Raio Piiroja
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 11 July 1979 | ||
Place of birth | Pärnu, Estonia | ||
Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
Position(s) | Centre back | ||
Youth career | |||
Rivaal | |||
Pärnu | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1995–1996 | Pärnu | 8 | (1) |
1996–1999 | Lelle | 22 | (3) |
1999–2004 | Flora | 102 | (17) |
2000 | → Tervis Pärnu (loan) | 1 | (0) |
2001 | → Valga (loan) | 1 | (0) |
2003 | → Vålerenga (loan) | 11 | (1) |
2004–2011 | Fredrikstad | 158 | (12) |
2011–2012 | Vitesse | 2 | (0) |
2012 | Flora | 0 | (0) |
2013 | Chengdu Blades | 18 | (1) |
2014 | Flora | 0 | (0) |
2015 | Pärnu Linnameeskond | 0 | (0) |
Total | 323 | (35) | |
International career | |||
1993 | Estonia U16 | 2 | (0) |
1996–1997 | Estonia U19 | 7 | (0) |
1997–1998 | Estonia U21 | 13 | (0) |
1998–2015 | Estonia | 114 | (9) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Raio Piiroja (born 11 July 1979 ) is a former professional footballer and current president of Pärnu Linnameeskond. Piiroja was named Estonian Footballer of the Year in 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. Internationally, Piiroja represented Estonia and was the team's captain. He made 114 appearances for the team, scoring 9 goals. He was known for his impressing ability in the air for winning headers.
Club career
Flora
Piiroja started his career in his hometown Pärnu before moving to the Tallinn side Flora, under then manager Teitur Thordarson. With Flora, Piiroja won two consecutive Meistriliiga titles in the 2001 and the 2002 seasons.
In 2003, he joined Norwegian side Vålerenga on loan.
Fredrikstad
In 2004, Piiroja signed a contract with Norwegian side Fredrikstad. In 2006, he scored two goals in the Norwegian Football Cup final against Sandefjord in a 3–0 victory. In 2010, Piiroja scored 2 goals in the Norwegian Premier League promotion play-offs against Hønefoss.
International career
Piiroja made his international debut for the Estonia national football team on 21 November 1998, at the age of 19, in a 1–2 defeat against Armenia, replacing Viktor Alonen at the 85th minute of the match. Piiroja became the national team captain after Mart Poom. He made his 100th appearance in a 2–0 friendly win over Uruguay and finished his international career in 2015, with 114 appearances and 9 goals scored.[1]
International goals
- Estonia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Piiroja goal.
No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4 September 1999 | Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroe Islands | 4 | ![]() |
2–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |
2 | 11 June 2000 | Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia | 9 | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
3 | 28 March 2001 | Tsirion Athletic Centre, Limassol, Cyprus | 14 | ![]() |
2–2 | 2–2 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
4 | 16 February 2004 | Ta' Qali National Stadium, La Valletta, Malta | 43 | ![]() |
2–2 | 2–5 | 2004 Malta Tournament |
5 | 22 August 2007 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 68 | ![]() |
1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
6 | 12 September 2007 | Gradski Stadion Skopje, Skopje, Macedonia | 70 | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
7 | 14 October 2009 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 91 | ![]() |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
8 | 11 August 2010 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 97 | ![]() |
2–1 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
Personal life
Piiroja married his long-time girlfriend Marje in 2005. In 2011, Norwegian police launched an investigation into his former club Fredrikstad and Piiroja was charged with tax evasion.[2][3] Outside of football, Piiroja enjoys fishing and skiing.
Honours
Club
- Flora
- Meistriliiga: 2001, 2002
- Estonian Supercup: 2002
- Fredrikstad
Individual
- Estonian Footballer of the Year: 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
5th Class Order of the White Star
References
External links
- Raio Piiroja at the Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
- Use dmy dates from December 2010
- 1979 births
- Living people
- People from Pärnu
- Association football defenders
- Estonian footballers
- Estonia international footballers
- FC Flora Tallinn players
- Meistriliiga players
- Vålerenga Fotball players
- Fredrikstad FK players
- SBV Vitesse players
- Estonian expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Norway
- Estonian expatriate sportspeople in Norway
- Tippeligaen players
- Eredivisie players
- FIFA Century Club
- Chengdu Blades F.C. players
- China League One players
- Estonian expatriates in the Netherlands
- Expatriate footballers in the Netherlands
- Estonian expatriates in China
- Expatriate footballers in China
- Recipients of the Order of the White Star