Remembering and holding in bright memories our colleague and coach ANDIS ĀDAMSONS (09 February 1974 – 12 May 2026)
This September would have marked 20 years since Andis joined Valmiera Football Club – before his eyes, and through his own devoted work, young footballers grew from newly planted seeds into strong and accomplished individuals. Every coach’s greatest reward is seeing their work bear fruit. It takes enormous patience, strength, dedication, and love for football, but it is undoubtedly worth it – Andis himself would have assured you of that.
Sport was Andis’s destiny. Raised in a highly athletic family, his mother Margita was involved in athletics, while his father Aldis was a volleyball player. Andis himself began his sporting journey as an athlete under coach Līga Dzene (currently the director of the sports school and an athletics coach), inspired by his mother. As his coach recalls, he was active, versatile, coordinated, friendly, communicative with his training partners, and always positive and smiling. As athletics and football training sessions often took place simultaneously on neighbouring fields – both in the inflatable hall near Valmiera State Gymnasium and at Jānis Daliņš Stadium – coach Jevgēņijs Katajevs noticed him and invited him to train in football. Thus, during his high school years, Andis became a footballer.
After graduating from Valmiera Viesturs Secondary School, Andis continued his education and in 2006 earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Turība University. Two years later, he also obtained a first-level higher education qualification as a football coach at the Latvian Academy of Sport Education.
Football is a team game, and Andis always repeated this undeniable truth to his players both on and off the field, to parents, and in his relationships with colleagues. In this regard, he was a true professional – he saw the field clearly, understood the signals around him, knew how to unite a team in moments of crisis, and was a leader.
With Andis’s passing, a strong and united team remains behind him. Now let them speak.
Māris Antons, friend, coach and colleague:
“I joined Valmiera Football Club in June 2008 while also playing football for Valmiera’s second team in the 2nd league. By then, Andis had already taken major responsibility for the club, and together with coach Katajevs, he invited me to join while I was studying at the Latvian Academy of Sport Education.
I started working with players born in 2001, including Ingars Pūlis. From that time on, Andis and I became close friends. My wife was friends with Andis’s future wife Madara, which is how Andis met her, and eventually our families became close friends as well – celebrating holidays together, New Year’s Eve, Midsummer celebrations, and travelling together.
Andis always possessed remarkable organisational skills. He was excellent at arranging football tournaments and always completed whatever he took on.
Andis was a true nature lover. I especially remember the Covid-19 period – it felt as though there was no trail in Valmiera he had not walked. He was always willing to help. Whenever he came to my father’s countryside home, he would ask whether anything needed doing. Together we chopped firewood there.
He also worked within the Latvian Football Federation Youth Committee and became something of a face of football in Vidzeme. He played an important role in the development of football in our region.
There is so much to remember. Once, during a children’s tournament in Pärnu, he called me saying he had left a bag at the football field with over a thousand euros of tournament participation fees inside. I ran to search for it.
We were always on the same wavelength, which is probably why our friendship was so meaningful. Sometimes I would think about calling Andis, pick up my phone, and realise he was already calling me.”
Normunds Zvejnieks, coach and colleague:
“With his work, patience, and character, Andis left a profound mark on many young athletes. He was not only a coach – he was a teacher, motivator, and an example of what perseverance, discipline, and respect for people truly mean.
He could inspire others, believe in someone when they still doubted themselves, and help them rise after defeat.
Many will remember not only the victories, but also the right words spoken at the right moment, the strictness that helped them grow stronger, and the humour that united the team.
He was an outstanding organiser and colleague…”
Kalvis Grāveris, coach and colleague:
“In 2018, when I came to work in Valmiera, Andis was the first person from the club’s management and coaching staff to introduce me to everything here – the sports school, its leadership, and the infrastructure.
Andis was an interesting conversationalist. We spoke about many things, not only sport.
Coaching demands a great deal from us, and we also give a great deal in return. No matter how difficult the matches or training sessions may have been, it is a relentless process in which you do not always receive as much back as you might have hoped.
For Andis’s 52nd birthday, I gave him Valdis Valters’s book Rebel After Fifty with the inscription: ‘Andi, may the second half of life be a good one.’ And as we all know, life after fifty is only beginning. The children have grown up, and we can devote more time to ourselves. But unfortunately, in this game called life, unexpectedly and painfully for all of us, Andis received a red card.”
Colleagues at Valmiera Sports School:
“Andis began working at Valmiera Sports School on 1 September 2006, when the football department once again returned under the school’s supervision. During nearly 20 years of working together, we came to know Andis as a responsible, precise, and highly professional specialist in his field.
Andis possessed natural leadership qualities – he was able to bring people together, led the school’s football department, and served as the department’s senior coach. For several years, he was also a member of the Latvian Football Federation Youth Committee.
Andis was a friendly, communicative, and supportive colleague. Whenever possible, he participated in school-organised events. He was knowledgeable and always maintained a positive atmosphere during the school’s traditional experience-exchange trips.
It is especially difficult to realise that only recently he was still here with us – planning the department’s work and assembling the team for the finals of the Latvian Youth Olympiad. Every weekend, it had already become a tradition for everyone involved to receive a message from Andis in the WhatsApp group with the football department’s training and competition schedule for the coming week.”
Valerijs Barkovs, Vice President of Valmieras FK (1996–2008):
“Andis Ādamsons began working at Valmiera FK in 2006 as a coach for boys’ teams born in 1996 and 1999. Andis not only taught young footballers how to win, but also how not to give up after defeat.
He was more than a coach – he was also a mentor who believed in his boys even when they doubted themselves.
Together with his teams, he participated in international football tournaments not only in the Baltic States, but also in the Åland Islands, Spain, France, and elsewhere. The dozens of trophies won by his teams stand as a reminder of the results of Andis’s dedicated work.
Andis knew how to build strong relationships with the boys’ parents, who travelled together like one family to support the young footballers. Anda professionalism and ability to unite people deserve the highest recognition.”
Inga Putene, colleague and Robert’s mother:
“I have known Andis for 16 years. My son started playing football at the age of four, so as an active football mother I came to know Andis as a strict, disciplined, yet always positive coach.
For even longer, however, I remember Andis as a colleague – I appreciated his broad knowledge, work ethic, and the orderliness with which he approached everything he did. Andis had a natural talent for organising and leading.
His support and involvement in the Academy’s end-of-year events, team outings outside football, and other activities were invaluable. Thank you for that.
I also appreciated his ability to speak openly and discuss things even when opinions differed. I had the impression that football was his entire life. Valmiera FC Academy and all colleagues have lost a truly excellent coach and colleague.”
Rolands Kragliks, Valmiera football veteran, father of Ralfs:
“I am grateful to Andis, and I owe him special thanks regarding my son Ralfs. When Ralfs transferred to Liepāja, Andis created no obstacles and demanded no compensation. Instead, he made a written agreement that Ralfs could return to Valmiera without compensation as well.
This was a key moment that allowed Ralfs to remain in football.
Andis truly lived and breathed football and sport. In his free time, he loved being in nature – fishing and going on hikes through forests and along the seaside. He was also always willing to help during community work events.”
Sanita Čepule, on behalf of Anda students’ parents:
“He was a coach with a capital letter – strict, demanding, and sometimes harsh, yet behind it all there was always a sincere desire to instil discipline, respect, character, and love for football in children.
As a mother, I will remember Andis for his incredible devotion to his work and to the children. I have never seen such passion, care, and dedication in any other coach.
He did not only train children in football – he also helped them grow into strong and responsible people.
Thank you for everything you gave our children – for your time, energy, belief, and heart.
Your work and values will continue to live on in every child you trained.
May your journey into eternity be peaceful.”
We express our deepest condolences to Anda family – his wife Madara, sons Kārlis, Niks, and Dāvis, his sister, and parents.
In our memories will remain Anda smile, his genuine care for others, his ever-optimistic spirit, and his love for his work.
The farewell ceremony for Andis will take place on 19 May 2026 at 3:00 PM at Valmiera Crematorium.
His family invites everyone to accompany Andis on his final journey, bringing two flowers and the bright memories that will forever remain in our hearts.
