Andreas Vaikla Explained

Andreas Vaikla
Fullname:Andreas Raido Karuks Vaikla
Birth Date:19 February 1997[1]
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Scrosoppi FC
Youthclubs1:Spartacus SC
Youthclubs2:Wexford SC
Youthyears3:2013
Youthclubs3:North Scarborough SC
Youthyears4:2013–2015
Youthclubs4:West Bromwich Albion
Years1:2015–2016
Clubs1:IFK Norrköping
Caps1:13
Goals1:0
Years2:2017
Clubs2:IFK Mariehamn
Caps2:26
Goals2:0
Years3:2018
Caps3:8
Goals3:0
Years4:2018–2019
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Years5:2019–2020
Clubs5:IFK Norrköping
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:2020
Caps6:8
Goals6:0
Years7:2021–2022
Clubs7:Toronto FC II
Caps7:13
Goals7:0
Years8:2022
Clubs8:FC Edmonton (loan)
Caps8:21
Goals8:0
Years9:2023–
Clubs9:Scrosoppi FC
Caps9:17
Goals9:0
Club-Update:September 2, 2023
Nationalyears1:2012
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalteam1:Estonia U16
Nationalyears2:2013
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalteam2:Estonia U17
Nationalyears3:2015
Nationalcaps3:10
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalteam3:Estonia U19
Nationalyears4:2016–2018
Nationalcaps4:7
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalteam4:Estonia U21
Nationalyears5:2016–2017
Nationalcaps5:3
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalteam5:Estonia
Ntupdate:1 December 2018

Andreas Raido Karuks Vaikla (born 19 February 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Scrosoppi FC in League1 Ontario. Born in Canada, he represented Estonia at international level.

Early life

Vaikla began playing football in Canada. In 2013, he received a call-up to the Estonia under-16 team, being eligible due to his Estonian parents. He was scouted by West Bromwich Albion in a match against the Republic of Ireland, which led to him later joining the English club's academy the same year.

Club career

In July 2015, Vaikla signed a year-and-a-half contract with Swedish club IFK Norrköping.[2] [3] He was a part of the IFK Norrköping squad that won both the 2015 Allsvenskan and the 2015 Svenska Supercupen, however only appearing as an unused substitute. Vaikla made his debut for the club on 20 February 2016, a day after his 19th birthday, keeping a clean sheet in a 4–0 victory over Östersunds FK in the 2015–16 Svenska Cupen.[4] On April 22, Vaikla made his debut in the Allsvenskan, replacing the injured David Mitov Nilsson in the 19th minute of a 1–2 loss to Falkenbergs FF.[5] He made 13 league appearances in the 2016 season.

In February 2017, Vaikla signed a three-year contract with Finnish champions IFK Mariehamn.[6] [7] He made his debut in the Veikkausliiga on 8 April 2017, in a 5–2 home victory over JJK.

In December 2017, Vaikla signed a two-year contract with Norwegian club Kristiansund.[8]

In August 2019, he returned to Swedish club IFK Norrköping.[9]

In February 2020, he joined Estonian club JK Narva Trans of the top division Meistriliiga, after declining some offers from teams in Scandiavian countries who were only offering backup roles.[10] He dealt with various injuries over the course of the season, eventually having his contract terminated in October, due to continuing injuries.[11]

In May 2021, he signed with Toronto FC II of USL League One.[12] [13] He made his debut on May 29 against North Texas SC in a 1–1 draw.[14] In July, he earned USL League One Save of the Week honours for Week 15 for a save against North Carolina FC.[15] He was named to the USL League One Team of the Week for Weeks 20 and 21.[16] [17]

In March 2022, Vaikla went on loan with Canadian Premier League side FC Edmonton.[18] He made his debut for Edmonton on April 10, in the season-opener against Valour FC.[19]

For the 2023 season, he joined Scrosoppi FC in League1 Ontario. He was named a league Second Team All-Star at the end of the season.[20]

International career

Born in Canada to Estonian parents, Vaikla has represented Estonia at under-16, under-17, under-19, and under-21 levels.

On 14 March 2016, Vaikla was called up by manager Magnus Pehrsson to the Estonia squad to face Norway and Serbia in friendly matches, but remained an unused substitute.[21] He made his debut for the senior national team on 1 June 2016, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 friendly home win over Andorra.[22]

Career statistics

Club

[23]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsNational Cup[24] ContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
IFK Norrköping2015Allsvenskan000000
2016Allsvenskan130502[25] 0200
Total130005020200
IFK Mariehamn2017Veikkausliiga2604010310
Kristiansund 220183. divisjon8080
Kristiansund2018Eliteserien101020
2019Eliteserien000000
IFK Norrköping2019Allsvenskan00100010
JK Narva Trans2020Meistriliiga8030110
Toronto FC II2021USL League One130130
FC Edmonton (loan)2022Canadian Premier League21010220
Scrosoppi FC2023[26] League1 Ontario17020190
Career total107020150301270

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
Estonia201620
201710
Total30

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Andreas Raido Karuks Vaikla. Estonian Football Association. et.
  2. Web site: Noor Eesti väravavaht sõlmis Rootsi tippklubiga profilepingu. Young Estonian goalkeeper signed a professional contract with Swedish top club. Postimees. 24 July 2015. Estonian.
  3. Web site: Nyförvärvet presenteras. SvenskaFans. 29 July 2015. Swedish.
  4. Web site: Eesti noortekoondislane hoidis karikamängus Rootsis puuri puhtana. Estonia youth kept a clean sheet in the Swedish Cup. ERR Sport. 21 February 2016. Estonian.
  5. Web site: Falkenbergs FF 2–1 Falkenbergs FF. Svensk Fotboll. 22 April 2016. Swedish.
  6. Web site: Eesti koondise väravavaht lööb kolmeks aastaks käed Soome meistriga. Estonia national team goalkeeper strikes a deal with the Finnish champions for three years. ERR Sport. 1 February 2017. Estonian.
  7. Web site: Andreas Vaikla IFK Mariehamnin maalille. veikkausliiga.com. 1 February 2017.
  8. Web site: KBK henter ny målvakt. Kristiansund BK. 28 December 2017. Norwegian.
  9. Web site: Mitov Nilsson till Sundsvall – Peking har ersättare klar. Mitov Nilsson to Sundsvall - Beijing has a replacement ready. August 2, 2019. Swedish. Daniel. Kristoffersson. Expressen.
  10. Web site: Narva Transi väravat asub kaitsma Torontos sündinud väliseestlane. Erik. Gamzejev. A foreigner born in Toronto will defend the Narva Trans gate. February 17, 2020. Põhjarannik. Estonian.
  11. Web site: Narva Trans lõpetas vigastatud ekskoondislasega lepingu. Narva Trans terminated the contract with the injured ex-employee. October 25, 2020. Anders. Nõmm. Estonian. Eesti Rahvusringhääling.
  12. Web site: Toronto FC II sign Andreas Vaikla. May 18, 2021. Toronto FC.
  13. Web site: Tagasi sünnilinna: Vaikla liitus MLS-i klubi duubelmeeskonnaga. Back to hometown: Vaikla joined MLS club's second team. Kristjan Jaak. Kangur. Estonian. May 18, 2021. SoccerNet.
  14. Web site: Three points slip away as TFC II settle for a draw in Texas. Ben. Steiner. May 30, 2021. Waking the Red. May 30, 2021. October 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221025100233/https://www.wakingthered.com/2021/5/30/22460246/three-points-slip-away-as-tfc-ii-settle-for-a-draw-in-texas. dead.
  15. Web site: League One Fans' Choice Save of the Week - Week 15. July 20, 2021. USL League One.
  16. Web site: USL League One Team of the Week - Week 20. August 23, 2021. USL League One.
  17. Web site: USL League One Team of the Week - Week 21. August 30, 2021. USL League One.
  18. Web site: FC Edmonton acquires goalkeeper Andreas Vaikla . . 24 March 2022 . 24 March 2022.
  19. Web site: Loan Watch: Luke Singh and Andreas Vaikla debut for FC Edmonton. April 11, 2022. Anthony. Khoury. Waking the Red. May 1, 2022. October 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221025100234/https://www.wakingthered.com/2022/4/11/23020522/loan-watch-luke-singh-and-andreas-vaikla-debut-for-fc-edmonton. dead.
  20. Web site: MVP Tomasz Skublak leads line in star-studded XI. November 28, 2023. League1 Ontario.
  21. Web site: 10 PÄEVA MÄNGUNI: Pehrsson avalikustas koondise koosseisu. Pehrsson revealed the squad. Estonian Football Association. 14 March 2016. Estonian.
  22. Web site: Eesti alistas Joel Lindpere lahkumismängus Andorra 2:0. Estonia defeated Andorra 2–0 in Joel Lindpere's testimonial. Estonian Football Association. 1 June 2016. Estonian.
  23. Web site: Andreas Raido Karuks Vaikla. Football Association of Norway. Norwegian.
  24. Includes the Svenska Cupen, Finnish Cup, Norwegian Cup, Canadian Championship
  25. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  26. Web site: Andreas Vaikla 2023 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.