Deniss Rakeļs (born 20 August 1992) is a Latvian professional footballer who plays as a forward for III liga club Mławianka Mława.

Club career

Early career Rakels started his youth career in his local club Jēkabpils RSS, later on moving to another club from the same city - Jēkabpils SC. In 2007, he left, signing for Liepājas Metalurgs-2 in the Latvian First League. While playing for the reserve team of Metalurgs, he was an outstanding team leader - he scored regularly and was impressive with his speed to finish the through balls. In 2009, only 17 years old, he was taken to the first team by that time Liepājas Metalurgs manager Rüdiger Abramczik. He had no difficulties to fit into the first team level soon after joining, becoming a regular first eleven player. Even more - he scored in nearly every appearance. In fact, just after a few appearances Rakels had already completed 2 league hat-tricks. His technique and footballing skills impressed many coaches all around the world, despite him being just 18.Rakeļs raises Metalurgs expectations 5.07.2010, uefa.com In December 2009 he went on trial with the Italian Serie A side Sampdoria. In April 2010 he joined Swiss Super League team Basel on trial, and in August 2010 in a league game against Ventspils he was scouted by Werder Bremen scouts.

Zagłębie Lubin In December 2010, it was announced that Rakels would go on a training camp together with Russian Premier League giants Rubin Kazan in January 2011, but the player himself decided to reject the offer, because the Polish Ekstraklasa club Zagłębie Lubin were interested in signing him. This scenario turned out to be true and on 30 January 2011, after passing medical tests, Rakels signed a three-year contract with them.Deniss Rakels podpisał kontrakt z Zagłębiem Lubin 30.01.2011, onet.pl Later on the player himself admitted that till the very last day before signing a contract with Zagłębie the representatives of the Ukrainian Premier League club Karpaty Lviv had been trying to persuade him to join their club, despite several previous refusals from the player.

Loan to GKS Katowice On 17 August 2011, Rakels was sent on a season-long loan spell to I liga club GKS Katowice to gain experience due to his limited game time in Lubin. He scored 5 goals in 20 matches for the club, returning to Zagłębie after the season. It was reported that Rakels would be loaned to GKS for another season in August 2012. In his second season with GKS Rakels scored 11 goals in 27 matches, becoming one of the league's top scorers. In July 2013 he went on trial with the English Football League Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion, but did not stay with them, despite scoring a goal in a pre-season friendly match. Before the start of the 2013–14 Ekstraklasa season Rakels returned to Zagłębie Lubin.

Cracovia On 15 January 2014, Rakels signed a half-year contract with Cracovia, the contract was later extended.

Reading On 28 January 2016 Rakels signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Reading for an undisclosed fee. Rakels made his Reading debut on 6 February 2016, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute for Matěj Vydra, in their 0–0 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers. He scored his first goal for Reading when he struck a late winner in a 4–3 win at Charlton Athletic on 27 February 2016.

Rakels was stretchered off during Reading's EFL Cup second round match against Milton Keynes Dons on 23 August 2016 with a suspected fractured ankle. This Injury kept Rakels out of first team football for the remainder of the 2016–17 season, making only a handful of Under-23 appearances.

Rakels was released by Reading at the end of his contract on 30 June 2018.

Loan to Lech Poznań On 16 June 2017, Rakels underwent a medical with Lech Poznań ahead of a season-long loan deal. 10 days later, on 26 June 2017, Reading confirmed that Rakels had joined Lech Poznań on a season-long loan deal.

Loan to Cracovia On 17 January 2018, Reading confirmed that Rakels' loan deal with Lech Poznań had ended, and that Rakels had joined Cracovia on loan for the remainder of the season.

Pafos FC On 16 July 2018, Rakels signed for Cypriot First Division club Pafos, and then immediately joined Latvian Higher League club Riga on loan.

RFS On 2 July 2021, Rakels signed for RFS on an 18-month contract.

International career Rakels was a member of the Latvia under-19 and under-21 national teams. In June 2010 he was called up to the Latvia national team for the 2010 Baltic Cup by the manager Aleksandrs Starkovs, who was impressed by the youngster's great form in the Latvian Higher League. He made his international debut on 18 June 2010 in a 0–0 draw against Lithuania, coming on as a substitute in the 75th minute and replacing Andrejs Perepļotkins.

Career statistics

Club

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLiepājas Metalurgs2009Virslīga149 —10—1592010Virsliga261810—20—2918Total402710—30—4427Zagłębie Lubin2010–11Ekstraklasa4000———402013–14Ekstraklasa5000———50Total9000———90Zagłębie Lubin II2013–14III liga, gr. E56————56GKS Katowice (loan)2011–12I liga20500———2052012–13I liga271100———2711Total471600———4716Cracovia2013–14Ekstraklasa8000———802014–15Ekstraklasa331131———36122015–16Ekstraklasa201541———2416Total612672———6828Reading2015–16Championship1232000——1432016–17Championship200010——302017–18Championship000000——00Total1432010——173Lech Poznań (loan)2017–18Ekstraklasa11000—30—140Cracovia (loan)2017–18Ekstraklasa12100———121Pafos2018–19Cypriot First Division17140———2112019–20Cypriot First Division8110———912020–21Cypriot First Division23120———91Total48370———553Riga (loan)2018Virsliga12231———1532019Virsliga12320—70—213Total24551—70—366RFS2021Virsliga7040—10—1202022Virsliga201033—80—3113Total271073—90—4313Super Nova2023Virsliga15400———154Hutnik Kraków2023–24II liga331110———34112024–25II liga15111———162Total481221———5013Zagłębie Sosnowiec2024–25II liga111————1112025–26II liga13110———141Total24210———252Polonia Nysa2025–26III liga, group III00————00Mławianka Mława2026–27III liga, group I00————00Career total3851153271022000440122

International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsLatvia201020201330201410201580201770201861201950Total321

Scores and results list Latvia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rakels goal.

+ List of international goals scored by Deniss RakelsNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 15 November 2018 Astana Arena, Astana, Kazakhstan 1–1 1–1 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D

Personal life Rakels is of Polish descent. He has many tattoos on his body, they include his name, his mother's name, and a wish for his parents written in Arabic.

Honours Liepājas Metalurgs Virsliga: 2009

Riga Virsliga: 2018, 2019 Latvian Cup: 2018

RFS Virsliga: 2021 Latvian Cup: 2021

Individual Virsliga top scorer: 2010 Polish Union of Footballers' II liga Team of the Season: 2023–24

References

External links