Kaspars Gorkšs
A Latvian defensive pillar who captained his national team and later steered its entire football federation as president.
Born 1981 (age 45)·Latvian footballer·Birthday: November 6·Millennials
Biography
Kaspars Gorkšs built a legacy of leadership, both on the pitch and in the boardroom. The tall, commanding defender left Latvia as a young man to forge a career primarily in England, becoming a fan favorite at clubs like Blackpool, Queens Park Rangers, and Reading. His aerial dominance and calm presence were instrumental in QPR's promotion to the Premier League in 2011. For Latvia, Gorkšs was a symbol of stability, earning over 90 caps and wearing the captain's armband with distinction during a period when the national team sought to compete with Europe's established sides. His most significant impact, however, may have come after hanging up his boots. In a bold transition, Gorkšs was elected President of the Latvian Football Federation in 2018, taking on the immense challenge of overseeing the sport's development in his homeland from the top down.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kaspars was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kaspars Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Kaspars's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Captained the Latvia national football team, earning over 90 international caps.
- Won the Football League Championship with Queens Park Rangers in 2011, securing promotion to the English Premier League.
- Served as the President of the Latvian Football Federation from 2018 to 2019.
- Played professionally in four different countries: Latvia, England, Norway, and Ireland.
Did You Know?
He scored a memorable long-range volley for Blackpool in a Championship match against Sheffield Wednesday in 2007.
Gorkšs holds a degree in business management from the University of Latvia.
His presidency of the Latvian FA made him one of the few former players to lead a European national federation.
He began his professional career with FK Auda in his native Latvia.
“A defender's job is to read the game and stop the attack before it starts.”
