Dario Šits

Dario Šits
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-02-04) 4 February 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Kuldiga, Latvia
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Helmond Sport
(on loan from Parma)
Number 9
Youth career
2014–2020 Metta
2020–2021 Parma
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Parma 5 (0)
2023–2024 → SPAL (loan) 1 (0)
2024– → Helmond Sport (loan) 12 (4)
International career‡
2019 Latvia U16 4 (4)
2020 Latvia U17 2 (1)
2022 Latvia U19 1 (0)
2022–2024 Latvia U21 4 (1)
2024– Latvia 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:44, 25 September 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 November 2024

Dario Šits (born 4 February 2004) is a Latvian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Eerste Divisie club Helmond Sport, on loan from Parma, and the Latvia national team.[1]

Club career

Born in Kuldīga,[2] Šits started playing football at FK Metta, before joining Italian side Parma in 2020.[3][4] Following his performances for the Under-17 and Primavera teams, the forward earned his first call-ups to the club's first team during the 2021–22 season, under head coach Giuseppe Iachini.[3][5]

On 2 March 2022, Šits made his professional debut for Parma, starting in a 1–1 Serie B draw against AC Monza.[3] On 11 March, shortly after coming on as a substitute in a league match against Cittadella, the forward earned a penalty kick for his side, which was then missed by Juan Brunetta: the fixture ended in a 1–1 draw.[6]

On 6 October of the same year, Šits extended his contract with Parma until 2026.[2][4]

On 24 August 2023, Šits joined Serie C club SPAL on a season-long loan, with an option to buy in favor of the club and a buy-back clause in favor of Parma.[7][8][9] He made his debut for the club on 2 September, starting in a 1–0 league win over Vis Pesaro:[10] however, he suffered an ACL injury in the same game, thus being forced to enter long-term convalescence.[11][12]

On 18 July 2024, Šits joined Dutch Eerste Divisie club Helmond Sport on a season-long loan deal, with an option to buy.[13][14] He made his debut in the opening fixture of the season, starting in a 1–1 home draw against Jong Utrecht.[15][16]

International career

Šits has represented Latvia at various youth international levels, having played for the under-17, under-19 and under-21 national teams.[5][17]

In October 2024, Dario Šits received his first call-up to the Latvia national football team for the matches against the Faroe Islands and North Macedonia.[18]

On 10 October Dario Šits made his debut for the Latvia national football team in a UEFA Nations League match against North Macedonia, coming on as a substitute in the 17th minute to replace the injured Vladislavs Gutkovskis. This debut came immediately after Paolo Nicolato's first call-up.[19]

In just his second match for the Latvia national team, Dario Šits scored his first goal for the team. Coming on as a substitute in the 66th minute, replacing Jānis Ikaunieks, by the 69th minute, after a fantastic cross from Andrejs Cigaņiks, Dario Šits scored with his first touch.[20]

Style of play

Šits is a centre-forward, who has been praised mainly for his technical and physical abilities, as well as his speed, his work rate and his finishing.[3][4][5] Mainly a right-footed player, he is also capable of using his left foot.[4][5]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 2 September 2023[21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Coppa Italia Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Parma 2021–22 Serie B 3 0 0 0 — — 3 0
2022–23 2 0 1 0 — — 3 0
Total 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
SPAL (loan) 2023–24 Serie C 1 0 — — 0 0 1 0
Career total 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 0

References

  1. ^ Dario Šits at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b "DARIO SITS RINNOVA IL CONTRATTO, AVANTI INSIEME!". Parma Calcio 1913 (in Italian). 6 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Maschio, Tommaso (2 March 2022). "Lettone, classe '04 e bomber implacabile con la Primavera. Ecco Sits, il nuovo gioiello del Parma". TUTTOmercatoWEB.com (in Italian). Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d Orlandin, Alessandro (22 August 2023). "Perché la SPAL ha scelto il giovane Dario Sits per completare il suo attacco". Lo Spallino (in Italian). Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Brianti, Simone (2 March 2022). "Parma, Sits convocato da Iachini: chi è il 2004 lettone della Primavera". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  6. ^ Justovičs, Kārlis (11 March 2022). "Šits palīdz nopelnīt 11 metru soda sitienu, "Parma" neizšķirts B sērijā". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  7. ^ "DARIO SITS A TITOLO TEMPORANEO ALLA SPAL". Parma Calcio 1913 (in Italian). 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Dario Sits è un nuovo calciatore biancazzurro!". S.P.A.L. (in Italian). 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  9. ^ ""Parma" izīrē Šitu uz zemāku Itālijas līgu". Sportazinas.com (in Latvian). 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Spal – Vis Pesaro, finisce 1–0. Antenucci sigla la vittoria". Quotidiano Sportivo (in Italian). 2 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  11. ^ Baroni, Enrico (4 September 2023). "Dario Sits dovrà rimanere fuori alcuni mesi". Lo Spallino (in Italian). Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Latvijas uzbrucējs gūst smagu savainojumu Itālijā". Sportazinas.com (in Latvian). 4 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  13. ^ "HELMOND SPORT HUURT DARIO ŠITS MET KOOPOPTIE VAN PARMA CALCIO 1913" [HELMOND SPORT RENTS DARIO FITS WITH PURCHASE OPTION FROM PARMA CALCIO 1913]. Helmond Sport (in Dutch). 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  14. ^ Pichel, Dominique (18 July 2024). "Helmond Sport huurt spits uit Serie A, heeft duo op proef en hoopt op nog meer nieuwelingen". Eindhovens Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  15. ^ Esseveldt, Luuk van (9 August 2024). "Incompleet Helmond Sport begint met remise, duel tegen Jong FC Utrecht ontsierd door staking". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Helmond Sport vs. Jong FC Utrecht 1–1: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Šits nevarēs palīdzēt U21 izlasei jūnija spēlēs". Sportazinas.com (in Latvian). 29 May 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  18. ^ Poļakovs, Iļja. "Latvijas izlase svētdien uzsāks oktobra nometni". LFF. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Latvija - Ziemeļmaķedonija 10.10.2024". LFF.lv. LFF. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Faroe Islands vs Latvia match sheet". LFF.lv. LFF. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  21. ^ Dario Šits at Soccerway. Retrieved 20 October 2022.