January 2022.