View source for Kaimar Saag

{{Short description|Estonian footballer (born 1988)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kaimar Saag
| image =
| fullname = Kaimar Saag 
| height = {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|08|05}}
| birth_place = [[Viljandi]], Estonia
| currentclub = [[Paide Linnameeskond]]
| clubnumber = 11
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Striker]]
| youthyears1 = –2005
| youthclubs1 = Viljandi SK
| youthyears2 = 2005
| youthclubs2 = [[FC Levadia Tallinn|Levadia]]
| years1 = 2004      | caps1 = 17 | goals1 = 26 | clubs1  = Suure-Jaani Kirm
| years2 = 2005      | caps2 =  9 | goals2 =  2 | clubs2  = Viljandi Kodugaas 
| years3 = 2005–2007 | caps3 = 18 | goals3 =  4 | clubs3  = [[FC Levadia Tallinn|Levadia]]
| years4 = 2005–2007 | caps4 = 41 | goals4 = 50 | clubs4  = → [[FC Levadia Tallinn II|Levadia II]] (reserves)
| years5 = 2007      | caps5 = 14 | goals5 =  1 | clubs5  = → [[JK Tallinna Kalev|Tallinna Kalev]] (loan)
| years6 = 2008–2012 | caps6 = 84 | goals6 = 14 | clubs6  = [[Silkeborg IF|Silkeborg]]
| years7 = 2012–2014 | caps7 = 24 | goals7 =  6 | clubs7  = [[Vejle Boldklub Kolding|Vejle Kolding]]
| years8 = 2014      | caps8 = 5  | goals8 =  0 | clubs8  = [[Assyriska Föreningen|Assyriska]]
| years9 = 2015      | caps9 = 28 | goals9 = 5  | clubs9  = [[FC Levadia Tallinn|Levadia]]
| years10= 2016–2018 | caps10= 50 | goals10= 26 | clubs10 = [[Nybergsund IL-Trysil|Nybergsund-Trysil]]
| years11= 2018      | caps11= 27 | goals11= 11 | clubs11 = [[B36 Tórshavn]]
| years12= 2019–2021 | caps12= 88 | goals12= 28 | clubs12 = [[Viljandi JK Tulevik|Viljandi Tulevik]]
| years13= 2022-     | caps13= 56 | goals13= 10 | clubs13 = [[Paide Linnameeskond]]
| club-update = 22 November 2023
| nationalyears1 = 2009–2010 | nationalcaps1 =  9 | nationalgoals1 = 4 | nationalteam1 = [[Estonia national under-21 football team|Estonia U21]]
| nationalyears2 = 2007–2014 | nationalcaps2 = 46 | nationalgoals2 = 3 | nationalteam2 = [[Estonia national football team|Estonia]]
| ntupdate = 
}}

'''Kaimar Saag''' (born 5 August 1988) is an [[Estonia]]n professional [[association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]] for [[Paide Linnameeskond]].

==Club career==
===Levadia===
At the age of 16, Saag started his professional career with [[FC Levadia Tallinn|Levadia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccernet.ee/news.php?id=7972|title=Kaimar Saag liitus FC Levadiaga – Soccernet.ee|website=soccernet.ee|accessdate=11 April 2018}}</ref> He scored his first [[Meistriliiga]] goal on 16 October 2005, in the 28th minute of a 2–3 victory over [[JK Merkuur Tartu|Merkuur]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/est05.html|title=Estonia 2005|website=[[RSSSF]]|accessdate=11 April 2018}}</ref> In [[2007 Meistriliiga]] season, he had a short loan with [[JK Tallinna Kalev|Tallinna Kalev]] where he scored once in 14 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccernet.ee/news.php?id=16083|title=Kaimar Saag naases Levadiasse – Soccernet.ee|website=soccernet.ee|accessdate=11 April 2018}}</ref> At the age of 19, after three seasons in Levadia, Saag moved abroad.

===Silkeborg===
On 25 January 2008, he signed a 4-year contract with [[Denmark|Danish]] [[Danish 1st Division|1st Division]] club [[Silkeborg IF|Silkeborg]].<ref>[http://tartu.postimees.ee/250108/esileht/sport/308320.php?kaimar-saag-solmis-silkeborgiga-lepingu-neljaks-aastaks Kaimar Saag sõlmis Silkeborgiga lepingu neljaks aastaks – Postimees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720125953/http://tartu.postimees.ee/250108/esileht/sport/308320.php?kaimar-saag-solmis-silkeborgiga-lepingu-neljaks-aastaks |date=20 July 2011 }}</ref> Seven days later, Saag played his first game for Silkeborg against [[Aarhus GF|Aarhus]]. He scored his first goal for Silkeborg on 6 April 2008, in a 2–1 victory against [[FC Fredericia|Fredericia]].<ref>[http://sport.postimees.ee/060408/esileht/sport/322099.php Kaimar Saag lõi Silkeborgi eest värava – Postimees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410045847/http://sport.postimees.ee/060408/esileht/sport/322099.php |date=10 April 2008 }}</ref> In April 2012, after spending four and a half years at the club, he announced his intention to leave the club due to limited play time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saag lahkub suvel Silkeborgist|url=http://sport.postimees.ee/819152/saag-lahkub-suvel-silkeborgist/|publisher=[[Postimees]]|accessdate=5 August 2012|language=Estonian|date=24 April 2012}}</ref>

===Vejle Kolding===
In May 2012, Saag signed a two-year contract with Danish side [[Vejle Boldklub Kolding|Vejle Kolding]] and joined the team later in the summer after his contract expired at Silkeborg.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kaimar Saag til Vejle Boldklub Kolding|url=http://www.vejleboldklubkolding.dk/index.php?nyhedsarkivet&newsId=5127|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130213004908/http://www.vejleboldklubkolding.dk/index.php?nyhedsarkivet&newsId=5127|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 February 2013|publisher=[[Vejle Boldklub Kolding]]|accessdate=5 August 2012|language=Danish|format=1 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Eesti koondise ründaja leidis uue koduklubi|url=http://sport.postimees.ee/827364/|publisher=[[Postimees]]|accessdate=5 August 2012|language=Estonian|date=2 May 2012}}</ref> He started well at his new club, scoring seven goals in pre-season matches.<ref>{{cite web|title=16–0 over Løsning IF|url=http://www.vejleboldklubkolding.dk/index.php?nyhedsarkivet&newsId=5306|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130212202151/http://www.vejleboldklubkolding.dk/index.php?nyhedsarkivet&newsId=5306|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 February 2013|publisher=[[Vejle Boldklub Kolding]]|accessdate=5 August 2012|language=Danish|date=6 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Flot sejr i Silkeborg|url=http://www.vejleboldklubkolding.dk/index.php?nyhedsarkivet&newsId=5308|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130212201336/http://www.vejleboldklubkolding.dk/index.php?nyhedsarkivet&newsId=5308|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 February 2013|publisher=[[Vejle Boldklub Kolding]]|accessdate=5 August 2012|language=Danish|date=8 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2–0 sejr over Viborg|url=http://www.vejleboldklubkolding.dk/index.php?nyhedsarkivet&newsId=5328|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130212231716/http://www.vejleboldklubkolding.dk/index.php?nyhedsarkivet&newsId=5328|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 February 2013|publisher=[[Vejle Boldklub Kolding]]|accessdate=5 August 2012|language=Danish|date=20 July 2012}}</ref> On 29 July 2012, he made league debut for the club in a 1–1 draw against [[HB Køge|Køge]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Saag ja Sidorenkov alustasid hooaega põhikoosseisus|url=http://sport.err.ee/jalgpall/708cae10-c1db-42cc-8ca7-df3812ffbaf9|publisher=[[Estonian Public Broadcasting]]|accessdate=5 August 2012|language=Estonian|date=30 July 2012}}</ref> A week later on his birthday, 5 August, Saag scored a [[Hat-trick#Association football|hat-trick]] and helped his side beat [[Skive IK|Skive]] 4–1.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hattrick af fødselaren|url=http://www.vejleboldklubkolding.dk/index.php?nyheder&newsId=5357|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130212200949/http://www.vejleboldklubkolding.dk/index.php?nyheder&newsId=5357|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 February 2013|accessdate=5 August 2012|language=Danish|format=5 August 2012}}</ref>

===Assyriska===

In July 2014, Saag signed a one-year contract with Swedish Superettan club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.ee/kaimar-saag-liitus-rootsi-klubiga|title=Kaimar Saag liitus Rootsi klubiga|first=Kasper|last=Elissaar|date=8 July 2014|website=soccernet.ee|accessdate=11 April 2018}}</ref>

===B36 Tórshavn===
In January 2018, Saag moved to Faroe Islands' club [[B36 Tórshavn]].<ref>[http://soccernet.ee/artikkel/kaimar-saag-jatkab-karjaari-faari-saartel Kaimar Saag jätkab karjääri Fääri saartel] Soccernet.ee, 16 January 2018 {{in lang|et}}</ref> Saag left the club again at the end of 2018 and then went to train at his former youth club Viljandi SK, just to hold his form.<ref>[https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/saag-meenutas-elu-faari-saartel-u15-karikafinaalist-besiktaseni Saag meenutas elu Fääri saartel – U15 karikafinaalist Besiktaseni (hetkeseisuga jätkub karjäär Viljandis!)], soccernet.ee, 16 January 2019</ref>

==International career==
For [[Estonia national football team]], Saag is [[cap (sport)|capped]] 46 times. He made his national team debut on 8 September 2007 against [[Croatia national football team]] in a [[UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying|UEFA Euro 2008 qualification]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccernet.ee/news.php?id=16951|title=Kaimar Saag alustab põhikoosseisus – Soccernet.ee|website=soccernet.ee|accessdate=11 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://jalgpall.ee/news.php?st=style_fp.css&news_id=726 |title=Kõik Eesti internatsionaalid |trans-title=All Estonian internationals |language=Estonian |publisher=[[Eesti Jalgpalli Liit]]}}</ref>

He scored his first goal for the national team on 30 December 2009, in a friendly match against [[Angola national football team|Angola]].

===International goals===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-align=center
|1
|align=left|30 December 2009
|align=left|[[Estadio Algarve]], [[Faro, Portugal|Faro]], Portugal
|align=left|{{fb|ANG}}
|1–0
|1–0
|align=left|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-align=center
|2
|align=left|11 August 2010
|align=left|[[Lilleküla Stadium]], [[Tallinn]], Estonia
|align=left|{{fb|FRO}}
|1–1
|2–1
|align=left|[[UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying]]
|-align=center
|3
|align=left|6 September 2011
|align=left|[[Lilleküla Stadium]], [[Tallinn]], Estonia
|align=left|{{fb|NIR}}
|4–1
|4–1
|align=left|[[UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying]]
|-align=center
|-
| colspan="12"|<small>''Correct as of 13 January 2017''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=18244|title=Kaimar Saag – national football team player|website=eu-football.info|accessdate=11 April 2018}}</ref></small>
|-
|}

==Honours==
===Club===
;Levadia
* [[Meistriliiga]]: [[2006 Meistriliiga|2006]], [[2007 Meistriliiga|2007]]
* [[Estonian Cup]]: [[2004–05 Estonian Cup|2004–05]], [[2006–07 Estonian Cup|2006–07]]
* [[Estonian Supercup]]: 2015

;B36 Tórshavn
* [[Faroe Islands Cup]]: [[2018 Faroe Islands Cup|2018]]

===Individual===
* [[Esiliiga#Champions|Esiliiga top goalscorer]]: [[2006 Esiliiga|2006]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{EFA|5768}}
* {{EFA2|301|old_id=5768}}
* {{Soccerway|kaimar-saag/42263}}
* {{NFT|23409}}

{{Paide Linnameeskond squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saag, Kaimar}}
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Viljandi]]
[[Category:Estonian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Meistriliiga players]]
[[Category:Danish Superliga players]]
[[Category:Superettan players]]
[[Category:FCI Levadia Tallinn players]]
[[Category:JK Tallinna Kalev players]]
[[Category:Estonia men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Silkeborg IF players]]
[[Category:Vejle Boldklub Kolding players]]
[[Category:Assyriska FF players]]
[[Category:B36 Tórshavn players]]
[[Category:Estonian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Denmark]]
[[Category:Estonian expatriate sportspeople in Denmark]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden]]
[[Category:Estonian expatriate sportspeople in Sweden]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway]]
[[Category:Estonian expatriate sportspeople in Norway]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Faroe Islands]]
[[Category:Estonian expatriate sportspeople in the Faroe Islands]]
[[Category:FCI Levadia U21 players]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Viljandi JK Tulevik players]]
[[Category:21st-century Estonian sportsmen]]