Indrek Zelinski


Indrek Zelinski is an Estonian football coach and former professional player.
Zelinski played as a forward for Sindi Kalju, Tervis Pärnu, Pärnu Kalev, Flora, Lelle, Kuressaare, Lahti, AaB, Landskrona BoIS, Frem and Levadia. Zelinski made his international debut for the Estonia national team in 1994. He made 103 appearances for the team, scoring 27 goals, before retiring in 2010. Zelinski was named Estonian Footballer of the Year in 2001, and won the Estonian Silverball award three times, in 2000, 2003 and 2007.

Early life

Born in Pärnu, Zelinski started playing football in 1985 for his hometown club Pärnu Kalev's youth team under the coach Märt Siigur.

Club career

Flora

In 1993, Zelinski signed for Flora. He saw limited playing time during the 1993–94 season, but scored a hat-trick in the championship play-off match against Norma, earning his first trophy. Zelinski spent his first seasons in Flora mostly playing for Flora affiliated teams Lelle, Tervis Pärnu and Kuressaare. He became a Flora's first team regular in the 1995–96 season. Zelinski won his second Meistriliiga title with Flora in the 1997–98 season and a third one in the following 1998 season.
On 29 July 1999, Flora reached an agreement with English side Blackpool for the transfer of Zelinski, but the move was foiled by work permit issues.

Lahti (loan)

On 2 December 1999, Zelinski joined Finnish Veikkausliiga side Lahti on loan. Zelinski returned to Flora after the one-year loan spell in October 2000.

AaB

On 17 July 2001, Zelinski joined Danish Superliga side AaB on loan until 9 December 2001 for a fee of EEK 1.3 million. The move was made permanent on 4 August 2001 for a fee of EEK 4 million. At Aab, Zelinski formed a strike partnership with fellow Estonian international Andres Oper. Zelinski scored 13 goals in the 2001–02 season and was the team's top goalscorer in the league. Despite that, we was dropped by the new manager Poul Erik Andreasen, and subsequently loaned to Landskrona BoIS and Frem.

Levadia

In January 2005, Zelinski returned to Estonia as a free agent and signed a two-year contract with Levadia. He was Levadia's top goalscorer in the league for three consecutive seasons from 2005 to 2007, and won four consecutive Meistriliiga titles in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. In August 2009, Zelinski announced that he will almost certainly retire from professional football at the end of the season. He played his last match in the Meistriliiga on 10 November 2009 against Paide Linnameeskond, where he was sent off in the end of the first half for a professional foul.

International career

Zelinski made his international debut for the Estonia national team on 7 May 1994 in a 0–4 away defeat against United States in a friendly. He scored his first goal for Estonia on 13 November 1996 in a 6–1 away win against Andorra. Three days later, on 16 November 1996, Zelinski scored a hat-trick against Indonesia in a friendly. Zelinski was named Estonian Footballer of the Year in 2001, and won the Estonian Silverball award three times, in 2000, 2003 and 2007. He ended his international career with a testimonial match on 21 May 2010, after a 2–0 home win against Finland, having made 103 appearances and scoring 27 goals.

Personal life

Zelinski has a daughter, Johanna-Lisa, with his girlfriend Sigrit Järvamägi who is a two-time Estonian Women's Cup winner with Flora women's team.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
113 November 1996Estadi Comunal, Andorra la Vella, Andorra151–06–1Friendly
216 November 1996Stadio Giuseppe Olmo, Celle Ligure, Italy161–03–0Friendly
316 November 1996Stadio Giuseppe Olmo, Celle Ligure, Italy162–03–0Friendly
416 November 1996Stadio Giuseppe Olmo, Celle Ligure, Italy163–03–0Friendly
51 March 1997Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus192–02–0Friendly
618 May 1997Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia211–01–31998 FIFA World Cup qualification
722 June 1997Kuressaare linnastaadion, Kuressaare, Estonia241–04–1Friendly
822 June 1998Kuressaare linnastaadion, Kuressaare, Estonia341–02–1Friendly
920 September 1998Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia392–02–2Friendly
1021 November 1998Abovyan City Stadium, Abovyan, Armenia431–21–2Friendly
1122 January 1999Umm al-Fahm Municipal Stadion, Umm al-Fahm, Israel452–33–3Friendly
1222 January 1999Umm al-Fahm Municipal Stadion, Umm al-Fahm, Israel453–33–3Friendly
1316 March 1999GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus481–02–1Friendly
1423 February 2000Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand561–42–42000 King's Cup
1510 December 2000Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong661–12–1Friendly
1610 December 2000Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong662–12–1Friendly
172 June 2001A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia702–12–42002 FIFA World Cup qualification
183 July 2001Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia721–11–32001 Baltic Cup
1915 August 2001A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia741–12–22002 FIFA World Cup qualification
2010 November 2001Nikos Goumas Stadium, Athens, Greece772–42–4Friendly
2114 March 2002Stadio Enzo Mazotti, Montecatini Terme, Italy791–02–0Friendly
2221 May 2002San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino821–01–0Friendly
2312 October 2002A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia863–23–2Friendly
2430 April 2003Camp d’Esports d’Aixovall, Aixovall, Andorra931–02–0UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
2530 April 2003Camp d’Esports d’Aixovall, Aixovall, Andorra932–02–0UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
2620 December 2003Sultan Qaboos Stadium, Muscat, Oman991–11–3Friendly
2722 August 2007A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia1022–12–1UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying

Honours

Club

;Flora
;Levadia