Ester Sokler Explained

Ester Sokler
Birth Date:4 June 1999
Birth Place:Krško, Slovenia
Height:[1]
Position:Striker
Currentclub:Aberdeen
Clubnumber:19
Youthyears1:2007–2016
Youthclubs1:Krško[2]
Years1:2016–2020
Clubs1:Krško
Caps1:55
Goals1:5
Years2:2020–2021
Clubs2:Brežice 1919
Caps2:11
Goals2:6
Years3:2021–2022
Clubs3:Celje
Caps3:44
Goals3:9
Years4:2022–2023
Clubs4:Radomlje
Caps4:30
Goals4:10
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:Aberdeen
Caps5:28
Goals5:1
Nationalyears1:2016
Nationalteam1:Slovenia U17
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017
Nationalteam2:Slovenia U18
Nationalcaps2:7
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2017
Nationalteam3:Slovenia U19
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2019
Nationalteam4:Slovenia U21
Nationalcaps4:1
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:18:53, 17 August 2024 (UTC)

Ester Sokler (born 4 June 1999) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Aberdeen.

Club career

Born in Krško,[3] Sokler started his playing career at the age of six, at the football school Nogobikci, before joining the youth sector of his hometown club Krško.[2] He came through the club's youth ranks, as he won the under-13 and under-15 national championship in 2012 and 2014, respectively.[2]

Having been promoted to the senior squad in 2016, aged 17, Sokler made his Slovenian PrvaLiga debut on 26 November 2016, in a 4–0 defeat against Maribor.[4]

In July 2020, Sokler joined Slovenian Second League side Brežice 1919,[5] where he spent six months, before returning to PrvaLiga in December 2020, having signed a contract with Celje until 2023.[6] [7]

After two seasons at Celje, Sokler joined fellow Slovenian top-tier club Radomlje on a permanent deal in July 2022.[8] He scored 10 goals in 31 games in his first season with Radomlje, as they finished seventh in the league.

On 16 June 2023, Sokler joined Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year deal.[9] [10] [11]

International career

Sokler was a Slovenian youth international,[12] and earned one cap for the under-21 national team in 2019.[1]

Personal life

Sokler hails from the small village of Brestanica, near Krško.[2] He cited Wayne Rooney as his football idol while growing up.[2]

In 2023, he claimed that he has often been mistaken for a woman, as Ester is actually a female given name in many countries, including Slovenia itself.[13] According to him, his parents likely chose to name him after Mi2's 1998 song "Moja teta Estera".

Career statistics

[14] [15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Krško2016–17Slovenian PrvaLiga300030
2017–1812100121
2018–1924020260
2019–20Slovenian Second League16410174
Total555300000585
Brežice 19192020–21Slovenian Second League11613129
Celje2020–21Slovenian PrvaLiga14340183
2021–2230621327
Total4496100005010
Radomlje2022–23Slovenian PrvaLiga3010103110
Aberdeen2023–24Scottish Premiership261314171404
2024–25Scottish Premiership20005474
Total281319571478
Career total16831145957119842

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ester Sokler profiled as Slovenian striker close to agreeing Aberdeen switch. Anthony. Evans. 13 June 2023. aberdeenlive.com. 26 June 2023. 4 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230804014741/https://www.aberdeenlive.news/sport/football/football-news/ester-sokler-profiled-slovenian-striker-8517012. live.
  2. Web site: Ester Sokler: Potrkal je na vrata prve lige . Posavski obzornik . 26 June 2023 . sl . 12 December 2020 . 26 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230626122844/https://www.posavskiobzornik.si/nogomet/ester-sokler-potrkal-je-na-vrata-prve-lige-92022 . live .
  3. Web site: 14 July 2022 . Sokler iz Celja v Radomlje, Domžale okrepil prvi strelec hrvaške 2. lige . 24 June 2023 . . sl . T. J. . 24 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230624144508/https://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/prva-liga/sokler-iz-celja-v-radomlje-domzale-okrepil-prvi-strelec-hrvaske-2-lige/634211 . live .
  4. Web site: Ester Sokler » PrvaLiga 2016/2017 . worldfootball.net . 26 June 2023 . en . 4 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230804014744/https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/ester-sokler/svn-1-snl-2016-2017/nk-krsko/3/ . live .
  5. Web site: 5 September 2020 . Naš napadalec Ester Sokler . 24 June 2023 . NK Brežice 1919 . sl . 24 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230624144508/https://www.nkbrezice.si/novice/nas-napadalec-ester-sokler . live .
  6. Web site: Ester Sokler ne gre v Olimpijo, podpisal je pogodbo z drugim klubom . Nogomania . 26 June 2023 . sl . 25 December 2020 . 26 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230626122843/https://www.nogomania.com/Novica/Ester-Sokler-ne-gre-v-Olimpijo-podpisal-je-pogodbo-z-drugim-klubom . live .
  7. Web site: 25 December 2020 . Ester Sokler je novi nogometaš Celja! . 24 June 2023 . NK Celje . sl . 24 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230624144513/https://www.nk-celje.si/sl/novica/ester-sokler-je-novi-nogometas-celja-1226 . live .
  8. Web site: 14 July 2022 . Radomljani imajo novo okrepitev v konici napada . 24 June 2023 . NK Radomlje . sl-SI . 24 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230624150010/https://www.nk-radomlje.si/nova-okrepitev-v-konici-napada/ . live .
  9. Web site: 16 June 2023 . Ester Sokler: Aberdeen sign striker from Slovenian club Radomlje . 17 June 2023 . . 17 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230617012922/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65899159 . live .
  10. Web site: Copeland . Robbie . 16 June 2023 . Ester Sokler completes Aberdeen transfer as he pens three year deal . 18 June 2023 . . 17 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230617152909/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/ester-sokler-completes-aberdeen-transfer-30253618 . live .
  11. Web site: 16 June 2023 . Dons Bolster Attacking Options with Sokler Signature . 24 June 2023 . Aberdeen FC . 19 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230619121602/https://www.afc.co.uk/2023/06/16/dons-bolster-attacking-options-with-sokler-signature/ . live .
  12. Web site: Ester Sokler. 13 June 2023. Football Association of Slovenia. sl. 4 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230804014743/https://www.nzs.si/reprezentanca/?id_igralca=77690. live.
  13. Web site: Nejedly . Gorazd . 3 May 2023 . Odlični slovenski strelec dobil ime po znani pesmi . 26 June 2023 . . sl-si . 26 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230626122841/https://www.slovenskenovice.si/sport/odmevi/odlicni-slovenski-strelec-dobil-ime-po-znani-pesmi/ . live .
  14. Web site: Slovenia – E. Sokler – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway . soccerway.com . 28 June 2023 . 24 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230624143316/https://int.soccerway.com/players/-/469848/ . live .
  15. Web site: Ester Sokler – Nogometna zveza Slovenije . . 28 June 2023 . sl . 25 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230625014822/https://www.nzs.si/tekmovanja/?action=igralecStat&id_igralca=77690 . live .