Piiroja tops Estonian player poll

Fredrikstad FK central defender Raio Piiroja has retained his title of Estonian Player of the Year after coming out ahead of Dutch-based duo Andres Oper and Ragnar Klavan in the annual poll of 16 football journalists and 16 Estonian Football Association officials.

Qualifying goals
The Parnu-born 28-year-old, who joined Fredrikstad in 2004 from FC Flora, produced a string of fine Tippeligaen performances in 2007 and Piiroja's two goals in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying, Estonia's highest total, helped the national team to a 2-1 win against Andorra in August and a 1-1 draw in F.Y.R. Macedonia a month later. He secured 61 points from a maximum 96 after being placed first by 13 voters, his overall tally 18 clear of Roda JC forward Oper – a three-time award-winner – and 24 ahead of Heracles Almelo left-back Klavan. Aleksandr Dmitrijev of FC Levadia Tallinn was the highest home-based player in fifth.

Estonian players of the year
2007: Raio Piiroja
2006: Raio Piiroja
2005: Andres Oper
2004: Andrei Stepanov
2003: Mart Poom
2002: Andres Oper
2001: Indrek Zelinski
2000: Mart Poom
1999: Andres Oper
1998: Mart Poom
1997: Mart Poom
1996: Marek Lemsalu
1995: Martin Reim
1994: Mart Poom
1993: Mart Poom
1992: Urmas Hepner