Martin Reim

Estonian footballer and manager

Martin Reim (born 14 May 1971) is an Estonian football manager and former professional player. Reim played most of his professional career in Estonia as a central midfielder, including two separate stints for Flora with which he won seven Meistriliiga titles. He is also the most capped Estonia national football team player of all time with 157 appearances, and was the most capped European international player from August 2007 until December 2009, when he was surpassed by Latvia's Vitālijs Astafjevs. Reim is also the most capped player never to have played in a major tournament. Reim was named Estonian Footballer of the Year in 1995 and won the Estonian Silverball award three times, in 1995, 1997, and 1999. In 2011, he received the Order of the White Star for his services to Estonia. In 2007, Reim opened a football academy (Martin Reimi Jalgpallikool). In 2016, the academy team Viimsi MRJK merged with Esiliiga B club HÜJK Emmaste, and became Viimsi JK.

Reim was born in Tartu and grew up in Tallinn. He graduated from the Tallinn Secondary School No. 49 in 1989, and from the Tallinn University of Technology in 2000.

In 1992, Reim joined Meistriliiga club Flora, the successor of the Lõvid team. He won seven trophies with the club, including four Meistriliiga titles, in 1993–94, 1994–95, 1997–98 and 1998, two Estonian Cups, in 1994–95 and 1997–98, and an Estonian Supercup in 1998.

In 2001, Reim returned to Flora. During his second spell at Flora, he won three consecutive Meistriliiga titles, in 2001, 2002 and 2003, another Estonian Cup in 2008, and three more Estonian Supercups, in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He holds the club record for the most appearances in the Meistriliiga, with 385.

Reim made his international debut for Estonia on 3 June 1992, in a historic 1–1 draw against Slovenia in a friendly at Kadriorg Stadium. The match was Estonia's first official match since restoration of independence and Slovenia's first match ever. Reim scored his first international goal on 23 May 1994, in a 1–2 home loss to Wales in a friendly. He won the Estonian Silverball award for the best national team goal of the year three times, in 1995, 1997, 1999. With 157 appearances and 14 goals scored, he is Estonia's most capped player of all time. He led Flora to victory in the 2010 season, ending the reign of Levadia who had won the four previous Meistriliiga titles. Flora successfully defended their title in 2011 season and won the 2010–11 Estonian Cup, defeating Narva Trans 2–0 in the final. On 14 October 2012, Reim resigned after poor results in the Meistriliiga, with Marko Lelov and Norbert Hurt taking over.

In October 2012, Reim was named as manager of the Estonia under 18, under 21 and under 23 national sides. He led the under 21 team to win the 2014 Baltic Cup.

On 14 September 2016, the Estonian Football Association appointed Reim as manager of the Estonia national team until the end of the qualification tournament for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. On 17 June, he and his coaching staff resigned from Estonia national team, six days after the 0–8 defeat to Germany in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualification.

Scores and results list Estonia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Reim goal. + List of international goals scored by Martin ReimNo. DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition123 May 1994Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia181–21–2Friendly215 February 1995Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus271–11–3Friendly325 March 1995Stadio Arechi, Salerno, Italy281–31–4UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying411 June 1995Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia311–01–3UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying53 September 1995Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb, Croatia331–11–7UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying69 July 1996Kreenholm Stadium, Narva, Estonia381–11–11996 Baltic Cup79 July 1997Žalgiris Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania531–21–21997 Baltic Cup84 June 1998Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia622–05–0UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying922 January 1999Umm al Fahm Municipal Stadium, Umm al Fahm, Israel721–33–3Friendly104 September 1999Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands801–02–0UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying111 November 1999Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates841–02–2Friendly1225 February 2000Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand881–21–22000 King's Cup1316 August 2000Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia901–01–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification147 October 2000Estadi Comunal, Andorra la Vella, Andorra921–02–12002 FIFA World Cup qualification