Marek Lemsalu Explained

Marek Lemsalu
Fullname:Marek Lemsalu
Birth Date:24 November 1972
Birth Place:Pärnu, Estonia
Position:Centre-back
Years1:1988–1989
Caps1:29
Goals1:2
Years2:1989
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:1989–1990
Caps3:26
Goals3:0
Years4:1990–1991
Caps4:39
Goals4:4
Years5:1992–1999
Caps5:119
Goals5:17
Years6:1996–1997
Clubs6:Mainz 05 (loan)
Caps6:16
Goals6:0
Years7:1998
Clubs7:Kuressaare (loan)
Caps7:1
Goals7:0
Years8:1999
Caps8:8
Goals8:0
Years9:2000
Clubs9:Tulevik
Caps9:20
Goals9:6
Years10:2001
Caps10:29
Goals10:2
Years11:2002–2005
Caps11:110
Goals11:10
Years12:2006–2008
Caps12:91
Goals12:15
Totalcaps:489
Totalgoals:56
Nationalyears1:1992–2007
Nationalcaps1:86
Nationalgoals1:3

Marek Lemsalu (born 24 November 1972) is an Estonian former professional footballer. He played as a centre-back for Pärnu KEK, Sport Tallinn, Pärnu Kalakombinaat/MEK, Flora, Mainz 05, Kuressaare, Strømsgodset, Tulevik, Start, Bryne and Levadia.

Lemsalu made his debut for the Estonia national team in 1992. He was captain in 1995 and 1996, and made a total of 86 appearances for the team before retiring in 2007.

Lemsalu was named Estonian Footballer of the Year in 1996 and Meistriliiga Player of the Year in 2006.[1]

Club career

Early career

Lemsalu started playing football in 1988 for his hometown club Pärnu KEK, before moving to Soviet Second League club Sport Tallinn in 1989. In 1990, he returned to Pärnu where he played for Pärnu Kalakombinaat/MEK.[1]

Flora

In 1992, Lemsalu signed for Flora of the newly formed Meistriliiga. With Flora, he won four Meistriliiga titles, in 1993–94, 1994–95, 1997–98, and 1998.[1] In December 1997 he had a trial at English club Barnsley who were then in the Premier League,[2] however this didn't lead to a transfer.

Mainz 05 (loan)

In 1996, Lemsalu joined German 2. Bundesliga side Mainz 05 on a season-long loan for a fee of EEK 1 million.[3]

Strømsgodset

In 1999, Lemsalu signed for Norwegian Tippeligaen side Strømsgodset.[1]

Tulevik

In 2000, Lemsalu returned to Estonia and joined Tulevik.[1]

Start

In 2001, Lemsalu signed for Norwegian 1. divisjon side Start.[1] He helped Start to finish the 2001 season as runners-up and earn their promotion to the Tippeligaen.

Bryne

On 11 December 2002, Lemsalu signed a three-year contract with Norwegian Tippeligaen side Bryne.[4]

Levadia

On 17 January 2006, Lemsalu returned to the Meistriliiga, joining Levadia.[5] Levadia reached the first round in the 2006–07 UEFA Cup, but lost to Newcastle United 1–3 on aggregate. In 2006, Lemsalu succeeded Konstantin Vassiljev as team captain. He won the 2006 Meistriliiga title and was named Meistriliiga Player of the Year. He won two more successive Meistriliiga titles in 2007 and 2008.[1] Lemsalu retired from professional football after the 2008 season, playing his last match on 15 November 2008 against TVMK.[6]

International career

Lemsalu made his international debut for the Estonia national team on 11 July 1992 in a 1–1 draw against Lithuania in the 1992 Baltic Cup. He was team captain in 1995 and 1996. He scored his first goal for Estonia on 22 June 1997 in a 4–1 home win against Andorra in a friendly. Lemsalu retired from international football on 28 March 2007, after a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying match against Israel. He made a total of 86 appearances and scored 3 goals.

Personal life

Lemsalu's daughter Liis Lemsalu is a singer and the winner of the fourth season of Eesti otsib superstaari (Estonian version of Idols).

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOther[7] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Pärnu KEK19882. liiga120120
1989172172
Total292292
Eesti Tööstus/Flora1989Kõrgliiga1010
Sport Tallinn1989Soviet Second League4040
1990Baltic League220220
Total260260
Pärnu Kalakombinaat/MEK1990Kõrgliiga161161
1991233233
Total394394
Flora1992Meistriliiga8181
1992–93185185
1993–94151151
1994–951931030233
1995–962432030293
1996–97412061
1997–9818120201
199850100060
1999821092
Total11917906013417
Mainz 05 (loan)1996–972. Bundesliga16000160
Kuressaare (loan)1998Esiliiga10000010
Strømsgodset1999Tippeligaen80000080
Tulevik2000Meistriliiga2061000216
Start20011. divisjon29230322
Bryne2002Tippeligaen26431295
200325130281
20041. divisjon30150351
200529440334
Total1101015112511
Levadia2006Meistriliiga33560395
20073064070416
20082842071375
Total911512014111116
Career total4895618122020154958

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
Estonia
199210
199360
1994120
199570
1996100
1997131
199850
1999100
200090
200130
200361
200421
200720
Total863

International goals

Estonia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Lemsalu goal.[8]

scope=colNo.scope=col data-sort-type=dateDatescope=colVenuescope=colOpponentscope=colScorescope=colResultscope=colCompetition
scope=row122 June 1997Kuressaare Linnastaadion, Kuressaare, Estonia2–04–1Friendly
scope=row220 August 2003A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia1–21–2Friendly
scope=row314 February 2004Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta2–02–12004 Malta International Tournament

Honours

Club

Pärnu Kalakombinaat/MEK
Flora
Levadia

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lemsalu, Marek. ESBL. Estonian.
  2. News: Football: This Week's Transfers. The Independent. 13 December 1997.
  3. Web site: Marek Lemsalu ümber pöörlevad miljonid. Eesti Päevaleht. Estonian. 15 October 1996. 14 April 2017.
  4. Web site: Marek Lemsalu ühines FK Brynega. Estonian. 11 December 2002. Soccernet.ee.
  5. Web site: Ekskoondislane Marek Lemsalu ühineb FC Levadiaga. Estonian. 17 January 2006. Postimees.
  6. Web site: Lemsalu: sisetunne ütleb, et aeg sai ümber . Estonian. Õhtuleht. 17 November 2008 . 31 May 2013 . Ott . Järvela.
  7. Includes the Commonwealth of Independent States Cup, Estonian Supercup, Baltic League and Livonia Cup
  8. Web site: Football PLAYER: Marek Lemsalu . eu-football.info . 4 July 2017.