Aleksandrs Čekulajevs

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Aleksandrs Čekulajevs

| fullname = Aleksandrs Čekulajevs

| height = {{height|m=1.80}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1985|09|10}}

| birth_place = Riga, Latvian SSR, USSR
(now Republic of Latvia)

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Forward

| youthyears1 = 1996–2003 | youthclubs1 = FK Auda

| youthyears2 = 2003–2004 | youthclubs2 = FK Viola

| youthyears3 = 2004–2005 | youthclubs3 = JFK Olimps

| youthyears4 = 2005–2006 | youthclubs4 = FK Auda

| years1 = 2006–2008 | clubs1 = FK Rīga | caps1 = 6 | goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2007–2008 | clubs2 = → FK Auda (loan) | caps2 = 30 | goals2 = 49

| years3 = 2008 | clubs3 = FK Jūrmala-VV | caps3 = 21 | goals3 = 3

| years4 = 2008–2009 | clubs4 = FK Náchod-Deštné | caps4 = 18 | goals4 = 11

| years5 = 2009–2010 | clubs5 = FK Jūrmala-VV | caps5 = 6 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2010–2011 | clubs6 = Víkingur Ólafsvík | caps6 = 17 | goals6 = 10

| years7 = 2011–2012 | clubs7 = JK Narva Trans | caps7 = 35 | goals7 = 46

| years8 = 2012 | clubs8 = Valletta | caps8 = 6 | goals8 = 4

| years9 = 2012 | clubs9 = Lombard-Pápa TFC | caps9 = 4 | goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2013 | clubs10 = TTM Lopburi | caps10 = 8 | goals10 = 4

| years11 = 2013–2014| clubs11 = Żejtun Corinthians| caps11 = 18 | goals11 = 10

| years12 = 2014 | clubs12 = AB Argir | caps12 = 5 | goals12 = 1

| years13 = 2017–2021| clubs13 = FK Jūrnieks | caps13 = | goals13 =

| nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = Latvia U-21 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 1

}}

Aleksandrs Čekulajevs{{cite web|author=Genuine Football Fan |url=http://football.indesit.com/eu/2012/01/11/the-story-of-aleksandrs-cekulajevs/ |title=The story of Aleksandrs Cekulajevs | Indesit Football – Europe |publisher=Football.indesit.com |date=2012-01-13 |accessdate=2012-08-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310123443/http://football.indesit.com/eu/2012/01/11/the-story-of-aleksandrs-cekulajevs/ |archivedate=10 March 2012 }} (born 10 September 1985) is a Latvian footballer who plays as a forward.

Čekulajevs is widely famous for his goal scoring abilities. Scoring 46 goals in the 2011 Meistriliiga season he was named in third position as world's top scorer of the year by IFFHS.{{cite web|url=http://www.kasjauns.lv/lv/zinas/69209/latvijas-futbolists-cekulajevs-apsteidz-ronaldu-un-mesi-klustot-par-labako-snaiperi-pasaule |title=Latvijas futbolists Čekulajevs apsteidz Ronaldu un Mesi, kļūstot par labāko snaiperi pasaulē |publisher=Kasjauns.lv |accessdate=2012-12-26}}

Club career

=Early career=

Born in Riga, Čekulajevs started playing football in 1996. He spent his youth years training with FK Auda, FK Viola, JFK Olimps and FK Auda yet again. In 2006 the youngster was spotted by the Latvian Higher League club FK Rīga and Čekulajevs signed his first professional contract. He played 6 matches there,{{cite web|url=http://www.istoriafotbalului.com/destin-de-golgeter-dupa-46-de-goluri-un-transfer-in-malta/ |title=Destin de golgeter. După 46 de goluri, un transfer în Malta |date=11 April 2012 |publisher=Istoria Fotbalului by Alex Buturugeanu |accessdate=2012-04-11}} scoring 1 goal but soon the club hit financial difficulties and Čekulajevs' contract that should have kept him at the club until 2008 was unofficially broken. FK Jūrmala-VV were keen on signing him, but, even though the contract with FK Rīga didn't exist anymore, the club wanted to receive a transfer fee. Furthermore, FK Rīga was in debts with its players and hadn't paid Čekulajevs his wage for more than 3 months.{{cite web|url=http://www.apollo.lv/zinas/fk-riga-futbolisti-izsaka-klubam-finansialas-pretenzijas/378274 |title=FK "Rīga" futbolisti izsaka klubam finansiālās pretenzijas|date=3 April 2008|publisher=Apollo.lv |accessdate=2012-12-26}} FK Rīga went bankrupt in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.apollo.lv/zinas/sak-futbola-kluba-riga-bankrotu/402246 |title=Sāk futbola kluba "Rīga" bankrotu|date=2 March 2009|publisher=Apollo.lv |accessdate=2012-12-26}}

=FK Auda=

In 2007 Čekulajevs joined his former youth years' club FK Auda on loan from FK Rīga, playing in the Latvian First League. Soon he became a first eleven player and wowed everyone with his scoring abilities, netting 51 goal in 30 league matches. He was not only named the top scorer of the season, but also beat the league's scoring record of all time set by Igors Kirilovs in 2002 with 47 goals in one season.{{cite web|url=http://www.lff.lv/lv/news/2007/novembris/06/ |title=LFF: Aleksandrs Čekulājevs - 51 gūtie vārti Traffic Pirmās līgas čempionatā |publisher=Lff.lv |date=2012-12-22 |accessdate=2012-12-26}} He was also named the best player of the Latvian First League in 2007.{{cite web|url=http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/26122007-lff_pazino_labakos |title=LFF paziņo labākos – Futbols – |publisher=Sportacentrs.com |date=2007-12-26 |accessdate=2012-12-26}}

=First clubs abroad=

After such a great performance Čekulajevs joined FK Jūrmala-VV in 2008. Playing 21 match there, he scored 3 goals and couldn't settle at the club. Soon he left the team, going abroad for the first time in his career and joining FK Náchod-Deštné in the Czech Fourth Division. During one season there he scored 11 goals in 18 matches and came back to FK Jūrmala-VV in 2009. He started the 2009 Latvian Higher League season with them, but after 6 matches without scoring any goals, left for Víkingur Ólafsvík, playing in the Icelandic 2. deild karla. Čekulajevs scored 10 goals in 17 matches for the club, helping his team win the championship.

=JK Narva Trans=

After a successful season in Iceland Čekulajevs was signed by the Estonian Meistriliiga club JK Narva Trans. Soon after joining he found himself as a first eleven player, capable of scoring in almost every match he played. By the end of the season, he had scored 46 goals in 35 appearances, not only being the top scorer of his team and the league, but also setting a new goalscoring record for the division.{{cite web|author=ESM Golden Shoe latest standings Posted 348 days ago Tweet |url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/esm-golden-shoe/esm-golden-shoe-latest-standings-3 |title=ESM Golden Shoe latest standings |publisher=World Soccer |date=2012-01-13 |accessdate=2012-12-26}} In June 2012 he was named the third top scorer in Europe by the UEFA league point system, thanks to his 46 goals, coming after Cristiano Ronaldo (46) and Lionel Messi (50).{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/epa/article/ALeqM5jf_z_M_dYq00GU0BhiiFG1RIH9KQ?docId=1686816 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124205420/http://www.google.com/hostednews/epa/article/ALeqM5jf_z_M_dYq00GU0BhiiFG1RIH9KQ?docId=1686816 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2013 |title=epa - european pressphoto agency: El estonio Cekulajevs, por delante de Ronaldo y Messi como mejor goleador europeo |accessdate=2012-12-26}} After his great performance, various European clubs showed their interest in signing Čekulajevs. During the winter transfer period he went on trials with the Turkish Süper Lig club Trabzonspor,{{cite web|author=TVNET |url=http://www.tvnet.lv/sports/futbols/403401-cekulajevs_uz_parbaudes_laiku_pievienojas_trabzonspor |title=TVNET :: Futbols - Čekulajevs uz pārbaudes laiku pievienojās "Trabzonspor" |date=15 December 2011 |publisher=Tvnet.lv |accessdate=2012-12-26}} 2. Fußball-Bundesliga club MSV Duisburg{{cite web|url=http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/legionari/10112011-cekulajevs_uz_parbaudes_laiku_vacijas_2_b |title=Čekulajevs uz pārbaudes laiku Vācijas 2.Bundeslīgas klubā "Duisburg" – Leģionāri – Futbols – |publisher=Sportacentrs.com |date=2011-11-10 |accessdate=2012-12-26}} and the Polish Ekstraklasa team Lechia Gdańsk.{{cite web|url=http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/legionari/21012012-cekulajevs_dodas_uz_parbaudi_polu_lechia?page=0 |title=Čekulajevs dodas uz pārbaudi poļu "Lechia" – Leģionāri – Futbols – |publisher=Sportacentrs.com |date=2012-01-21 |accessdate=2012-12-26}} Although scoring record 46 goals, Estonian football pundits and coaches thought that his achievement would have been much more remarkable if the league had not been represented by the worst team{{cite web|url=http://sport.err.ee/jalgpall/5451f725-724d-4906-be4c-f06d081f3418 |title=Rekordimees Čekulajevs Hohlov-Simsonile muljet ei avaldanud |publisher=sport.err.ee |date=2011-11-09 |accessdate=2013-02-18}} - FC Ajax Lasnamäe, who conceded in total of 192 goals in 36 matches (which was only 6 goals short of worst result in European top tiers). Čekulajevs scored 18 of his goals against bottom-finished Ajax.{{cite web|url=http://sport.err.ee/jalgpall/b9cb9711-3435-4112-8fc0-6d4f9a49ef3b |title=Lasnamäe Ajax jäi Euroopa rekordist kuue värava kaugusele |publisher=sport.err.ee |date=2011-11-09 |accessdate=2013-02-18}}

=Valletta F.C.=

Čekulajevs didn't join any of the previously mentioned teams, signing a contract with the Maltese Premier League champions Valletta F.C. on 8 February 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.diena.lv/sports/futbols/latvijas-snaiperis-cekulajevs-parcelas-uz-maltu-13930346 |title=Latvijas snaiperis Čekulajevs pārceļas uz Maltu |publisher=Diena.lv |accessdate=2012-12-26}} He scored a goal on his debut for the club.{{cite web|url=http://www.sarauj.com/lv/futbols/citi-turniri/1282-%C4%8Cekulajevs-Malt%C4%81-debit%C4%93-ar-g%C5%ABtiem-v%C4%81rtiem |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201213628/http://www.sarauj.com/lv/futbols/citi-turniri/1282-%C4%8Cekulajevs-Malt%C4%81-debit%C4%93-ar-g%C5%ABtiem-v%C4%81rtiem |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-01 |title=Čekulajevs Maltā debitē ar gūtiem vārtiem |publisher=Sarauj.com |accessdate=2012-12-26 }} All in all Čekulajevs scored 4 goals in 6 matches for the club, later being put on the bench for unexplained reasons. In May 2012 Čekulajevs broke his contract with the club,{{cite web|url=http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/legionari/22052012-cekulajevs_lauz_ligumu_malta_vanins_ielai |title=Čekulajevs lauž līgumu Maltā, Vaņins ielaiž trīs Šveicē – Leģionāri – Futbols – |date=22 May 2012 |publisher=Sportacentrs.com |accessdate=2012-12-26}} stating that he wasn't happy with the work of his agent.{{cite web|url=http://www.apollo.lv/zinas/cekulajevs-neapmierinats-ar-nonaksanu-maltas-kluba/506922 |title=Čekulajevs neapmierināts ar nonākšanu Maltas klubā|date=13 February 2012|publisher=Apollo.lv |accessdate=2012-12-26}}

=Lombard-Pápa TFC=

On 3 July 2012, Čekulajevs moved to the Hungarian Nemzeti Bajnokság I, as a free agent signing a contract with Lombard-Pápa TFC.{{cite web|url=http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/legionari/03072012-cekulajevs_parcelas_uz_ungariju |title=Čekulajevs pārceļas uz Ungāriju – Leģionāri – Futbols – |date=3 July 2012 |publisher=Sportacentrs.com |accessdate=2012-12-26}}

On 1 January 2013, he was released from Lombard-Pápa TFC, having played only four league matches for the club.

=TTM Lopburi and Żejtun Corinthians=

On 8 March 2013, it was announced that Čekulajevs had moved to Thai Division 1 side TTM Lopburi on a free transfer, signing a one-year contract.{{Cite web|url=http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/legionari/08032013-cekulajevs_karjeru_turpinas_indonezija|title = Čekulajevs karjeru turpinās Taizemē, Karlsons - Indonēzijā|date = 8 March 2013}} On 1 July 2013, after the end of the contract, he moved to the Maltese First Division side Żejtun Corinthians on a free transfer, signing a contract till the end of the season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/aleksandrs-cekulajevs/|title=Aleksandrs Čekulajevs}}

=AB Argir=

On 1 July 2014, he moved to the Faroe Islands Premier League club AB Argir.{{Soccerway|aleksandrs-cekulajevs/52759}}

Honours

;Víkingur Ólafsvík

2. deild karla: 2010

Individual

Latvian First League Top Score: 2007

Meistriliiga Top Score: 2011,{{cite web |url=http://www.jalgpall.ee/top10.php?b=ML&year=2011 |title=VÄRAVALÖÖJATE EDETABEL (2011) |language=et |date=4 June 2010 |publisher=EJL |access-date=10 April 2011}}

IFFHS World's Top Scorer of the Year: 2011

References

External links

[http://intergoalsports.com/Latvia.html performances Statistics 2001–2009]
[http://www.ksi.is/mot/motalisti/lid-i-moti/?lid=355&mot=20605 Statistics performances in Iceland]
[http://www.soccer.ee/players.php?year=2011&team=14&player=26906&b=ML Statistics performances in Estonia]
{{Soccerway|aleksandrs-cekulajevs/52759}}
[https://archive.today/20140818150215/http://www.in.fo/news-detail/news/triggir-nyggir-leikarar-i-ab/ Aleksandrs Čekulajevs]

Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Riga

Category:Latvian men's footballers

Category:21st-century Latvian sportsmen

Category:Men's association football forwards

Category:Latvian expatriate men's footballers

Category:FK Rīga players

Category:JFK Olimps players

Category:FK Daugava (2003) players

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Czech Republic

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Iceland