Dario Šits

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Dario Šits

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2004|2|4|df=y}}{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |title=The official website for European football |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/teams/players/250171290--dario-sits/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=UEFA.com |language=en}}

| birth_place = Kuldiga, Latvia

| height = 1.87 m

| position = Striker

| currentclub = Helmond Sport
(on loan from Parma)

| clubnumber = 9

| youthyears1 = 2014–2020

| youthclubs1 = Metta

| youthyears2 = 2020–2021

| youthclubs2 = Parma

| years1 = 2021–

| clubs1 = Parma

| caps1 = 5

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2023–2024

| clubs2 = → SPAL (loan)

| caps2 = 1

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2024–

| clubs3 = → Helmond Sport (loan)

| caps3 = 20

| goals3 = 6

| nationalyears1 = 2019

| nationalteam1 = Latvia U16

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 4

| nationalyears2 = 2020

| nationalteam2 = Latvia U17

| nationalcaps2 = 2

| nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalyears3 = 2022

| nationalteam3 = Latvia U19

| nationalcaps3 = 1

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2022–2024

| nationalteam4 = Latvia U21

| nationalcaps4 = 4

| nationalgoals4 = 1

| nationalyears5 = 2024–

| nationalteam5 = Latvia

| nationalcaps5 = 4

| nationalgoals5 = 2

| club-update = 22 January 2025

| ntupdate = 27 November 2024

}}

Dario Šits (born 4 February 2004) is a Latvian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Eerste Divisie club Helmond Sport, on loan from Parma, and the Latvia national team.{{Soccerway|id=dario-sits/820220|access-date=16 March 2022}}

Club career

Born in Kuldīga,{{Cite web |date=6 October 2022 |title=DARIO SITS RINNOVA IL CONTRATTO, AVANTI INSIEME! |url=https://parmacalcio1913.com/2022/10/06/dario-sits-rinnova-il-contratto-avanti-insieme/ |access-date=20 October 2022 |website=Parma Calcio 1913 |language=it-IT}} Šits started playing football at FK Metta, before joining Italian side Parma in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Orlandin |first=Alessandro |date=22 August 2023 |title=Perché la SPAL ha scelto il giovane Dario Sits per completare il suo attacco |url=https://www.lospallino.com/2023/08/22/perche-la-spal-ha-scelto-il-giovane-dario-sits-per-completare-il-suo-attacco/ |access-date=24 August 2023 |website=Lo Spallino |language=it-IT}} Following his performances for the Under-17 and Primavera teams, the forward earned his first call-ups to the club's first team during the 2021–22 season, under head coach Giuseppe Iachini.{{Cite web |last=Brianti |first=Simone |date=2 March 2022 |title=Parma, Sits convocato da Iachini: chi è il 2004 lettone della Primavera |url=http://www.mondoprimavera.com/news/89453399558/parma-sits-convocato-da-iachini-chi-e-il-2004-lettone-della-primavera |access-date=20 October 2022 |website=MondoPrimavera |language=it-IT}}

On 2 March 2022, Šits made his professional debut for Parma, starting in a 1–1 Serie B draw against AC Monza.{{Cite web |last=Maschio |first=Tommaso |date=2 March 2022 |title=Lettone, classe '04 e bomber implacabile con la Primavera. Ecco Sits, il nuovo gioiello del Parma |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-b/lettone-classe-04-e-bomber-implacabile-con-la-primavera-ecco-sits-il-nuovo-gioiello-del-parma-1653221 |access-date=16 March 2022 |website=TUTTOmercatoWEB.com |language=it-IT}} On 11 March, shortly after coming on as a substitute in a league match against Cittadella, the forward earned a penalty kick for his side, which was then missed by Juan Brunetta: the fixture ended in a 1–1 draw.{{Cite web |last=Justovičs |first=Kārlis |date=11 March 2022 |title=Šits palīdz nopelnīt 11 metru soda sitienu, "Parma" neizšķirts B sērijā |url=https://sportacentrs.com/futbols/legionari/11032022-sits_nak_uz_mainu_piedaloties_parma_drama |access-date=16 March 2022 |website=Sportacentrs.com |language=lv}}

On 6 October of the same year, Šits extended his contract with Parma until 2026.

On 24 August 2023, Šits joined Serie C club SPAL on a season-long loan, with an option to buy in favor of the club and a buy-back clause in favor of Parma.{{Cite web |date=24 August 2023 |title=DARIO SITS A TITOLO TEMPORANEO ALLA SPAL |url=https://parmacalcio1913.com/2023/08/24/dario-sits-a-titolo-temporaneo-alla-spal/ |access-date=24 August 2023 |website=Parma Calcio 1913 |language=it}}{{Cite web |date=24 August 2023 |title=Dario Sits è un nuovo calciatore biancazzurro! |url=https://www.spalferrara.it/news/2023-08-24-dario-sits-e-un-nuovo-calciatore-biancazzurro |access-date=24 August 2023 |website=S.P.A.L. |language=it}}{{Cite web |date=24 August 2023 |title="Parma" izīrē Šitu uz zemāku Itālijas līgu |url=https://www.sportazinas.com/parma-izire-situ-uz-zemaku-italijas-ligu/ |access-date=24 August 2023 |website=Sportazinas.com |language=lv}} He made his debut for the club on 2 September, starting in a 1–0 league win over Vis Pesaro:{{Cite web |date=2 September 2023 |title=Spal – Vis Pesaro, finisce 1–0. Antenucci sigla la vittoria |url=https://sport.quotidiano.net/calcio/spal/spal-vis-pesaro-d72530c0 |access-date=5 September 2023 |website=Quotidiano Sportivo |language=it-IT}} however, he suffered an ACL injury in the same game, thus being forced to enter long-term convalescence.{{Cite web |last=Baroni |first=Enrico |date=4 September 2023 |title=Dario Sits dovrà rimanere fuori alcuni mesi |url=https://www.lospallino.com/2023/09/04/dario-sits-dovra-rimanere-fuori-alcuni-mesi/ |access-date=5 September 2023 |website=Lo Spallino |language=it-IT}}{{Cite web |date=4 September 2023 |title=Latvijas uzbrucējs gūst smagu savainojumu Itālijā |url=https://www.sportazinas.com/latvijas-uzbrucejs-gust-smagu-savainojumu-italija/ |access-date=5 September 2023 |website=Sportazinas.com |language=lv}}

On 18 July 2024, Šits joined Dutch Eerste Divisie club Helmond Sport on a season-long loan deal, with an option to buy. {{cite web |date=18 July 2024 |title=HELMOND SPORT HUURT DARIO ŠITS MET KOOPOPTIE VAN PARMA CALCIO 1913 |trans-title=HELMOND SPORT RENTS DARIO FITS WITH PURCHASE OPTION FROM PARMA CALCIO 1913 |url=https://www.helmondsport.nl/nieuws/helmond-sport-huurt-dario-sits-met-koopoptie-van-parma-calcio-1913/ |accessdate=18 July 2024 |website=Helmond Sport |language=nl-NL}}{{Cite web |last=Pichel |first=Dominique |date=18 July 2024 |title=Helmond Sport huurt spits uit Serie A, heeft duo op proef en hoopt op nog meer nieuwelingen |url=https://www.ed.nl/helmond-sport/helmond-sport-huurt-spits-uit-serie-a-heeft-duo-op-proef-en-hoopt-op-nog-meer-nieuwelingen~a387e9d5/ |url-access=registration |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=Eindhovens Dagblad |language=nl-NL}} He made his debut in the opening fixture of the season, starting in a 1–1 home draw against Jong Utrecht.{{cite news |last1=Esseveldt |first1=Luuk van |title=Incompleet Helmond Sport begint met remise, duel tegen Jong FC Utrecht ontsierd door staking |url=https://www.ad.nl/helmond/incompleet-helmond-sport-begint-met-remise-duel-tegen-jong-fc-utrecht-ontsierd-door-staking~a267254d/ |access-date=14 August 2024 |work=Algemeen Dagblad |date=9 August 2024 |language=nl}}{{cite web |title=Helmond Sport vs. Jong FC Utrecht 1–1: Summary |url=https://nl.soccerway.com/matches/2024/08/09/netherlands/eerste-divisie/stichting-helmond-sport/jong-utrecht/4367928/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=14 August 2024}}

International career

Šits has represented Latvia at various youth international levels, having played for the under-17, under-19 and under-21 national teams.{{Cite web |date=29 May 2022 |title=Šits nevarēs palīdzēt U21 izlasei jūnija spēlēs |url=https://www.sportazinas.com/sits-nevares-palidzet-u21-izlasei-junija-speles/ |access-date=13 June 2022 |website=Sportazinas.com |language=lv}}

In October 2024, Dario Šits received his first call-up to the Latvia national football team for the matches against the Faroe Islands and North Macedonia.{{cite news |last1=Poļakovs |first1=Iļja |title=Latvijas izlase svētdien uzsāks oktobra nometni |url=https://lff.lv/zinas/17835/latvijas-izlase-svetdien-uzsaks-oktobra-nometni/ |access-date=2 October 2024 |publisher=LFF}}

On 10 October Dario Šits made his debut for the Latvia national football team in a UEFA Nations League match against North Macedonia, coming on as a substitute in the 17th minute to replace the injured Vladislavs Gutkovskis. This debut came immediately after Paolo Nicolato's first call-up.{{cite web |title=Latvija - Ziemeļmaķedonija 10.10.2024 |url=https://lff.lv/speles/latvija-ziemelmakedonija-17391511/ |website=LFF.lv |publisher=LFF |access-date=11 October 2024}}

In just his second match for the Latvia national team, Dario Šits scored his first goal for the team. Coming on as a substitute in the 66th minute, replacing Jānis Ikaunieks, by the 69th minute, after a fantastic cross from Andrejs Cigaņiks, Dario Šits scored with his first touch.{{cite web |title=Faroe Islands vs Latvia match sheet |url=https://lff.lv/speles/feru-salas-latvija-17391541/ |website=LFF.lv |publisher=LFF |access-date=14 October 2024}}

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
class="wikitable"
1.	13 October 2024	Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands	{{fb\|FRO}}	align=center\|1–1	align=center\| 1–1	2024–25 UEFA Nations League
2.	21 March 2025	Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra	{{fb\|AND}}	align=center\|1–0	align=center\| 1–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Style of play

Šits is a centre-forward, who has been praised mainly for his technical and physical abilities, as well as his speed, his work rate and his finishing. Mainly a right-footed player, he is also capable of using his left foot.

Career statistics

= Club =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan="2" \|Club ! rowspan="2" \|Season ! colspan="3" \|League ! colspan="2" \|Coppa Italia ! colspan="2" \|Europe ! colspan="2" \|Other ! colspan="2" \|Total
Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals
rowspan="2" \|Parma \|2021–22 \| rowspan="2" \|Serie B \|3 \|0 \|0 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \| colspan="2" \|— \|3 \|0
2022–23 \|2 \|0 \|1 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \| colspan="2" \|— \|3 \|0
colspan="3" \|Total !5 !0 !1 !0 !0 !0 !0 !0 !6 !0
SPAL (loan) \|2023–24 \|Serie C \|1 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \| colspan="2" \|— \|0 \|0 \|1 \|0
colspan="3" \|Career total !6 !0 !1 !0 !0 !0 !0 !0 !7 !0

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

! rowspan="2" |Club

! rowspan="2" |Season

! colspan="3" |League

! colspan="2" |Coppa Italia

! colspan="2" |Europe

! colspan="2" |Other

! colspan="2" |Total

Division

!Apps

!Goals