Estonian footballer
Rauno Sappinen (born 23 January 1996) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Estonia national team.[2] He is currently a free agent.
Sappinen came through the youth system at Flora and made his debut in the Meistriliiga on 2 March 2013, in a 4–1 home win over Tallinna Kalev. He won his first Meistriliiga title in the 2015 season. Sappinen's performances in 2015 also saw him voted Estonian Young Footballer of the Year.[3] He was Flora's top goalscorer in the league for three consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2017, and joint top scorer in the Meistriliiga in 2017, alongside Albert Prosa. Sappinen won his second Meistriliiga title in the 2017 season, and was named Meistriliiga Player of the Year.[4]
Loan to Beerschot Wilrijk
[edit]
On 31 January 2018, Sappinen joined Belgian club Beerschot Wilrijk on loan until the end of the season.[5] He made his debut for the club on 9 February 2018, in a 0–0 home draw against Westerlo.[6]
On 13 August 2018, Sappinen joined Dutch club Den Bosch on loan until the end of the season.[7] He made his debut in the Eerste Divisie on 17 August 2018, and scored the winning goal in a 2–1 away victory over Volendam.[8]
On 14 August 2019, Sappinen penned a three-year loan deal with Slovenian club Domžale.[9]
On 6 July 2021, Sappinen scored both goals in Flora's win over Hibernians in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League first qualifying round match.[10] He would score again in the second leg a week later as Flora won 5–0 on aggregate and progressed to the second qualifying round for just the third time in club history.[11]
On 22 December 2021, Sappinen signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Polish Ekstraklasa club Piast Gliwice, effective from 1 February 2022.[12]
On 24 January 2023, Sappinen joined Stal Mielec on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy.[13]
In July 2023, Sappinen signed a one-year contract with Hapoel Jerusalem with an option for a two-year extension.[14]
International career
[edit]
Sappinen began his international career for Estonia in 2011 with the under-16 national team, and has captained the under-19 and under-21 national sides.
Sappinen made his senior international debut for Estonia on 11 November 2015, in a 3–0 home victory over Georgia in a friendly.[15] He scored his first international goal on 19 November 2016, in a 1–1 away draw against Saint Kitts and Nevis in a friendly.[16]
- As of match played 19 July 2023[17][18]
- As of match played 20 June 2023[18][19]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team |
Year |
Apps |
Goals
|
Estonia
|
2015 |
2 |
0
|
2016 |
9 |
1
|
2017 |
5 |
1
|
2018 |
2 |
0
|
2019 |
7 |
0
|
2020 |
7 |
4
|
2021 |
11 |
2
|
2022 |
6 |
2
|
2023 |
4 |
2
|
Total |
53 |
12
|
- Scores and results list Estonia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sappinen goal.[19]
List of international goals scored by Rauno Sappinen
No.
|
Date
|
Venue
|
Cap
|
Opponent
|
Score
|
Result
|
Competition
|
1 |
19 November 2016 |
Warner Park, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis |
11 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis |
1–1 |
1–1 |
Friendly
|
2 |
12 November 2017 |
National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta |
13 |
Malta |
1–0 |
3–0 |
Friendly
|
3 |
11 October 2020 |
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia |
28 |
North Macedonia |
1–1 |
3–3 |
2020–21 UEFA Nations League C
|
4
|
2–1
|
5
|
14 October 2020 |
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia |
29 |
Armenia |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2020–21 UEFA Nations League C
|
6 |
15 November 2020 |
National Arena Toše Proeski, Skopje, North Macedonia |
31 |
North Macedonia |
1–1 |
1–2 |
2020–21 UEFA Nations League C
|
7 |
24 March 2021 |
Arena Lublin, Lublin, Poland |
33 |
Czech Republic |
1–0 |
2–6 |
2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
|
8 |
4 June 2021 |
Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland |
37 |
Finland |
1–0 |
1–0 |
Friendly
|
9 |
23 September 2022 |
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia |
46 |
Malta |
1–0 |
2–1 |
2022–23 UEFA Nations League D
|
10 |
26 September 2022 |
Olympic Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino |
47 |
San Marino |
3–0 |
4–0 |
2022–23 UEFA Nations League D
|
11 |
27 March 2023 |
Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria |
51 |
Austria |
1–0 |
1–2 |
UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
|
12 |
17 June 2023 |
Dalga Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan |
52 |
Azerbaijan |
1–0 |
1–1 |
UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
|
Flora
- Estonian Young Footballer of the Year: 2015, 2018