Aleksandrs Vanags (21 March 1919 – 1986), also known as Alexandre Vanags, was a Latvian football and basketball player. At international level, he represented the Latvia national football team, after World War II he played football in France.

Aleksandrs Vanags
Portrait of Aleksandrs Vanags in 1938.
Personal information
Full name Aleksandrs Vanags
Date of birth 1919
Place of birth Rīga, Latvia
Date of death 1986
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1937–1940 ASK Rīga 61 (18)
1946–1947 Strasbourg 5 (1)
1947–1949 FC Nancy 21 (2)
1949–1955 Strasbourg 129 (13)
Total 216 (34)
International career
1937–1940 Latvia 13 (9)
Medal record
Aleksandrs Vanags
Medal record
Representing  Latvia
Men's Basketball
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 1939 Lithuania Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Biography

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A midfielder, Vanags made his debut with Universitātes Sports before moving to ASK Rīga. He scored 9 goals for Latvia in 18 matches (from 1937 to 1939). In addition to football Vanags also played basketball for Latvia on an international level, he was silver medalist of EuroBasket 1939. In 1942 during German occupation of Latvia Vanags as a player with ASK won the Latvian league title.

After the Second World War Vanags settled in France where he joined RC Strasbourg. For two seasons he played also with FC Nancy but then returned to Strasbourg. In 140 matches with RC Strasbourg Vanags scored 10 goals. In 1951 Vanags won the Coupe de France with RC Strasbourg.[1]

Later Vanags took up coaching football and basketball.

References

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