Introduction
Sander Puri (born 7 May 1988) is an Estonian footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland First Division club Waterford and the Estonia national team.
Club career
Levadia
Puri was born in Tartu, Tartu County. In 2005, at the age of 16, Puri started his professional career with Levadia. He scored his first Meistriliiga goal on 1 June 2005, in a 2–0 victory over Kuressaare. On 30 July 2007, Sander and his twin brother Eino Puri joined Tulevik a half-year loan. He played 14 league matches, scoring 4 goals. In 2008, Puri had two trials with Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and in late 2009 with Scottish Premier League club Celtic.
Larissa
On 14 December 2009, Puri signed a five-year contract with Superleague Greece club Larissa. 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. However, in his second season, Puri's place in the team became increasingly limited which resulted him being loaned out twice. His contract was mutually terminated on 31 January 2012.
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. He made his debut in a 1–1 draw against Zagłębie Lubin on 26 February 2011. Puri scored his first goal for the club in a 3–3 home draw against Polonia Bytom on 12 March 2011. However, due to injuries he only made eight appearances for the club.
In July 2011, Puri was loaned to Nemzeti Bajnokság I club Pápa. On 23 July 2011, Puri made his debut in a 2–0 home win over Siófok. 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. The loan contract was mutually terminated on 19 January 2012 after spending six months at the club. At Pápa, Puri made 14 appearances, scoring 1 goal.
KuPS
Puri joined Veikkausliiga club KuPS on 27 March 2012 on a contract until the end of the season, after a successful trial. 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. His first goal came in a 5–1 away win over JJK on 11 June 2012. Puri scored for KuPS in the UEFA Europa League qualifying 1–0 home win against Bursaspor. He scored the winning goal against MYPA in the semi-final of the 2012 Finnish Cup on 30 August, but received a straight red card in the final, which the team lost to Honka.
On 12 December 2012, Puri was released by the club after one season. After his release, Puri was offered a contract with A Group club Beroe Stara Zagora, but he rejected the move.
St Mirren
On 15 March 2013, Puri signed a contract until the end of 2012–13 with Scottish Premier League club St Mirren, despite the interest of divisional rivals Kilmarnock, but was not offered a contract following a trial. He made his debut on 31 March 2013 as an 88th-minute substitute in a league match against Celtic. Having made three appearances for the club, Puri was released on 15 May 2013.
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. He made his debut in a 1–0 home win over Northampton Town on 3 August 2013, in the first match of 2013–14. He was released by York in May 2014.
Sligo Rovers
Puri signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers after a successful trial on 1 February 2015. On 22 May 2015, he scored his first goal in a 1–1 away draw with Derry City, after rounding the ball past goalkeeper Shaun Patton.
Karviná
Puri signed for Czech National Football League club Karviná on 18 February 2016.
Nõmme Kalju
In August 2016, Puri returned to Estonia and signed a contract with Nõmme Kalju.
Waterford
In January 2017, Puri signed for League of Ireland First Division club Waterford.
International career
Puri was capped by Estonia at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level. He made his debut for the senior national team on 30 May 2008 against Latvia in the 2008 Baltic Cup. He scored his first national team goal on 22 November 2008, in a 1–1 draw against Lithuania in a Mayors Cup match. A goal against Saint Kitts and Nevis saw him awarded the Estonian Silverball, for the best goal scored for Estonia in 2015.
International goals
| 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 |
Personal life
Puri is one of three triplets: his brother, Eino Puri, is also a footballer and his sister, Kadri Puri, is a volleyball player.
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| SK10 Premium | 2004 | IV liiga | 18 | 12 | — | — | 18 | 12 | ||||||
| Levadia II | 2005 | Esiliiga | 22 | 6 | — | — | 22 | 6 | ||||||
| 2006 | Esiliiga | 29 | 17 | — | — | 29 | 17 | |||||||
| 2007 | Esiliiga | 14 | 4 | — | — | 14 | 4 | |||||||
| 2009 | Esiliiga | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||||||
| Total | 66 | 27 | — | — | 66 | 27 | ||||||||
| Levadia | 2005 | Meistriliiga | 13 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 2 | |||
| 2006 | Meistriliiga | 6 | 1 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 9 | 1 | |||||
| 2007 | Meistriliiga | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2008 | Meistriliiga | 34 | 11 | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 12 | ||||
| 2009 | Meistriliiga | 19 | 10 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 10 | ||
| Total | 73 | 24 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 87 | 25 | |||
| Tulevik (loan) | 2007 | Meistriliiga | 14 | 4 | — | — | — | 14 | 4 | |||||
| Larissa | 2009–10 | Superleague Greece | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | ||||
| 2010–11 | Superleague Greece | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 23 | 1 | |||||
| Korona Kielce (loan) | 2010–11 | Ekstraklasa | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | ||||
| Pápa (loan) | 2011–12 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 12 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 14 | 1 | |||
| KuPS | 2012 | Veikkausliiga | 19 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 28 | 4 | |
| St Mirren | 2012–13 | Scottish Premier League | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| York City | 2013–14 | League Two | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Sligo Rovers | 2015 | League of Ireland Premier Division | 27 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 30 | 5 | ||
| Karviná | 2015–16 | Czech National Football League | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | ||||
| Nõmme Kalju | 2016 | Meistriliiga | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 2 | |||
| Waterford | 2017 | League of Ireland First Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 294 | 79 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 328 | 84 | ||
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 | |
| Total | 69 | 4 | |
Honours
Levadia
- Meistriliiga: 2006, 2008, 2009
Individual
- Estonian Silverball: 2015