Marek Lemsalu

Estonian footballer

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.

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. however this didn't lead to a transfer.

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

In 1999, Lemsalu signed for Norwegian Tippeligaen side Strømsgodset.

On 17 January 2006, Lemsalu returned to the Meistriliiga, joining Levadia. 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.

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.

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

ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPärnu KEK19882. liiga120 ——1201989172 ——172Total292 ——292Eesti Tööstus/Flora1989Kõrgliiga10 ——10Sport Tallinn1989Soviet Second League40 ——401990Baltic League220 ——220Total260 ——260Pärnu Kalakombinaat/MEK1990Kõrgliiga161 ——1611991233 ——233Total394 ——394Flora1992Meistriliiga81 ——811992–93185 ——1851993–94151 ——1511994–95193 10302331995–96243 20302931996–9741 20—611997–98181 20—201199850 100060199982 10—92Total11917 906013417Mainz 05 (loan)1996–972. Bundesliga16000——160Kuressaare (loan)1998Esiliiga1000—0010Strømsgodset1999Tippeligaen8000—0080Tulevik2000Meistriliiga206 1000216Start20011. divisjon29230——322Bryne2002Tippeligaen26431——295200325130——28120041. divisjon30150——351200529440——334Total11010151——12511Levadia2006Meistriliiga335 60—3952007306 40704162008284 2071375Total9115 12014111116Career total4895618122020154958

Estonia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Lemsalu goal. No. DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition122 June 1997Kuressaare Linnastaadion, Kuressaare, Estonia2–04–1Friendly220 August 2003A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia1–21–2Friendly314 February 2004Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta2–02–12004 Malta International Tournament