Sander Puri

Puri was born in Tartu, Tartu County.^[1] In 2005, at the age of 16, Puri started his professional career with FCI Levadia Tallinn.^[3] He scored his first Meistriliiga goal on 1 June 2005, in a 2–0 victory over Kuressaare.^[4] On 30 July 2007, Sander and his twin brother Eino Puri joined Tulevik a half-year loan.^[5] He played 14 league matches, scoring four goals.^[6] In 2008, Puri had two trials with Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund^[7] and in late 2009 with Scottish Premier League club Celtic.^[8]

On 14 December 2009, Puri signed a five-year contract with Super League Greece club Larissa.^[9] On 18 March 2010, Puri scored the winning goal against PAOK, in the final moment of the match with a tap in from close range.^[10] However, in his second season, Puri's place in the team became increasingly limited which resulted him being loaned out twice.^[11] His contract was mutually terminated on 31 January 2012.^[12]

In January 2011, Puri went on loan to Ekstraklasa club Korona Kielce, on a contract until the end of the season.^[13] He made his debut in a 1–1 draw against Zagłębie Lubin on 26 February 2011.^[14] Puri scored his first goal for the club in a 3–3 home draw against Polonia Bytom on 12 March 2011.^[2] However, due to injuries he only made eight appearances for the club.^[15][16]

In July 2011, Puri was loaned to Nemzeti Bajnokság I club Pápa.^[17] On 23 July 2011, Puri made his debut in a 2–0 home win over Siófok.^[2] On 21 September 2011, Puri scored his first goal in a 10–0 win against Győrszemere in the third round of the 2011–12 Magyar Kupa.^[2][18] The loan contract was mutually terminated on 19 January 2012 after spending six months at the club.^[2][19] At Pápa, Puri made 14 appearances, scoring one goal.^[2][18]

Puri joined Veikkausliiga club KuPS on 27 March 2012 on a contract until the end of the season,^[20] after a successful trial.^[21] He made his debut after starting in a 1–0 away win over VPS in the 2012 Finnish League Cup group stage on 25 February.^[2] His first goal came in a 5–1 away win over JJK on 11 June 2012.^[2] Puri scored for KuPS in the UEFA Europa League qualifying 1–0 home win against Bursaspor.^[22] He scored the winning goal against MYPA in the semi-final of the 2012 Finnish Cup on 30 August,^[23] but received a straight red card in the final, which the team lost to Honka.^[24]

On 12 December 2012, Puri was released by the club after one season.^[25] After his release, Puri was offered a contract with A Group club Beroe Stara Zagora,^[26] but he rejected the move.^[27]

On 15 March 2013, Puri signed a contract until the end of 2012–13 with Scottish Premier League club St Mirren,^[28] despite the interest of divisional rivals Kilmarnock, but was not offered a contract following a trial.^[29][30] He made his debut on 31 March 2013 as an 88th-minute substitute in a league match against Celtic.^[2] Having made three appearances for the club,^[2] Puri was released on 15 May 2013.^[31]

Puri signed for League Two club York City on 13 June 2013 on a one-year contract with the option of a one-year extension.^[32][33] He made his debut in a 1–0 home win over Northampton Town on 3 August 2013, in the first match of 2013–14.^[34] He was released by York in May 2014.^[33]

Puri signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers after a successful trial on 1 February 2015.^[35][36] On 22 May 2015, he scored his first goal in a 1–1 away draw with Derry City,^[2] after rounding the ball past goalkeeper Shaun Patton.^[37]

Puri signed for Czech National Football League club Karviná on 18 February 2016.^[38]

In August 2016, Puri returned to Estonia and signed a contract with Nõmme Kalju.^[39]

In January 2017, Puri signed for League of Ireland First Division club Waterford.^[40] He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Athlone Town on 24 February 2017.^[41] A lengthy injury absence prevented Puri being involved with Waterford from March to July 2017. Despite returning to training in July it was only on 18 August Puri made a return for Waterford as he appeared as an unused substitute in the teams crucial 1–0 win over UCD.^[42] The Estonian international finally made his long-awaited return for Waterford in the 1–1 draw against Shelbourne on 1 September and he nearly scored a late winner on two occasions, his first effort struck the post and then he was only inches away from tapping home from close range but his outstretched leg couldn't convert.^[43] His impressive cameo earned him a start for the game against Wexford on 15 September, he assisted Mark O'Sullivan for his second goal in that game, Waterford beat Wexford 3–0.^[44] That win coupled with Cobh Ramblers 3–0 defeat to Cabinteely crowned Waterford as league champions with two games to spare.^[45]

Puri signed a new one-year contract with Waterford for the 2018 season as the club entered the League of Ireland Premier Division.^[46] Puri scored his first goal for Waterford in their 1–0 win over Bohemians.^[47]

In February 2019 Puri returned to Nõmme Kalju, signing a two-year contract.^[48]

On 7 February 2021, Puri signed a contract with TJK Legion.^[49] Puri made his debut for the new club in a 3–4 Loss against FCI Levadia Tallinn.^[50]

Puri signed for Tartu Tammeka in 2022.^{[citation needed]}.

Puri announced on Instagram that he would retire at the end of the 2023 Meistriliiga season.^{[citation needed]}

Puri was capped by Estonia at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.^[51] He made his debut for the senior national team on 30 May 2008 against Latvia in the 2008 Baltic Cup.^[52] He scored his first national team goal on 22 November 2008, in a 1–1 draw against Lithuania in a Mayors Cup match.^[53] A goal against Saint Kitts and Nevis saw him awarded the Estonian Silverball, for the best goal scored for Estonia in 2015.^[54]

Puri is one of three triplets: his brother, Eino Puri, is also a footballer and his sister, Kadri Puri, is a volleyball player.^[55]