The beloved Latvian wizard, whose electrifying pace and clinical finishing terrorised Premier League defences for Southampton. Career record: 75 caps and 15 goals for Latvia; club career at Skonto, Southampton, Anorthosis Famagusta; honours include national Player of the Year 1999, national Player of the Year 2000, national Player of the Year 2001.
One rank above: Māris Verpakovskis at #1.
One rank below: Vitālijs Astafjevs at #3.
Latvia's editorial top five: Māris Verpakovskis · Marians Pahars · Vitālijs Astafjevs · Aleksandrs Koļinko · Andris Vaņins.