Sander Puri
Estonian footballer (born 1988)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sander Puri (born 7 May 1988) is an Estonian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for the Estonia national team.
|
Puri playing for York City in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sander Puri[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 7 May 1988[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Tartu, Estonian SSR, Soviet Union | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2004 | Tartu SK 10 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004 | Tartu SK 10 | 18 | (12) |
| 2005–2009 | Levadia | 73 | (24) |
| 2005–2009 | Levadia U21 | 66 | (27) |
| 2007 | → Tulevik (loan) | 14 | (4) |
| 2010–2012 | Larissa | 21 | (1) |
| 2011 | → Korona Kielce (loan) | 8 | (1) |
| 2011–2012 | → Pápa (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2012 | KuPS | 19 | (2) |
| 2013 | St Mirren | 3 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | York City | 8 | (0) |
| 2015 | Sligo Rovers | 27 | (4) |
| 2016 | Karviná | 9 | (2) |
| 2016 | Nõmme Kalju | 13 | (2) |
| 2017–2018 | Waterford | 35 | (5) |
| 2019–2020 | Nõmme Kalju | 48 | (9) |
| 2021 | TJK Legion | 25 | (2) |
| 2022–2023 | Tartu Tammeka | 56 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2009 | Estonia U21 | 3 | (0) |
| 2008–2023 | Estonia | 92 | (4) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Levadia
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]
Larissa
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]
Loan spells with Korona Kielce and Pápa
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]
KuPS
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]
St Mirren
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]
York City
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]
Sligo Rovers
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]
Karviná
Puri signed for Czech National Football League club Karviná on 18 February 2016.[38]
Nõmme Kalju
In August 2016, Puri returned to Estonia and signed a contract with Nõmme Kalju.[39]
Waterford
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]
Nõmme Kalju
In February 2019 Puri returned to Nõmme Kalju, signing a two-year contract.[48]
TJK Legion
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]
Tartu Tammeka
Puri signed for Tartu Tammeka in 2022.[citation needed].
Retirement
Puri announced on Instagram that he would retire at the end of the 2023 Meistriliiga season.[citation needed]
International career
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]
Personal life
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 16 April 2017
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tartu SK 10 | 2004[56] | IV liiga | 18 | 12 | — | — | 18 | 12 | ||||||
| Levadia U21 | 2005[6] | Esiliiga | 22 | 6 | — | — | 22 | 6 | ||||||
| 2006[6] | Esiliiga | 29 | 17 | — | — | 29 | 17 | |||||||
| 2007[6] | Esiliiga | 14 | 4 | — | — | 14 | 4 | |||||||
| 2009[6] | Esiliiga | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||||||
| Total | 66 | 27 | — | — | 66 | 27 | ||||||||
| Levadia | 2005[2][6][57] | Meistriliiga | 13 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 14 | 2 | |||
| 2006[6][58] | Meistriliiga | 6 | 1 | — | 3[b] | 0 | — | 9 | 1 | |||||
| 2007[2][6] | Meistriliiga | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2008[2][6][59] | Meistriliiga | 34 | 11 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 1[a] | 1 | 37 | 12 | ||||
| 2009[2][6][60] | Meistriliiga | 19 | 10 | 1 | 0 | — | 5[d] | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 26 | 10 | ||
| Total | 73 | 24 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 87 | 25 | |||
| Tulevik (loan) | 2007[6] | Meistriliiga | 14 | 4 | — | — | — | 14 | 4 | |||||
| Larissa | 2009–10[2] | Super League Greece | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | ||||
| 2010–11[2] | Super League Greece | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 23 | 1 | |||||
| Korona Kielce (loan) | 2010–11[2] | Ekstraklasa | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | ||||
| Pápa (loan) | 2011–12[2][18] | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 12 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 14 | 1 | |||
| KuPS | 2012[2] | Veikkausliiga | 19 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5[e] | 1 | — | 28 | 4 | |
| St Mirren | 2012–13[2] | Scottish Premier League | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| York City | 2013–14[34] | League Two | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Sligo Rovers | 2015[2][61] | League of Ireland Premier Division | 27 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 30 | 5 | ||
| Karviná | 2015–16[2] | Czech National Football League | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | ||||
| Nõmme Kalju | 2016[2] | Meistriliiga | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 2 | |||
| Waterford | 2017[2] | League of Ireland First Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2018[2] | League of Ireland Premier Division | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||
| Total | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 307 | 80 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 342 | 86 | ||
- Appearance in Estonian Supercup
- Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, one in UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia | 2008 | 9 | 1 |
| 2009 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 78 | 4 | |
International goals
- As of match played 8 June 2016[2]
- Scores and results list Estonia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Puri goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 November 2008 | Kuressaare Stadium, Kuressaare, Estonia |  Lithuania | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 1 April 2009 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia |  Armenia | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 11 June 2013 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia |  Kyrgyzstan | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 4 | 17 November 2015 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
Honours
FCI Levadia Tallinn
- Meistriliiga: 2006, 2008, 2009[2]
- Estonian Cup: 2004–05
Waterford
Individual
- Estonian Silverball: 2015[63]
