Joel Lindpere

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Joel Lindpere
Personal information
Date of birth (1981-10-05) 5 October 1981
Place of birthTallinn, Estonia
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing positionAttacking Midfielder
Club information
Current clubFC Baník Ostrava
Number26
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1997Nõmme Kalju7(14)
1997–1999Lelle SK23(5)
2000–2007Flora130(37)
2001–2002→ Warrior Valga (loan)20(17)
2004–2005→ CSKA Sofia (loan)11(0)
2007–2009Tromsø75(5)
2010–2012New York Red Bulls97(15)
2013Chicago Fire25(2)
2014–Baník Ostrava0(0)
National team‡
1999–Estonia[1]92(7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 January 2014.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 27 January 2014
Lindpere with Tromsø

Joel Lindpere (born 5 October 1981) is an Estonian professional footballer who currently plays for FC Baník Ostrava in the Czech top-tier Gambrinus Liga. He plays as a midfielder.

Club career

Estonia

Born in Tallinn, Lindpere made his first-team debut for JK Nõmme Kalju at the age of 15 in 1997. He then moved to Lelle SK, and scored 5 goals in 23 appearances with the club. After two seasons he moved to FC Flora Tallinn, Estonia's biggest club, in 2000. A year later Lindpere joined to FC Valga on loan, playing 20 games and scoring 17 goals. After his impressive goal scoring display with FC Valga he moved back to FC Flora Tallinn during the 2002 season. Upon his return to FC Flora Tallinn, Lindpere became one of the top players in the Estonian Top Division and helped lead his club to league titles in 2002 and 2003.

Bulgaria, Estonia and Norway

At the age of 22, Lindpere moved abroad to play for CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria, but after one season he moved back to FC Flora Tallinn. In September 2006, he was kicked off the club after an incident with the 4th referee in a Cup match against FC Levadia Tallinn.[2] In January 2007, Greek club Panetolikos F.C. offered Lindpere a contract, but eventually he refused.[3] In February 2007, he signed a 3-year contract with Norwegian Tippeligaen club Tromsø IL.[4] His first goal for Tromsø IL came against Molde in a training match only a few days after he had signed his contract. In 20 August 2009 Lindpere scored against top Spanish side Athletic Bilbao in a 3–2 loss in a UEFA Europa League match played at San Mamés Stadium.[5]

Red Bulls

After the 2009 season, Lindpere turned down a contract extension from Tromsø and underwent trials at German Hansa Rostock and Russian clubs Anzhi Makhachkala and Sibir Novosibirsk before eventually signing with Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls on 25 January 2010. His contract lasts two year with an option for two additional ones.[6][7] He scored his first goal for the club in a friendly against Santos FC on 20 March 2010, becoming the first player to score a goal at the new Red Bull Arena.[8] He followed this up with the Red Bulls first goal of the 2010 Major League Soccer season, scoring the winning goal of the season opener against the Chicago Fire.[9]

On 22 July Lindpere played in the Red Bulls friendly against Tottenham and, after beating his defender, sent a low cross in to the 6 yard box (5 Meters) which New York Red Bulls new signing, Thierry Henry cleverly clipped past the goalkeeper to score his first goal for the club.[10] On 21 October 2010 Lindpere scored the Red Bulls second goal in a 2–0 victory over New England Revolution which helped New York clinch its second regular season Eastern Conference title.[11] On 30 October 2010 Lindpere scored the only goal in the Red Bull's 1–0 victory in the first leg of their First Round Playoff against the San Jose Earthquakes in the 55th minute at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara. During the 2010 MLS season Lindpere scored 3 goals and led the club in assists with 6.[12] Lindpere earned two awards for his play in MLS. At mid-season, he was added to the 2010 MLS All-Star roster as an inactive member for the match against Manchester United F.C.,[13] and the end of the season Lindpere was named 2010 Most Valuable Player for New York Red Bulls.[14] Joel Lindpere was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters for Week 16 of the 2011 Major League Soccer season.[15] Lindpere set team season records in games played (34), games started (34), and minutes played (3,048). He missed only 12 minutes of game action. His seven goals and seven assists were ranked third and first on the team.[16] On 26 October 2011 Lindpere helped New York to a 2–0 victory over FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park in a 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs match by scoring the clubs first goal of the night.

Lindpere signed a multi-year contract extension with New York on 31 January 2012.[17]

Chicago Fire

On 4 January 2013 Lindpere was traded to Chicago Fire in exchange for an international roster spot.[18]

International career

Lindpere made his international debut on 1 November 1999, when he was 18 years old, in a friendly match against United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi, when he substituted Andres Oper in the 46th minute.[19] Since his debut, Lindpere has been a prominent member of the Estonia national football team, having been capped 81 times, scoring 5 goals. He scored his first goal for the team in a 1–0 friendly win over Moldova in the 58th minute.[20]

In the beginning of 2010, he announced that he will not play for the national team because he wants to focus on his club career.[21] In 2011, he stated the same.[22] However, after Estonia finished in second place in Group C in UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying in October 2011, Lindpere left the door open to return to the national team for their play-off series against Ireland. He stated that his decision to play would heavily depend on whether his club team qualified for the MLS play-offs and that they were his main priority at the moment.[23] After New York's elimination from the play-offs, Lindpere was given permission to join the Estonia squad for its matches against Ireland.[24]

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 2004-02-18 Ta' Qali National Stadium, La Valletta, Malta  Moldova 1–0 1–0 2004 Malta Tournament
2 2004-05-30 A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia  Denmark 2–2 2–2 Friendly match
3 2004-08-18 Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein  Liechtenstein 2–1 2–1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 2005-11-12 Finnair Stadium, Helsinki, Finland  Finland 2–2 2–2 Friendly match
5 2007-11-17 Estadi Comunal d'Andorra la Vella, Andorra la Vella, Andorra  Andorra 2–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
6 2013-03-26 A Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia  Andorra 2–0 2–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 2013-11-15 A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia  Azerbaijan 2–1 2–1 Friendly match

Career stats

Club

Season Club Country Level Apps Goals
2014 Baník Ostrava Czech Republic I 0 0
2013 Chicago Fire United States I 25 2
2012 New York Red Bulls United States I 34 5
2011 New York Red Bulls United States I 34 7
2010 New York Red Bulls United States I 29 3
2009 Tromsø IL Norway I 27 2
2008 Tromsø IL Norway I 24 0
2007 Tromsø IL Norway I 24 3
2006 FC Flora Tallinn Estonia I 20 5
2005 FC Flora Tallinn Estonia I 11 3
2004/05 PFC CSKA Sofia Bulgaria I 11 0
2004 FC Flora Tallinn Estonia I 25 6
2003 FC Flora Tallinn Estonia I 20 5
2002 FC Flora Tallinn Estonia I 20 10
2002 FC Valga Estonia II 8 11
2001 FC Valga Estonia II 12 6
2001 FC Flora Tallinn Estonia I 7 0
2000 FC Flora Tallinn Estonia I 27 8
1999 Lelle SK Estonia I 22 5
1998 Lelle SK Estonia I 1 0
1997 JK Nõmme Kalju Estonia IV 7 14

Honours

Club

Individual

See also

  • List of current MLS players

References

  1. ↑ "Kõik Eesti internatsionaalid" [All Estonian internationals] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 12 June 2013. 
  2. ↑ Flora tõstis Lindpere ukse taha – Eesti Päevaleht (Estonian)
  3. ↑ Tundmatu Kreeka klubi pakub Lindperele lepingut – Eesti Päevaleht (Estonian)
  4. ↑ Joel Lindpere sõlmis Tromsöga lepingu – Soccernet.ee (Estonian)
  5. ↑ Lindpere scores in Europa League – nettavisen.no (Norwegian)
  6. ↑ Lewis, Brian (26 Jan 2010). "Lindpere joins New York –". Nypost.com. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  7. ↑ Joel Lindpere Signs for New York Red Bulls – estonianfreepress.com
  8. ↑ "A Grand Opening Night –". Bigapplesoccer.com. 20 Mar 2010. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  9. ↑ "Red Bulls blank Fire 1–0 in first MLS game at Red Bull Arena –". Usatoday.com. 27 Mar 2010. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  10. ↑ "Lindpere assists on Henry goal –". Sports.espn.go.com. 23 Jul 2010. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  11. ↑ Red Bulls beat Revs, clinch Eastern Conference – mlssoccer.com
  12. ↑ 2010 stats – newyorkredbulls.com
  13. ↑ Kansas City Wizards Media Relations (27 Jul 2010). "Jimmy Nielsen Named 2010 All-Star –". Sportingkc.com. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  14. ↑ Red Bull New York Media Relations. "Red Bulls announce 2010 team awards –". Newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  15. ↑ Red Bull New York Media Relations (5 Jul 2011). "Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere wins MLS Player of the Week for Week 16 –". Newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  16. ↑ "Lindpere sets several RBNY standards –". Bigapplesoccer.com. 24 Oct 2011. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  17. ↑ "New York Signs Midfielder Joel Lindpere to a New Contract". New York Red Bulls. 30 Jan 2012. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  18. ↑ http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2013/01/fire-acquire-midfielder-joel-lindpere
  19. ↑ ARAABIA ÜHENDEMIRAADID – EESTI 1:1 – jalgpallihaigla.ee (Estonian)
  20. ↑ EESTI – MOLDOVA 1:0 (0:0) – jalgpallihaigla.ee (Estonian)
  21. ↑ "Lindpere Declines Estonian Callups –". Redbullsreader.wordpress.com. 30 Aug 2010. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Club Over Country –". Bigapplesoccer.com. 16 Mar 2011. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  23. ↑ Kristian Dyer (13 Oct 2011). "Linpere focus on NY". Mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  24. ↑ Lyttleton, Ben (7 Nov 2011). "Estonia boosted as Red Bulls star Lindpere set to join squad". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  25. ↑ Kansas City Wizards Media Relations (27 Jul 2010). "Lindpere named 2010 MLS All Star –". Sportingkc.com. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  26. ↑ "Final six players added to 2011 MLS All-Star team". MLSsoccer.com. 25 Jul 2011. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 
  27. ↑ "RBNY's Lindpere earns first Player of the Week award". MLSsoccer.com. 5 Jul 2011. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012. 

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