Vitālijs Maksimenko

Vitālijs Maksimenko (born 8 December 1990) is a Latvian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He made his international debut for Latvia in 2013, earning over 50 appearances.

Club career

Early career

As a youth player Vitālijs Maksimenko was a member of his local club – Skonto Riga Academy. At the age of 13 he moved to Daugava 90. In 2008 Maksimenko was taken to the club's first team Daugava Rīga. That year they became champions of the Latvian First League. Maksimenko made his first team debut in 2009. In mid-season, with nine Latvian Higher League appearances, Maksimenko went on for trials with the Russian Premier League clubs Lokomotiv Moscow and CSKA Moscow. CSKA signed him on loan until the end of the season. He played several matches for the club's reserves.

Skonto Riga

At the start of 2010 Maksimenko began training with the Latvian Higher League club Skonto Riga. Leaving a good impression, he signed a contract with the club on 15 March 2010. Playing 25 matches in his debut season, Maksimenko helped Skonto become the champions of the Latvian Higher League. In 2011 they became the champions of Baltic League, and won the Latvian Football Cup in 2012. Skonto finished the 2012 season as the runners-up of the league, with Maksimenko being included in both – Latvian Football Federation and sportacentrs.com teams of the tournament. He was also named the best defender of the season, and later on voted as the best Skonto Riga player of the season.

Brighton and Hove Albion

At the end of 2012 Maksimenko went on trial with the English Football League Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion. In spite of interest from other Football League Championship and Premier League clubs, he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract deal with the Seagulls on 5 January 2013, being added to the development squad. He made his only league appearance for Brighton in a 2–1 defeat to Derby County in August 2013.

Yeovil (loan) On 18 March 2013, Maksimenko joined Football League One side Yeovil Town on a one-month loan deal. Maksimenko made his Yeovil and Football League debut as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 defeat against Oldham Athletic, on 16 April 2013. On 20 May 2013, Maksimenko appeared as a second-half substitute in the 2013 League One play-off final as Yeovil beat Brentford to earn promotion to the Championship. Maksimenko returned to Brighton having appeared four times for Yeovil.

Kilmarnock (loan) On 24 January 2014, Maksimenko joined Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock on a loan deal lasting till the end of the 2013–14 Scottish Premiership season. He scored his only goal for Kilmarnock in a 2–1 defeat to Partick Thistle.

VVV-Venlo (loan) On 1 September 2014, it was announced that Maksimenko was sent on loan to Dutch Eerste Divisie side VVV-Venlo until the end of the season.

Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza On 30 June 2017 he signed a contract with a Polish club named Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza.

International career

Maksimenko has been a member of Latvian under-19 and under-21 levels. On 15 August 2012 he was firstly called from the Latvia national football team for a friendly match against Montenegro. Maksimenko made his full international debut on 6 February 2013 in a 3–0 friendly match defeat against Japan, coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute and replacing Vladimirs Kamešs.

International goals Score and Result list Latvia's goal tally first

Honours

Skonto Riga Latvian Higher League: 2010 Baltic League: 2010–11 Latvian Cup: 2011–12

Yeovil Town Football League One play-offs: 2013

Olimpija Ljubljana Slovenian Cup: 2018–19, 2020–21

Individual Best defender of Latvian Higher League: 2012 Skonto Riga Player of the Season: 2012