Piiroja to retire after final Estonia farewell
Monday, October 13, 2014
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"My body decided for me. It said: 'Raio, it is time to give up'," was how long-term Estonia captain Raio Piiroja explained his decision to quit football after one last friendly game.
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Long-time Estonia captain Raio Piiroja has confirmed that he will retire from football after a farewell appearance in a friendly game against Iceland on 31 March 2015.
The 35-year-old was a regular for Estonia from 1998 to 2013, when he suffered a thigh injury in a FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Turkey. At that stage, the five-time Estonian Player of the Year felt that he would never play again, though he has since been training with FC Flora Tallinn – the club with whom he won two national titles between 1999 and 2004, before playing abroad with Fredrikstad FK, Vitesse and Chinese side Chengdu Blades FC.
"Thanks to the farewell match, I'll be able to thank my team-mates and fans, and say goodbye to my friends in a nice atmosphere," said Piiroja, who has won 113 caps for his country. "It will be a very emotional occasion. It wasn't my decision; my body decided for me. It said: 'Raio, it is time to give up.'"
