Joel Lindpere

Joel Lindpere (born 5 October 1981) is an Estonian football coach and former professional player.

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)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997 Nõmme Kalju 7 (13)
1997–1999 Lelle 23 (5)
2000–2007 Flora 130 (38)
2001–2002 → Valga (loan) 20 (17)
2005 → CSKA Sofia (loan) 11 (0)
2007–2009 Tromsø 75 (5)
2010–2012 New York Red Bulls 104 (17)
2013 Chicago Fire 25 (2)
2014–2015 Baník Ostrava 18 (0)
2015 Nõmme Kalju 28 (4)
Total 441 (101)
National team
1999–2016 Estonia 107 (7)
Teams managed
2017 Estonia U19 (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Lindpere played as a midfielder for Nõmme Kalju, Lelle, Flora, Valga, CSKA Sofia, Tromsø, New York Red Bulls, Chicago Fire and Baník Ostrava. He also made 107 appearances for the Estonia national team, scoring 7 goals.

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 signed for FC Flora. In 2001, 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, Lindpere signed a three-year contract with Norwegian Eliteserien 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 2010, Lindpere played in the Red Bulls friendly against Tottenham Hotspur where he 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. Although he was a valuable players for Baník Ostrava, Lindpere left in the winter break of the 2014–15 season.

Nõmme Kalju

Lindpere returned to Estonia and on 5 March 2015, Estonian transfer window deadline day, signed for his first club, Nõmme Kalju. He ended his career after the 2015 season.

International career

Lindpere made his international debut for Estonia 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 national team. 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 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against San Marino, setting up Sergei Zenjov's opener in a 2–0 home win.[25][26] Lindpere finished his international career with a testimonial match on 1 June 2016 against Andorra, having made 107 appearances and scoring 7 goals.[27]

Career statistics

Club
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Nõmme Kalju 1997–98 III liiga 713—713
Lelle 1998 Meistriliiga 10—10
1999 225—225
Total 23500235
Flora 2000 Meistriliiga 2781000288
2001 70200090
2002 201020112311
2003 2052060285
2004 2562020296
2005 1130000113
2006 2054100246
Total 130381319115240
Valga (loan) 2001 Esiliiga 126—00126
2002 811—00811
Total 201700002017
CSKA Sofia (loan) 2004–05 A Group 1100000110
Tromsø 2007 Eliteserien 243—00243
2008 240—00240
2009 2726100333
Total 7556100816
New York Red Bulls 2010 Major League Soccer 31400—00314
2011 37800—00378
2012 36500—00365
Total 1041700000010417
Chicago Fire 2013 Major League Soccer 25231—00283
Baník Ostrava 2013–14 Czech First League 3000—0030
2014–15 15000—00150
Total 180000000180
Nõmme Kalju 2015 Meistriliiga 284334000357
Career total 4411016423291479108

International
National teamYearAppsGoals
Estonia
199920
200260
2003120
2004143
200571
200640
2007121
200880
200990
201110
201280
201382
201460
201580
201610
Total1077

International goals
Estonia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Lindpere goal.
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 18 February 2004Ta' Qali National Stadium, La Valletta, Malta23 Moldova1–01–02004 Malta Tournament
2 30 May 2004A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia27 Denmark2–22–2Friendly
3 18 August 2004Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein30 Liechtenstein2–12–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 12 November 2005Finnair Stadium, Helsinki, Finland40 Finland2–22–2Friendly
5 17 November 2007Estadi Comunal, Andorra la Vella, Andorra56 Andorra2–02–0UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
6 26 March 2013A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia86 Andorra2–02–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 15 November 2013A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia91 Azerbaijan2–12–1Friendly

Honours

Club

Flora

CSKA Sofia

New York Red Bulls

Chicago Fire

Nõmme Kalju

Individual

References
  1. Chenchev, Ivan (13 February 2005). "ЦСКА подписа с естонеца, Ферарио Спасов хареса Линдпере след една тренировка" (in Bulgarian). 7sport.net. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  2. Flora tõstis Lindpere ukse taha – Eesti Päevaleht (in Estonian)
  3. Joel Lindpere sõlmis Tromsöga lepingu – Soccernet.ee (in Estonian)
  4. Lindpere scores in Europa League – nettavisen.no Archived 26 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine (in Norwegian)
  5. Lewis, Brian (26 January 2010). "Lindpere joins New York –". Nypost.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2010. Retrieved 16 November 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 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  8. "Red Bulls blank Fire 1–0 in first MLS game at Red Bull Arena –". Usatoday.com. 27 March 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  9. "Lindpere assists on Henry goal –". Sports.espn.go.com. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  10. Red Bulls beat Revs, clinch Eastern Conference – mlssoccer.com Archived 23 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  11. "2010 stats – newyorkredbulls.com". newyorkredbulls.com.
  12. Kansas City Wizards Media Relations (27 July 2010). "Jimmy Nielsen Named 2010 All-Star –". Sportingkc.com. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  13. Red Bull New York Media Relations. "Red Bulls announce 2010 team awards –". Newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  14. Red Bull New York Media Relations (5 July 2011). "Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere wins MLS Player of the Week for Week 16 –". Newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  15. "Lindpere sets several RBNY standards –". Bigapplesoccer.com. 24 October 2011. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  16. "New York Signs Midfielder Joel Lindpere to a New Contract". New York Red Bulls. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  17. http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2013/01/fire-acquire-midfielder-joel-lindpere
  18. "FMR Red Bull Lindpere joins Ostrava explored Cosmos move". Empire of Soccer.
  19. ARAABIA ÜHENDEMIRAADID – EESTI 1:1 – jalgpallihaigla.ee (in Estonian)
  20. EESTI – MOLDOVA 1:0 (0:0) – jalgpallihaigla.ee (in Estonian)
  21. "Lindpere Declines Estonian Callups –". Redbullsreader.wordpress.com. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  22. "Club Over Country –". Bigapplesoccer.com. 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  23. Kristian Dyer (13 October 2011). "Linpere focus on NY". Mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  24. Lyttleton, Ben (7 November 2011). "Estonia boosted as Red Bulls star Lindpere set to join squad". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  25. "San Marino success keeps Estonia afloat". UEFA. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  26. "Joel Lindpere". National-Football-Teams.com.
  27. "Joel "Juki" Lindpere saadeti väärikalt erru, Eesti - Andorra 2:0" (in Estonian). Õhtuleht. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  28. Kansas City Wizards Media Relations (27 July 2010). "Lindpere named 2010 MLS All Star –". Sportingkc.com. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  29. "Final six players added to 2011 MLS All-Star team". MLSsoccer.com. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
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