Raio Piiroja

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Template:Short description Template:Infobox football biography Raio Piiroja (born 11 July 1979) is an Estonian former professional footballer. He played as a centre-back for Pärnu/Kalev, Lelle, Flora, Vålerenga, Fredrikstad, Vitesse and Chengdu Blades.

Piiroja made his international debut for the Estonia national team on 21 November 1998 in a friendly against Armenia. He was team captain from 2008 to 2011, and made a total of 113 appearances for Estonia before retiring in 2013. On 31 March 2015, Piiroja made his 114th and final appearance for Estonia in his testimonial match against Iceland.

Known for his leadership and ability in the air, Piiroja was named Estonian Footballer of the Year five times, in 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.[1][2]

Club career

Early career

Piiroja started playing football with his hometown club Rivaal, before moving to Pärnu. He made his Meistriliiga debut on 16 July 1995, five days after his 16th birthday, against Eesti Põlevkivi in the opening match of the season.[3] 10 days later, on 26 July 1995, Piiroja scored his first goal in the Meistriliiga in a 4–2 defeat against Narva Trans and became the youngest goalscorer in Meistriliiga history at the age of 16 years and 15 days.[4][5][6]

Flora

In 1996, Piiroja joined Lelle, a team affiliated with Flora. He played for Lelle from 1997 until 1999, when he was promoted to Flora's first team. With Flora, Piiroja won his first Meistriliiga title in the 2001 season. He won his second consecutive Meistriliiga title in the 2002 season and was named Estonian Player of the Year for the first time.[2]

Vålerenga (loan)

In 2003, Piiroja joined Norwegian Tippeligaen side Vålerenga on loan.

Fredrikstad

In August 2004, Piiroja signed a contract with Tippeligaen side Fredrikstad. On 12 November 2006, he scored twice in the 2006 Norwegian Football Cup Final against Sandefjord as Fredrikstad won 3–0. In 2007, Piiroja extended his contract for four more years. During his time with Fredrikstad, Piiroja won four consecutive Estonian Player of the Year awards, in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.[2] Fredrikstad finished the 2009 season in 14th place and were relegated from the Tippeligaen after a 2–0 loss against Sarpsborg 08 in the play-offs. Fredrikstad returned to the Norwegian top division after a season, with Piiroja scoring in both legs of an 8–1 aggregate win against Hønefoss in the promotion play-offs.

Vitesse

On 31 August 2011, Piiroja signed a one-year contract, with an option of extension for another season, at Eredivisie side Vitesse.[7]

Chengdu Blades

On 18 February 2013, Piiroja signed for China League One team Chengdu Blades.[8]

International career

Piiroja made his international debut for the Estonia national team on 21 November 1998, in a 2–1 loss against Armenia in a friendly, replacing Viktor Alonen in the 85th minute of the match. Piiroja soon established himself as Estonia's first choice centre-back. In 2008, he succeeded Martin Reim as team captain. On 25 March 2011, Piiroja made his 100th appearance in a 2–0 win over Uruguay in a friendly. He was sent off by referee Viktor Kassai in the 76th minute of the first leg of the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying play-off against Republic of Ireland, which Estonia went on to lose 5–1 on aggregate. Piiroja ended his international career in October 2013, but made one final appearance for Estonia on 31 March 2015, in his testimonial match against Iceland.[9] He made a total of 114 appearances and scored 8 goals.[2]

Personal life

Piiroja married his long-time girlfriend Marje in 2005. They divorced in 2015.[10] Outside of football, Piiroja enjoys skiing and is an avid fisherman.

On 1 June 2016, Piiroja released his autobiography, Ninamees Raio Piiroja, õhuvõitleja, written by sports journalist Gunnar Press.[11]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental OtherTemplate:Efn Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Pärnu/Kalev 1995–96 Meistriliiga 8 1 — — 8 1
Lelle 1996–97 Esiliiga — —
Lelle 1997–98 Meistriliiga 9 0 — — 9 0
1998 6 1 — — 6 1
1999 7 2 — — 7 2
Total 22 3 — — 22 3
Flora 1999 Meistriliiga 11 2 2 0 1 0 14 2
2000 26 1 2 0 — 28 1
2001 24 2 1 0 — 25 2
2002 26 9 2 0 0 0 25 2
2004 15 3 2 0 3 0 25 2
Total 102 17 9 0 4 0 115 17
Tervis Pärnu 2000 Esiliiga 1 0 — — 1 0
Valga 2001 Esiliiga 1 0 — — 1 0
Vålerenga (loan) 2003 Tippeligaen 11 1 3 0 3 0 2 1 19 2
Fredrikstad 2004 Tippeligaen 9 0 — — 9 0
2005 12 1 — — 12 1
2006 25 0 2 3 — — 27 4
2007 22 3 2 0 — 24 3
2008 23 2 — — 23 2
2009 25 2 2 1 1 0 28 3
2010 Adeccoligaen 28 4 — 3 2 31 6
2011 Tippeligaen 15 0 — — 16 0
Total 159 12 24 3 4 1 4 2 191 15
Vitesse 2011–12 Eredivisie 2 0 0 0 — 0 0 2 0
Chengdu Blades 2013 China League One 18 1 — — 18 1
Career total 324 35 27 3 16 1 10 3 377 42

Template:Notelist

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Estonia 1998 1 0
1999 5 1
2000 6 1
2001 13 1
2002 9 0
2003 8 0
2004 12 1
2005 6 0
2006 5 0
2007 9 2
2008 8 0
2009 10 1
2010 7 1
2011 9 0
2012 1 0
2013 4 0
2015 1 0
Total 114 8
Scores and results list Estonia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Piiroja goal.
List of international goals scored by Raio Piiroja[12]
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 4 September 1999 Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroe Islands 4 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Faroe Islands flag alias = Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg size = name = altlink = national football team

}}||align="center"|2–0||align="center"|2–0||UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying

2 11 June 2000 Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia 9 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Georgia (country) shortname alias = Georgia flag alias = Flag of Georgia.svg flag alias-1008 = Sakartvelo_-_drosha.svg flag alias-1762 = Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Kartli-Kakheti.svg flag alias-1918 = Flag of Georgia (1918–1921).svg flag alias-1921 = Flag of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (1921–1922).svg flag alias-1922 = Flag of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (1922–1937).svg flag alias-1937 = Flag of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (1937–1951).svg flag alias-1951 = Flag of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic.svg flag alias-1990 = Flag of Georgia (1990–2004).svg flag alias-naval-1997 = Naval ensign of Georgia (1997–2004).svg link alias-naval-1997 = Georgian Navy flag alias-army = Army Flag of Georgia.svg link alias-army = Georgian Land Forces flag alias-coast guard=Battle ensign of the Coast Guard of Georgia.svg link alias-coast guard=Coast Guard of Georgia flag alias-military = Flag of the Georgian Armed Forces.svg link alias-military = Georgian Armed Forces flag alias-navy=Flag of the Georgian Border Police.svg link alias-navy=Border Police of Georgia flag alias-air force=Flag of the Aviation and Air Defense Command of the Defense Forces of Georgia.png link alias-air force=Georgian Air Force flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Georgia.svg link alias-naval = Georgian Navy empty = Georgia XV national rugby union team size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant = 1990

}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|1–0||Friendly

3 28 March 2001 Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus 14 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Cyprus flag alias = Flag of Cyprus.svg flag alias-1878 = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg flag alias-1881 = Flag of Cyprus (1881–1922).svg flag alias-colonial = Blue Ensign of Cyprus (1922).svg flag alias-April 1960 = Flag of Cyprus (1960).svg flag alias-1960 = Flag of Cyprus (1960–2006).svg link alias-army = Cypriot Ground Forces size = name = variant = altlink = national football team

}}||align="center"|2–2||align="center"|2–2||2002 FIFA World Cup qualification

4 16 February 2004 Ta' Qali National Stadium, La Valletta, Malta 44 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Malta flag alias = Flag of Malta.svg flag alias-1875 = Flag of Malta (1875–1898).svg flag alias-1898 = Flag of Malta (1898–1923).svg flag alias-1923 = Flag of Malta (1923–1943).svg flag alias-1943 = Flag of Malta (1943–1964).svg flag alias-unofficial-1943 = Flag of Malta (1943).svg flag alias-colonial = Flag of Malta (1943-1964).svg flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Malta.svg link alias-naval = Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta link alias-navy = Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta flag alias-navy =Naval Jack of Malta.svg flag alias-1814 = 19th Century Flag of Malta.svg size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}}||align="center"|2–2||align="center"|2–5||2014 Malta International Tournament

5 22 August 2007 A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia 68 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Andorra flag alias = Flag of Andorra.svg flag alias-1806 = Flag of Andorra (1806–1866).svg flag alias-1866 = Flag of Andorra (1866–1934).gif flag alias-1934 = Flag of Andorra (1934–1939).svg flag alias-civil = Flag of Andorra (civil).svg var2 = 1866 var3 = 1934 var4 = civil size = name = variant = altlink = national football team

}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|2–1||UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying

6 12 September 2007 Skopje City Stadium, Skopje, Macedonia 70
  1. REDIRECT Template:Country data North Macedonia||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|1–1||UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
7 14 October 2009 A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia 91 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Belgium flag alias = Flag of Belgium (civil).svg flag alias-government = Government Ensign of Belgium.svg flag alias-state = Flag of Belgium.svg flag alias-1830 = Flag of Belgium (1830).svg flag alias-1858 = Royal ensign of Belgium (1858).svg flag alias-army = Flag of the Belgian Land Component.svg link alias-army = Belgian Land Component flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg link alias-naval = Belgian Navy flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Belgium.svg link alias-air force = Belgian Air Component flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg link alias-navy = Belgian Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|2–0||2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

8 11 August 2010 A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia 97 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Faroe Islands flag alias = Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg size = name = altlink = national football team

}}||align="center"|2–1||align="center"|2–1||UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying

Honours

Flora

Fredrikstad

Individual

See also

References

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External links

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