| Alberts Vaters | |
| Birth Date: | 29 September 1905 |
| Birth Place: | Riga, Latvia |
| Death Place: | Riga, Latvia |
| Position: | Forward |
| Years1: | 1925–1926 |
| Clubs1: | JKS Riga |
| Years2: | 1926–1928 |
| Clubs2: | LSB Riga |
| Years3: | 1928 |
| Clubs3: | Vanderer Riga |
| Nationalyears1: | 1928 |
| Nationalteam1: | Latvia |
| Nationalcaps1: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 2 |
Alberts Vaters (29 September 1905 – 3 November 1928)[1] was a Latvian football forward and midfielder who played five international matches for the Latvia national football team in 1928, shortly before his death.
Vaters was known as a sportsman in Latvia since 1921, however his career in football really took off in 1925 when he played with JKS Riga which in that year finished second in the top Riga football league (Vaters was more of a reserves player then though). The following season was less successful for JKS and at the end of it Vaters moved to a stronger side - LSB Riga. In 1926 he also played in several matches for the Riga garrison selected team alongside more famous footballers like Arvīds Jurgens, Pēteris Lauks, Arvīds Bārda and Arkādijs Pavlovs.[2]
In 1927 Vaters was called up to the national team for a friendly match against Sweden,[3] however he wasn't chosen to play in the match. Still Vaters played for the Riga selected team in several matches.[4] [5]
In 1928 Vaters was chosen to play in the national team in the Baltic Cup and in the first game of the tournament against Lithuania he scored two goals,[6] thus making one of the brightest débuts in the history of the national team. After coming out victorious from the Baltic Cup Vaters also capped in the next 3 international friendlies for Latvia in 1928.
In the autumn of 1928 Vaters left LSB Riga and joined Vanderer Riga, but he did not appear in any matches for the side as he was giving away to a cocaine addiction and he died of an overdose on 3 November 1928.[7]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latvia | ||||
| 1928 | 5 | 2 | ||
| Total | 5 | 2 | ||
As of match played 23 September 1928. Latvia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Vaters goal.[1]
| scope=col | No. | scope=col | Date | scope=col | Venue | scope=col | Cap | scope=col | Opponent | scope=col | Score | scope=col | Result | scope=col | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope=row style=text-align:center | 1 | 25 July 1928 | Kadrioru Staadion, Tallinn, Estonia | 1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1928 Baltic Cup | ||||||||
| scope=row style=text-align:center | 2 | 3–0 |
LSB Riga
1926