Deniss Rakels

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Deniss Rakels
File:Deniss Rakeļs Lech Poznań 2017.jpg
Deniss Rakels in 2017
Personal information
Full name Deniss Rakels
Date of birth (1992-08-20) 20 August 1992 (age 33)
Place of birth Jēkabpils, Latvia
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Zagłębie Sosnowiec
Number 92
Youth career
Jēkabpils RSS
Jēkabpils SC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 FK Liepājas Metalurgs-2
2009–2010 FK Liepājas Metalurgs 40 (27)
2011–2014 Zagłębie Lubin 9 (0)
2011–2013 → GKS Katowice (loan) 47 (16)
2014–2016 Cracovia 61 (26)
2016–2018 Reading 14 (3)
2017–2018 → Lech Poznań (loan) 11 (0)
2018 → Cracovia (loan) 12 (1)
2018–2021 Pafos 48 (3)
2018 → Riga (loan) 12 (2)
2019 → Riga (loan) 12 (3)
2021–2023 RFS 27 (10)
2023 Super Nova 15 (4)
2023–2025 Hutnik Kraków 48 (12)
2025– Zagłębie Sosnowiec 24 (2)
International career
2008 Latvia U17[1] 3 (0)
2010 Latvia U19 3 (0)
2011–2013 Latvia U21 8 (3)
2010–2019 Latvia 32 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:21, 29 November 2025 (UTC)
File:Deniss Rakels.jpg
Rakels playing for Liepājas Metalurgs

Deniss Rakeļs (born 20 August 1992) is a Latvian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Polish club Zagłębie Sosnowiec.

Club career

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Early career in Latvia

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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 FK 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 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.[2] 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,[3] and in August 2010 in a league game against FK Ventspils he was scouted by Werder Bremen scouts.[4]

Zagłębie Lubin

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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.[5] This scenario turned out to be true and on 30 January 2011, after passing medical tests, Rakels signed a three-year contract with them.[6] 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.[7]

Loan to GKS Katowice

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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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] Before the start of the 2013–14 Ekstraklasa season Rakels returned to Zagłębie Lubin.[11]

Cracovia

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On 15 January 2014, Rakels signed a half-year contract with Cracovia, the contract was later extended.[12]

Reading

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On 28 January 2016 Rakels signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Reading for an undisclosed fee.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17]

Rakels was released by Reading at the end of his contract on 30 June 2018.[18]

Loan to Lech Poznań

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On 16 June 2017, Rakels underwent a medical with Lech Poznań ahead of a season-long loan deal.[19][20] 10 days later, on 26 June 2017, Reading confirmed that Rakels had joined Lech Poznań on a season-long loan deal.[21]

Loan to Cracovia

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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.[22]

Pafos FC

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On 16 July 2018, Rakels signed for Cypriot First Division club Pafos FC, and then immediately joined Latvian Higher League club Riga FC on loan.[23]

FK RFS

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On 2 July 2021, Rakels signed for FK RFS on an 18-month contract.[24]

International career

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Rakels was a member of Latvia U-19 and Latvia U-21 football teams. In June 2010 he was firstly called up to the Latvia national football team for the 2010 Baltic Cup by the manager Aleksandrs Starkovs, who was impressed by the youngster's great form in the national championship.[25] 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.[26]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 21 November 2025[27][28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liepājas Metalurgs 2009 Virslīga 14 9 — 1[c] 0 — 15 9
2010 Virsliga 26 18 1 0 — 2[d] 0 — 29 18
Total 40 27 1 0 — 3 0 — 44 27
Zagłębie Lubin 2010–11 Ekstraklasa 4 0 0 0 — — — 4 0
2013–14 Ekstraklasa 5 0 0 0 — — — 5 0
Total 9 0 0 0 — — — 9 0
Zagłębie Lubin II 2013–14 III liga, gr. E 5 6 — — — — 5 6
GKS Katowice (loan) 2011–12 I liga 20 5 0 0 — — — 20 5
2012–13 I liga 27 11 0 0 — — — 27 11
Total 47 16 0 0 — — — 47 16
Cracovia 2013–14 Ekstraklasa 8 0 0 0 — — — 8 0
2014–15 Ekstraklasa 33 11 3 1 — — — 36 12
2015–16 Ekstraklasa 20 15 4 1 — — — 24 16
Total 61 26 7 2 — — — 68 28
Reading 2015–16 Championship 12 3 2 0 0 0 — — 14 3
2016–17 Championship 2 0 0 0 1 0 — — 3 0
2017–18 Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Total 14 3 2 0 1 0 — — 17 3
Lech Poznań (loan) 2017–18 Ekstraklasa 11 0 0 0 — 3[c] 0 — 14 0
Cracovia (loan) 2017–18 Ekstraklasa 12 1 0 0 — — — 12 1
Pafos 2018–19 Cypriot First Division 17 1 4 0 — — — 21 1
2019–20 Cypriot First Division 8 1 1 0 — — — 9 1
2020–21 Cypriot First Division 23 1 2 0 — — — 9 1
Total 48 3 7 0 — — — 55 3
Riga (loan) 2018 Virsliga 12 2 3 1 — — — 15 3
2019 Virsliga 12 3 2 0 — 7[e] 0 — 21 3
Total 24 5 5 1 — 7 0 — 36 6
RFS 2021 Virsliga 7 0 4 0 — 1[f] 0 — 12 0
2022 Virsliga 20 10 3 3 — 8[f] 0 — 31 13
Total 27 10 7 3 — 9 0 — 43 13
Super Nova 2023 Virsliga 15 4 0 0 — — — 15 4
Hutnik Kraków 2023–24 II liga 33 11 1 0 — — — 34 11
2024–25 II liga 15 1 1 1 — — — 16 2
Total 48 12 2 1 — — — 50 13
Zagłębie Sosnowiec 2024–25 II liga 11 1 — — — — 11 1
2025–26 II liga 13 1 1 0 — — — 14 1
Total 24 2 1 0 — — — 25 2
Career total 385 115 32 7 1 0 22 0 0 0 440 122
  1. ^ Includes Latvian Cup, Polish Cup, FA Cup, Cypriot Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[29]
National team Year Apps Goals
Latvia
2010 2 0
2013 3 0
2014 1 0
2015 8 0
2017 7 0
2018 6 1
2019 5 0
Total 32 1
Scores and results list Latvia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rakels goal.[30]
List of international goals scored by Deniss Rakels
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 15 November 2018 Astana Arena, Astana, Kazakhstan File:Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Kazakhstan 1–1 1–1 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D

Personal life

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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.[31]

Honours

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Liepājas Metalurgs

Riga[32]

RFS[32]

Individual

References

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  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Rakeļs raises Metalurgs expectations 5.07.2010, uefa.com
  3. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Deniss Rakels podpisał kontrakt z Zagłębiem Lubin Archived 17 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine 30.01.2011, onet.pl
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  18. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  19. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  21. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  23. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  24. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  25. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  26. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  27. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  28. ^ Deniss Rakels at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 January 2016.Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  29. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  30. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  31. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  32. ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  33. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  • Deniss Rakels at 90minut.pl (in Polish)Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  • Deniss Rakels at SoccerwayLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  • Deniss Rakels at WorldFootball.netLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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