Eduards Višņakovs

Early career

Born in Riga, as a youth player Višņakovs played for his local club JFC Skonto till 2003, when he moved to Daugava Rīga. Being taken to the first team in 2008, Višņakovs scored 30 goals in 30 Latvian First League appearances, becoming the top scorer of the league and helping his team clinch an automatic promotion to the Latvian Higher League. He was also named the league's best player in a ceremony on 22 December 2008.

FK Ventspils

Before the start of the 2009 Latvian Higher League season Višņakovs refused to extend his contract with Daugava, joining that time Latvian champions FK Ventspils. Right after joining, Višņakovs was sent on loan to the league's newcomers FC Tranzit in order to get more experience. During this loan spell, Višņakovs scored three goals in 19 league matches, before returning from loan in August 2009. During his time at FK Ventspils, Višņakovs scored 25 goals in 74 league matches, helping the team lift all the possible trophies of the country, including Baltic League in 2010, Latvian Higher League and Latvian Cup in 2011. Višņakovs also participated in the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League group stage.

Shakhter Karagandy

In June 2012, Višņakovs moved to the Kazakhstan Premier League champions Shakhter Karagandy. He scored his first league goal for the club on 9 July 2012 in a 5–1 victory over FC Zhetysu. All in all, Višņakovs participated in 20 league matches, scoring four goals. He helped his team become the champions…

Eduards Višņakovs has represented Latvia at U-19 and U-21 levels. He participated and scored a goal in the U-23 friendly match against Estonia on 5 June 2013, helping his team secure a 2–0 victory. On 10 September 2013 the U-23 team beat England 1-0, with Višņakovs scoring his second goal in two matches. Višņakovs was firstly called up to Latvia national football team for the FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifying matches against Lithuania and Slovakia on 11 and 15 October 2013. He made his debut for the national team in the match against Lithuania, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute and replacing Māris Verpakovskis. A local scandal arose when Widzew refused to fulfill its previously given promise to the Latvian Football Federation and did not allow Višņakovs to join the national team for the Baltic Cup matches in May 2014. Resentment was expressed by the Latvian Football Federation and the player himself but Latvia, eventually, went on to win the tournament without the help of Višņakovs. In September 2014, prior to the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Kazakhstan, Višņakovs revealed that while he was playing for Shakhter Karagandy he was urged to take on Kazakhstani citizenship but despite not being on the radar of Latvia national team at the time, he had declined the offers stating that he would only play internationally for Latvia.

His elder brother Aleksejs is also a professional footballer. While Eduards was a part of FK Ventspils squad, they also played together. In 2013 they became the second pair of brothers to play for Widzew together after Lithuanians Artūras and Igoris Steško during the 2001-2002 season.

Daugava

Latvian First League: 2008 Ventspils

Latvian Higher League: 2011 Latvian Cup: 2010–11 Baltic League: 2009–10 Shakhter Karagandy

Kazakhstan Premier League: 2012 Kazakhstan Super Cup: 2013 GKS Wikielec

Polish Cup (Warmia-Masuria regionals): 2021–22 Individual

Latvian First League top scorer: 2008 (30 goals)