Auda
FK Auda is a Latvian professional football club founded in 1969, based in Ķekava near the capital Riga. The club currently plays in the Latvian Higher League (Virslīga), the top division of domestic football. They play their home matches at Skonto Stadium in Riga, with occasional games at Mežaparks Sports Village. The club achieved their first major trophy in 2022 by winning the Latvian Cup, which also secured their debut in European competition.
History
Overview
General information about the club
FK Auda is a professional football club that competes in Latvia's top division, the Virslīga. Based in Ķekava near Riga, the club has experienced various transformations throughout its existence, including name changes and relocations. The team currently plays at Skonto Stadium in Riga, having moved from their previous home in Ķekava.
Most recent season and achievements
In the 2024 season, Auda was managed by Slovenian coach Zoran Zeljković, who was later replaced by Jurģis Kalns before the start of the 2025 season. The club finished 3rd in the league in 2024, maintaining their strong position in Latvian football. During this period, Auda made the significant decision to switch from playing in Ķekava to the more spacious Skonto Stadium in Riga.
History
Early years
The history of Auda dates back to 1969, when the football team of the kolhoz 9. maijs first appeared in the lower divisions of the Latvian championships. The team initially played its matches in Vecmīlgrāvis at Alberts Šeibelis Stadium, named after the former Latvia national football team captain. The club spent most of its early years in the lower divisions of Latvian football, with only brief appearances in the top league during 1986–1987, which did not yield positive results.
Successful period
In the late 1980s, the kolhoz and football team were renamed to Auda. Under the management of Valerijs Leitāns and Juris Docenko, Auda made its debut in the top division of the Latvian championships, the Virslīga, in 1991. Despite finishing 15th among 20 teams, this marked an important milestone for the club. After a period of instability that included a temporary reformation as RFK in 1992, the team reverted to the Auda name in 1995.
Crisis and recovery
Following their return to the Auda name, the club faced challenging years in the lower divisions. In 1996, Auda was essentially a completely new team playing in the 2nd division. The young squad showed promise by winning their third division zone in 1997, though they lost in the finals to the FK Valmiera reserve team. After several years of rebuilding, Auda finished first in 2001 and earned promotion back to the Virslīga, though they were relegated again in 2004 after three seasons in the top tier.
Current period
On 15 October 2005, Auda played its first game at its new stadium in Ķekava. In 2007, the club merged with FK Alberts to form FK Auda/Alberts. After a long 17-year stint in the First League, Auda achieved promotion and returned to the Virslīga in 2022. The club's breakthrough came on 19 October 2022, when they won their first major trophy by defeating RFS 1–0 in the Latvian Cup final, securing European football for the first time in their history. In 2023, under coach Simo Valakari, Auda finished 3rd in the league and qualified for the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League qualifiers. Valakari later departed for Riga FC, with Portuguese coach Filipe Almeida taking over.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
FK Auda has achieved notable success in domestic Latvian football competitions. The club won the Latvian Cup in 2022, marking their first major trophy in club history. They also reached the Latvian Cup final again in 2024 but finished as runners-up. In league competition, Auda has achieved third place finishes in the Virslīga in both 2023 and 2024, demonstrating their recent rise to prominence in Latvian football.
Traditional Rivals
The source material does not provide specific information about traditional rivals of FK Auda.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Stadium
FK Auda has undergone several stadium changes throughout its history. The club initially played at Alberts Šeibelis Stadium in Vecmīlgrāvis, named after the former Latvia national football team captain. On 15 October 2005, Auda played its first game at its new stadium in Ķekava. More recently, the club has switched to playing at the more spacious Skonto Stadium in Riga, with occasional home matches held at Mežaparks Sports Village in Mežaparks.