Artūrs Zjuzins


Artūrs Zjuzins is a Latvian football midfielder, currently playing for Riga FC and the Latvia national football team.

Club career

In his youth career Artūrs Zjuzins played for FK Jūrmala-VV, signing his first professional contract in 2007 with FK Ventspils. He played only 2 matches there, being sent to FC Tranzit in 2009. He played 17 matches there, scoring 1 goal. In 2010, he was taken back to FK Ventspils. Elected as the team's captain he played 20 matches that season, scoring 2 goals. In January 2011 it was reported that Zjuzins hadn't been let to join S.S. Lazio for €425'000. In March 2011 Zjuzins signed a contract with MŠK Žilina, playing in the Slovak Corgoň Liga. It was reported then, that the player had joined the club illegally, with no permission from FK Ventspils, but the situation was solved calmly and the player was let to join the Slovak side. He made his debut for MŠK Žilina against MFK Košice on 15 March 2011, he also scored his first goal for the club then. Despite some good performances, he was released after the season. In August 2011 he was signed by the Russian National Football League team FC Baltika Kaliningrad as a free agent. During his first season in Kaliningrad Zjuzins scored 3 goals in 19 matches. The second season saw him score once in 25 games.

International career

Zjuzins has represented Latvia at both U-19 and U-21 levels. He received his first full international call-up for Latvia in 2012 for a friendly match against Kazakhstan on 29 February. Zjuzins scored his first international goal for Latvia in a 1–1 friendly match draw against Estonia on 14 August 2013. That was the debut match for Marians Pahars as the national team's manager. Zjuzins scored for the second match in a row on 6 September 2013, when Latvia beat Lithuania 2–1 in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

International goals

No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
114 August 2013A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia81–11–1Friendly
26 September 2013Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia92–02–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
36 September 2015Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia241–21–2UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
41 June 2016Daugava Stadium, Liepāja, Latvia301–02–12016 Baltic Cup
52 September 2016Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia322–13–1Friendly
62 September 2016Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia323–13–1Friendly
713 November 2016Estádio Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal361–14–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

;Ventspils
;Latvia