Joel Lindpere

Joel Lindpere

Lindpere with the New York Red Bulls in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth (1981-10-05) 5 October 1981
Place of birth Tallinn, Estonia
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position Attacking Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Free agent
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1997 Nõmme Kalju 7 (13)
1997–1999 Lelle 23 (5)
2000–2007 Flora 130 (37)
2001–2002 → Valga (loan) 20 (17)
2005 → CSKA Sofia (loan) 11 (0)
2007–2009 Tromsø 75 (5)
2010–2012 New York Red Bulls 97 (15)
2013 Chicago Fire 25 (2)
2014–2015 Baník Ostrava 18 (0)
2015 Nõmme Kalju 28 (4)
National team‡
1999–2016 Estonia 106 (7)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 November 2015.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21 November 2015

Joel Lindpere (born 5 October 1981) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Estonian Meistriliiga club Nõmme Kalju and the Estonia national football team.

Club career

Early years

Born in Tallinn, Lindpere made his first-team debut for Nõmme Kalju at the age of 15 in 1997. He then moved to Lelle, and scored 5 goals in 23 appearances with the club.

Flora

In 2000, Lindpere was signed by Flora. Next year, he was loaned to Valga, playing 20 games and scoring 17 goals. After his impressive goal scoring display with Valga, he moved back to Flora during the 2002 season. Upon his return to Flora, Lindpere quickly established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Meistriliiga and helped his club to win the Meistriliiga in 2002 and 2003. In February 2005, Lindpere was loaned to Bulgarian A Group club CSKA Sofia for the remainder of the season.[1] In September 2006, Lindpere was released from the club after an incident with a 4th referee in a Cup match against Levadia.[2]

Tromsø

Lindpere with Tromsø

In February 2007, he signed a 3-year contract with Norwegian Tippeligaen club Tromsø.[3] His first goal for Tromsø came against Molde in a training match only a few days after he had signed his contract. On 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.[4]

New York 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 was for two years with options for two additional years.[5][6] 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.[7] 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.[8]

On 22 July Lindpere played in the Red Bulls friendly against Tottenham Hotspur 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] 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.,[12] and the end of the season Lindpere was named 2010 Most Valuable Player for New York Red Bulls.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15] 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 club's first goal of the night.

Lindpere signed a multi-year contract extension with New York on 31 January 2012.[16]

Chicago Fire

On 4 January 2013 Lindpere was traded to Chicago Fire in exchange for an international roster spot.[17]

Baník Ostrava

Lindpere joined Czech club Baník Ostrava in January 2014 on a deal until 30 June 2016.[18] He made his debut in a 4:0 win against Znojmo. Althrough being one of the most valuable players for Ostrava, Lindpere left there at the end of season

Nõmme Kalju

On Estonian transfer window deadline day, 5 March 2015, Lindpere returned to his first club, Nõmme Kalju.

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 106 times, scoring 7 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]

Lindpere gained his 100th cap on 14 June 2015 in a home UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against San Marino, setting up Sergei Zenjov's opener in a 2–0 victory.[25]

Career statistics

Club

As of 18 November 2015.[26]
Club Season League
DivisionAppsGoals
Nõmme Kalju 1997–98 III liiga 713
Total 713
Lelle 1998 Meistriliiga 10
1999 225
Total 235
Flora 2000 Meistriliiga 278
2001 70
Total 348
Valga (loan) 2001 Esiliiga 126
2002 811
Total 2017
Flora 2002 Meistriliiga 2010
2003 205
2004 256
Total 6521
CSKA Sofia (loan) 2004–05 A Group 110
Total 110
Flora 2005 Meistriliiga 113
2006 205
Total 318
Tromsø 2007 Tippeligaen 243
2008 240
2009 272
Total 755
New York Red Bulls 2010 Major League Soccer 314
2011 378
2012 365
Total 10417
Chicago Fire 2013 Major League Soccer 252
Total 252
Baník Ostrava 2013–14 Czech First League 30
2014–15 150
Total 180
Nõmme Kalju 2015 Meistriliiga 284
Total 284
Career total 441100

International

As of 18 November 2015.[26]
Team Year Apps Goals
Estonia
199920
200260
2003120
2004143
200571
200640
2007121
200880
200990
201110
201280
201382
201460
201580
Total 106 7

International goals

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 18 February 2004 Ta' Qali National Stadium, La Valletta, Malta  Moldova 1–0 1–0 2004 Malta Tournament
2 30 May 2004 Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia  Denmark 2–2 2–2 Friendly
3 18 August 2004 Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein  Liechtenstein 2–1 2–1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 12 November 2005 Finnair Stadium, Helsinki, Finland  Finland 2–2 2–2 Friendly
5 17 November 2007 Estadi Comunal d'Andorra la Vella, Andorra la Vella, Andorra  Andorra 2–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
6 26 March 2013 Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia  Andorra 2–0 2–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 15 November 2013 Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia  Azerbaijan 2–1 2–1 Friendly

Honours

Club

Flora
CSKA Sofia
New York Red Bulls
Chicago Fire
Nõmme Kalju

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Chenchev, Ivan (2005-02-13). "ЦСКА подписа с естонеца, Ферарио Спасов хареса Линдпере след една тренировка" (in Bulgarian). 7sport.net. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  2. ↑ Flora tõstis Lindpere ukse taha – Eesti Päevaleht (Estonian)
  3. ↑ Joel Lindpere sõlmis Tromsöga lepingu – Soccernet.ee (Estonian)
  4. ↑ Lindpere scores in Europa League – nettavisen.no (Norwegian)
  5. ↑ Lewis, Brian (26 Jan 2010). "Lindpere joins New York –". Nypost.com. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012.
  6. ↑ Joel Lindpere Signs for New York Red Bulls – estonianfreepress.com Archived 10 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ "A Grand Opening Night –". Bigapplesoccer.com. 20 Mar 2010. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012.
  8. ↑ "Red Bulls blank Fire 1–0 in first MLS game at Red Bull Arena –". Usatoday.com. 27 Mar 2010. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012.
  9. ↑ "Lindpere assists on Henry goal –". Sports.espn.go.com. 23 Jul 2010. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012.
  10. ↑ Red Bulls beat Revs, clinch Eastern Conference – mlssoccer.com Archived 23 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ 2010 stats – newyorkredbulls.com
  12. ↑ Kansas City Wizards Media Relations (27 Jul 2010). "Jimmy Nielsen Named 2010 All-Star –". Sportingkc.com. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012.
  13. ↑ Red Bull New York Media Relations. "Red Bulls announce 2010 team awards –". Newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "Lindpere sets several RBNY standards –". Bigapplesoccer.com. 24 Oct 2011. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012.
  16. ↑ "New York Signs Midfielder Joel Lindpere to a New Contract". New York Red Bulls. 30 Jan 2012. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012.
  17. ↑ http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2013/01/fire-acquire-midfielder-joel-lindpere
  18. ↑ http://www.empireofsoccer.com/lindpere-ostrava-explored-22756
  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. 1 2 "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. ↑ "San Marino success keeps Estonia afloat". UEFA. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  26. 1 2 "Joel Lindpere". National-Football-Teams.com.
  27. ↑ Kansas City Wizards Media Relations (27 Jul 2010). "Lindpere named 2010 MLS All Star –". Sportingkc.com. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012.
  28. ↑ "Final six players added to 2011 MLS All-Star team". MLSsoccer.com. 25 Jul 2011. Retrieved 16 Nov 2012.

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