Artjoms Rudņevs (born 13 January 1988) is a Latvian former professional footballer who played as a striker for Daugava Daugavpils in his home country, for Zalaegerszegi TE in Hungary, for Lech Poznań in Poland, and for Bundesliga clubs Hamburger SV, Hannover 96, and 1. FC Köln. At international level, he represented the Latvia national team.

Artjoms Rudņevs
Rudnevs at practice with HSV in 2012
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-01-13) 13 January 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Daugavpils, Latvia
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Daugava Daugavpils
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Daugava Daugavpils 75 (21)
2009–2010 Zalaegerszegi TE 30 (20)
2010–2012 Lech Poznań 56 (33)
2012–2016 Hamburger SV 74 (15)
2014Hannover 96 (loan) 16 (4)
2015 Hamburger SV II 5 (3)
2016–2017 1. FC Köln 18 (3)
Total 274 (99)
International career
2007–2009 Latvia U21 9 (3)
2008–2017 Latvia 38 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Early career and ZTE

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Rudnevs during his spell at Zalaegerszeg against Nyíregyháza

Rudņevs started his career with his local club FC Daugava in Daugavpils, where he played until February 2009, when he signed a contract with the Hungarian club Zalaegerszegi TE.[1] However, the previous contract with Daugava was still active, so FIFA was involved in resolving the conflict. In May 2009, he made his debut in Hungary, where he played for three seasons, scoring 20 goals in 30 league matches.[2][3]

Lech Poznań

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Rudņevs playing against Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus in the 2010–11 Europa League

In July 2010, rumors circulated that the Ekstraklasa club Lech Poznań were interested in signing him. These rumors were subsequently confirmed and Rudņevs joined the club on trial.[4] After a successful trial at the club and after passing the medical tests, Lech started talks with ZTE regarding a permanent transfer. The clubs initially could not agree on the transfer fee and, when it was finally decided, the Polish team was unable to negotiate personal terms with Rudnevs. It seemed that the talks were over but in August, after Rudņevs had scored two goals in the season opener, Lech reopened discussions. This time talks were successful and Rudņevs signed a four-year contract with the Polish side.[5]

2010–11 season

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He scored in his debut for Lech Poznań against Widzew Łódź.[6] He added three more goals in five consecutive matches, the last of these the winning goal on 11 September 2010.[7] Just five days later he scored a hat-trick against Juventus in the Europa League, the first goal a coolly slotted penalty, the second a scissors kick from three yards out, and the third a long-range equalizer deep into injury time.[8] Rudņevs stated that it was "the best match of his career so far".[9]

By the end of the Polish Ekstraklasa season, Rudņevs managed to score 11 goals in 27 matches to finish fourth in the league.[10] On 1 December 2010, he scored yet again against Juventus, saying afterwards that Juventus' goalkeeper Alexander Manninger was his "favourite goalkeeper to play against".[11] The match ended 1–1, a result that allowed Lech to progress to the next round, and eliminated Juventus.[12] In the first match against SC Braga in the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League, Rudņevs scored a goal as Lech won 1–0.[13] However, in the second match Lech lost 2–0 and were knocked out of the Europa League.[14] With five goals in the Europa League, Rudņevs became the fourth top scorer, sharing this achievement with four other players.[15]

2011–12 season

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By December 2011, Rudnevs was the Polish league's leading marksman, having scored 18 goals in 17 league matches. Rudņevs was named the best player of 2011 in the Ekstraklasa by the Polish Footballers' Association.[16] Rudņevs finished the season with a league-leading 22 goals in 29 matches.[17] On 8 May 2012, the German Bundesliga team Hamburger SV agreed on a transfer at the end of the 2011–12 season.[18] On 11 May, the transfer was officially confirmed by both clubs.[19]

Hamburger SV

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In the 2012–13 season, Rudņevs became the first Latvian football player in the Bundesliga.[20] Hamburger SV started the season with three consecutive losses with Rudņevs gaining only one assist. Rudņevs scored his first goal in the Bundesliga on 26 September 2012 in a 2–2 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach.[21] In his first season with Hamburg Rudņevs appeared in 34 league matches, scored 12 goals with four assists, finishing as Hamburg's joint top scorer alongside Son Heung-Min, who also netted 12 times.[22] However, his form dropped, and Rudņevs lost his place in the starting eleven early in the 2013–14 Bundesliga season.

1. FC Köln

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On 15 June 2016, it was announced that Rudņevs had joined 1. FC Köln on a free transfer.[23] On 29 September 2017, the club announced it had agreed to terminate Rudnev's contract and that he would end his career.[24]

International career

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Rudņevs was first called up to the national side on 12 November 2008 for the friendly match against Estonia. He started this match in the first eleven.[25] Rudņevs also played for the U-21 side. He was called up to the national side again in January 2010 for the friendly match against South Korea.[26] Rudņevs started the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying matches in the first eleven alongside Māris Verpakovskis, putting Ģirts Karlsons on the bench. On 7 October 2011, he scored his first international goal in the 2–0 victory over Malta in a Euro 2012 qualifying match.[27]

Personal life and controversy

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Rudņevs is married and has a daughter born in 2011.[28]

Rudņevs provoked controversy in his native Latvia after switching to using "Rudnev" on the back of his jersey for his second season at Lech, indicating his Russian ethnicity. He also drew the ire of his national team captain, Kaspars Gorkšs, when he stated that he would not learn the Latvian language in addition to Russian. Gorkšs wrote an open letter criticizing Rudņevs for the statement.[29]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Daugava Daugavpils 2005 Latvian Second League 13 3 0 0 0 0 13 3
2006 Latvian Higher League 20 4 0 0 0 0 20 4
2007 Latvian Higher League 19 7 0 0 0 0 19 7
2008 Latvian Higher League 23 7 0 0 0 0 23 7
Total 75 21 0 0 0 0 75 21
Zalaegerszegi TE 2008–09 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 4 2 0 0 0 0 4 2
2009–10 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 25 16 4 3 0 0 29 19
2010–11 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1 2 0 0 1 0 2 2
Total 30 20 4 3 1 0 35 23
Lech Poznań 2010–11[30] Ekstraklasa 27 11 5 4 8 5 40 20
2011–12[30] Ekstraklasa 29 22 4 3 0 0 33 25
Total 56 33 9 7 8 5 73 45
Hamburger SV 2012–13[31] Bundesliga 34 12 1 0 0 0 35 12
2013–14[31] Bundesliga 7 0 1 2 0 0 8 2
2014–15[31] Bundesliga 22 1 1 0 0 0 23 1
2015–16[31] Bundesliga 11 2 0 0 0 0 11 2
Total 74 15 3 2 0 0 77 17
Hamburger SV II 2015–16[31] Regionalliga Nord 5 3 5 3
Hannover 96 (loan) 2013–14[31] Bundesliga 16 4 0 0 0 0 16 4
1. FC Köln 2016–17[31] Bundesliga 18 3 3 1 0 0 21 4
2017–18[31] Bundesliga 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 18 3 4 1 0 0 22 4
Career total 274 99 20 13 9 5 303 117

International goals

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Scores and results list Latvia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rudņevs goal.[30]
List of international goals scored by Artjoms Rudņevs
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 7 October 2011 Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia 15   Malta 2–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
2 1 June 2016 Daugava Stadium, Liepāja, Latvia 35   Lithuania 2–0 2–1 2016 Baltic Cup

Honours

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Daugavpils Daugava

Zalaegerszegi TE

Lech Poznań

Latvia

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Rudņevam un "ZTE" pirmā spēle Ungārijas čempionātā" (in Latvian). Sportacentrs.com. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  2. ^ "Rudnev ideiglenes játékengedélyt kapott" (in Hungarian). ztefc.hu. 8 May 2009. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  3. ^ "ZTE FC – Nyíregyháza 2:0" (in Hungarian). ztefc.hu. 9 May 2009. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  4. ^ Osis, Miķelis (14 July 2010). "Poļu mediji: klubi vienojušies, Rudņevs spēlēs "Lech"" (in Latvian). sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  5. ^ "Artjoms Rudnevs w Lechu Poznań" (in Polish). sports.pl. Archived from the original on 6 August 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  6. ^ Suveizda, Agris (7 August 2010). "Rudņevs "Lech" debitē ar gūtiem vārtiem" (in Latvian). sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  7. ^ "Rudņevs rezultatīvākais Polijā, Gauračs debitē Moldovā" (in Latvian). parSportu.lv. 11 September 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  8. ^ Štāls, Toms (28 September 2011). "Rudņevs atzīmējas ar 3 vārtiem pret "Juventus"" (in Latvian). Tribine.lv. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  9. ^ Broks, Egils (7 August 2010). "Video: Rudņevs: Šis bija labākais mačs manā karjerā" (in Latvian). sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  10. ^ Novickis, Edmunds; Bērziņš, Valdis (29 May 2011). "Pēdējā kārtā Rudņevam vārti, Eirokausi izpaliek, Višņakova klubs noturas" (in Latvian). sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  11. ^ "Manninger ulubionym bramkarzem Rudnevsa" (in Polish). Ekstraklasa. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  12. ^ "Artjoms Rudņevs gūst vārtus un izsit "Juventus" no Eiropas līgas" (in Latvian). kasjauns.lv. 2 December 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  13. ^ "Rudņevs atkal gūst vārtus un nodrošina 'Lech' uzvaru" (in Latvian). delfi.lv. 17 February 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  14. ^ ""Lech" un Rudņevam Eirokausu sezona beidzas Bragā" (in Latvian). sportacentrs.com. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  15. ^ "UEFA Europa League". UEFA.com. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  16. ^ "Wyniki piątego plebiscytu Polskiego Związku Piłkarzy!" (in Polish). PZP. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  17. ^ "Sezona Polijā galā – Rudņevs rezultatīvākais, "Lech" 4. vieta" (in Latvian). sportacentrs.com. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  18. ^ "Aufsichtsrat bestätigt Transfers von Adler und Rudnevs" (in German). Hamburger Abendblatt. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  19. ^ "Oficiāli: Rudņevs pievienojas "Hamburger SV"" (in Latvian). sportacentrs.com. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Artjoms Rudņevs – pirmais Latvijas futbolists, kurš spēlējis Vācijas bundeslīgā" (in Latvian). kasjauns.lv. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  21. ^ "Rudņevs gūst pirmos vārtus Bundeslīgā" (in Latvian). sportacentrs.com. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  22. ^ "German Bundesliga 2012–2013 – Top Scorers". eurosport.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  23. ^ "Artjoms Rudnevs signs for FC". 1. FC Köln official website. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  24. ^ ""Persönliche Probleme": Rudnevs löst Vertrag in Köln auf". kicker Online (in German). 29 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  25. ^ "Latvijas futbola izlase pārbaudes spēlē cīnās neizšķirti ar Igauniju]" (in Latvian). tvnet.lv. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  26. ^ "Rudnevs harmadik fellépése a válogatottban" (in Hungarian). ztefc.hu. 23 January 2010. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  27. ^ "Rudņevs atklāj rēķinu izlasē, Latvija pārspēj Maltu" (in Latvian). sportacentrs.com. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  28. ^ "Rudņevs: "Izskatās, ka palikšu "Lech""" (in Latvian). sportacentrs.com. 15 December 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  29. ^ Martinez, Ruben (26 September 2013). "Russian Language in Latvian Football – An Uneasy Reality". Futbolgrad. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  30. ^ a b c Artjoms Rudņevs at Soccerway
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h "Artjoms Rudņevs » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  32. ^ "Baltic Cup 2016".
  33. ^ "Puchar Polski 2010/2011 - strzelcy". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  34. ^ "Lenczyk i Rudniew najlepsi we wrześniu" (in Polish).
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Awards
Preceded by Latvian Rising Sportspersonality of the Year
2010
Succeeded by