# Andres Oper

Andres Oper (born 7 November 1977) is an Estonian football coach and former professional player. With 38 goals in 134 appearances, Oper is Estonia's all-time record goalscorer.
Oper played as a forward for Lelle, Flora, Tervis Pärnu, AaB, Torpedo Moscow, Roda JC, Shanghai Shenhua, ADO Den Haag, AEK Larnaca, Nea Salamina and the Estonia national team. Oper was named Estonian Footballer of the Year three times, in 1999, 2002 and 2005, and won the Estonian Silverball award twice; in 2001 and 2005.

## Early life

Oper was born in Tallinn. He graduated from the Tallinn Secondary School No. 37. He started playing football with Tallinna Jalgpallikool (English: Tallinn Football Academy) under Aivar Tiidus, before moving to Taivo Uibo's Uibo Poisid and then LMSK/Pantrid, coached by Aavo Sarap.

## Club career
### Flora

In 1995, Oper signed for Flora. He won his first Meistriliiga title in the 1994–95 season. Oper soon became a first team regular and one of the team's leading goalscorers. He won two more league titles in the 1997–98 and the 1998 seasons, as well as the 1997–98 Estonian Cup and the 1998 Estonian Supercup. In 1998, Oper had a trial at Arsenal.

### AaB

On 2 July 1999, Oper signed for Danish Superliga champions AaB, on a five-year contract for a transfer fee of $1 million (EEK 15 million). In the process, he became the first one million dollar transfer in Estonian top flight's history.

### Torpedo Moscow

On 10 July 2003, Oper signed a two-year contract with Russian Premier League club Torpedo Moscow. Often inconsistent in Russia, scoring 8 goals in 53 appearances, Oper was placed on the transfer list after he suffered an injury to his right foot. In 2005, he was close to a transfer to Premier League's Sunderland in England, but the contract was never signed.

### Roda JC

On 31 August 2005, Oper signed a one-year contract with Dutch Eredivisie club Roda JC for an undisclosed fee. He scored his first Eredivisie goal on 1 October 2005, in a 3–2 win against Vitesse Arnhem. Oper finished the 2005–06 Eredivisie season as the team's joint top scorer alongside Simon Cziommer with 8 goals and signed a contract extension for two more seasons. He was the team's top scorer in the 2006–07 Eredivisie season, scoring 12 goals in the league and 1 in the play-offs. On 16 May 2007, he signed another contract extension with Roda JC until summer 2009.

### Shanghai Shenhua

On 19 July 2009, Oper signed a half-year contract with Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua. He made his debut for the club on 2 August 2009, in an away match against Jiangsu Sainty. However, he suffered an injury and eventually terminated his contract with the club.

### ADO Den Haag

After an unsuccessful spell in China, Oper returned to the Netherlands and on 21 January 2010, he signed a half-year contract with an option for another year with ADO Den Haag. He made his debut for the club on 13 February 2010 in a home match against Willem II. Oper scored his first goal for ADO Den Haag on 18 April 2010, in a 4–0 win against RKC Waalwijk. His contract extension stalled due to negotiations over personal terms, eventually no agreement was settled and the extension was cancelled. The contract expired in summer.

### AEK Larnaca

On 9 September 2010, Oper signed a one-year contract with Cypriot First Division club AEK Larnaca. He scored on his debut against Ethnikos Achna.

### Nea Salamina

In January 2012, Oper joined Cypriot First Division club Nea Salamina. He scored his first goal for the club on 3 March in a 2–0 win against Enosis Neon Paralimni.
In February 2014, Andres Oper announced his retirement from professional football. Since then, Oper has occasionally played for Viimsi JK in Estonian Cup or lower league matches. In 2021, he notably scored the winning goal in an Estonian Cup match against top flight club Pärnu Vaprus.

## International career

Oper made his international debut for the Estonia national football team on 19 May 1995, in a 0–2 1995 Baltic Cup defeat against Latvia. He scored his first goal for Estonia on 8 June 1997, in a 2–3 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification loss against Sweden. He won the Estonian Silverball award twice, in 2001 and 2005. On 2 September 2006, Oper played his 100th match for Estonia, a 0–1 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying defeat against Israel. He ended his international career with a testimonial match on 26 May 2014, after a 1–1 friendly draw against Gibraltar at A. Le Coq Arena. With 38 goals in 134 international appearances, Oper is Estonia's all-time record goalscorer. He played for the Estonia national team for eighteen consecutive seasons.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Flora | 1994–95 | Meistriliiga | 1 | 0 | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Flora | 1995–96 | Meistriliiga | 9 | 2 | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 |
| Flora | 1996–97 | Meistriliiga | 18 | 13 | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 13 |
| Flora | 1997–98 | Meistriliiga | 22 | 15 | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 15 |
| Flora | 1998 | Meistriliiga | 13 | 10 | | | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 11 |
| Flora | 1999 | Meistriliiga | 10 | 4 | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 |
| Flora | Total | Total | 73 | 44 | | | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 81 | 45 |
| Tervis Pärnu (loan) | 1995–96 | Meistriliiga | 9 | 3 | | | — | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 |
| AaB | 1999–2000 | Superliga | 30 | 7 | | | 4 | 1 | | | 34 | 8 |
| AaB | 2000–01 | Superliga | 29 | 6 | | | 4 | 0 | | | 33 | 6 |
| AaB | 2001–02 | Superliga | 31 | 4 | | | — | — | | | 31 | 4 |
| AaB | 2002–03 | Superliga | 27 | 11 | | | — | — | | | 27 | 11 |
| AaB | Total | Total | 117 | 28 | | | 8 | 1 | | | 125 | 29 |
| Torpedo Moscow | 2003 | Russian Premier League | 14 | 3 | | | 5 | 2 | | | 19 | 5 |
| Torpedo Moscow | 2004 | Russian Premier League | 24 | 4 | | | — | — | | | 24 | 4 |
| Torpedo Moscow | 2005 | Russian Premier League | 15 | 1 | | | — | — | | | 15 | 1 |
| Torpedo Moscow | Total | Total | 53 | 8 | | | 5 | 2 | | | 58 | 10 |
| Roda JC | 2005–06 | Eredivisie | 24 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 13 |
| Roda JC | 2006–07 | Eredivisie | 32 | 11 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 38 | 12 |
| Roda JC | 2007–08 | Eredivisie | 20 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 25 | 8 |
| Roda JC | 2008–09 | Eredivisie | 27 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 28 | 7 |
| Roda JC | Total | Total | 103 | 32 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 120 | 40 |
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2009 | Chinese Super League | 6 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| ADO Den Haag | 2009–10 | Eredivisie | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| AEK Larnaca | 2010–11 | Cypriot First Division | 21 | 3 | | 2 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 21 | 5 |
| Nea Salamina | 2011–12 | Cypriot First Division | 14 | 3 | | | — | — | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 |
| Nea Salamina | 2012–13 | Cypriot First Division | 28 | 5 | | | — | — | 0 | 0 | 28 | 5 |
| Nea Salamina | Total | Total | 42 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 42 | 8 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 436 | 127 | 12 | 9 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 474 | 141 |
* ↑ Includes the Estonian Supercup and Eredivisie play-offs

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Estonia | 1995 | 3 | 0 |
| Estonia | 1996 | 5 | 0 |
| Estonia | 1997 | 14 | 2 |
| Estonia | 1998 | 13 | 2 |
| Estonia | 1999 | 13 | 5 |
| Estonia | 2000 | 9 | 6 |
| Estonia | 2001 | 11 | 2 |
| Estonia | 2002 | 8 | 4 |
| Estonia | 2003 | 6 | 2 |
| Estonia | 2004 | 7 | 2 |
| Estonia | 2005 | 9 | 5 |
| Estonia | 2006 | 4 | 2 |
| Estonia | 2007 | 6 | 1 |
| Estonia | 2008 | 4 | 2 |
| Estonia | 2009 | 2 | 0 |
| Estonia | 2010 | 4 | 1 |
| Estonia | 2011 | 2 | 0 |
| Estonia | 2012 | 10 | 2 |
| Estonia | 2013 | 3 | 0 |
| Estonia | 2014 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 134 | 38 |
    Scores and results list Estonia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Oper goal.
List of international goals scored by Andres Oper :
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 8 June 1997 | Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia | 16 | Sweden | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 22 June 1997 | Kuressaare Linnastaadion, Kuressaare, Estonia | 17 | Andorra | 3–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 4 June 1998 | Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia | 25 | Faroe Islands | 4–0 | 5–0 | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 4 | 22 June 1998 | Kuressaare Linnastaadion, Kuressaare, Estonia | 26 | Andorra | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 9 June 1999 | Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia | 41 | Lithuania | 1–0 | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 6 | 9 October 1999 | Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia | 44 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–0 | 1–4 | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 7 | 1 November 1999 | Mohammad bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | 46 | United Arab Emirates | 2–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 8 | 18 December 1999 | Trikala Municipal Stadium, Trikala, Greece | 48 | Greece | 1–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 9 | 18 December 1999 | Trikala Municipal Stadium, Trikala, Greece | 48 | Greece | 2–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 10 | 23 February 2000 | Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | 49 | Finland | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2000 King's Cup |
| 11 | 26 April 2000 | Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | 51 | Luxembourg | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 12 | 4 June 2000 | Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia | 52 | Belarus | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 13 | 4 June 2000 | Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia | 52 | Belarus | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 14 | 3 September 2000 | Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia | 55 | Portugal | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 15 | 7 October 2000 | Estadi Comunal, Andorra la Vella, Andorra | 56 | Andorra | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 16 | 19 March 2001 | Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt | 58 | Egypt | 1–1 | 3–3 | Friendly |
| 17 | 2 June 2001 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 61 | Netherlands | 1–0 | 2–4 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 18 | 14 March 2002 | Stadio Enzo Mazotti, Montecatini Terme, Italy | 69 | Saudi Arabia | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 19 | 27 March 2002 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 70 | Russia | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 20 | 27 March 2002 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 70 | Russia | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 21 | 20 November 2002 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 76 | Iceland | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 22 | 29 March 2003 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 78 | Canada | 1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 23 | 29 March 2003 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 78 | Canada | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 24 | 4 September 2004 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 86 | Luxembourg | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 25 | 13 October 2004 | Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia | 88 | Latvia | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 26 | 26 March 2005 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 91 | Slovakia | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 27 | 4 June 2005 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 93 | Liechtenstein | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 28 | 3 September 2005 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 96 | Latvia | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 29 | 12 October 2005 | Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | 98 | Luxembourg | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 30 | 12 October 2005 | Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | 98 | Luxembourg | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 31 | 15 November 2006 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 102 | Belarus | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 32 | 15 November 2006 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 102 | Belarus | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 33 | 17 November 2007 | Estadi Comunal, Andorra la Vella, Andorra | 108 | Andorra | 1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 34 | 20 August 2008 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 109 | Malta | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 35 | 6 September 2008 | Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège, Belgium | 110 | Belgium | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 36 | 21 May 2010 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 115 | Finland | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 37 | 1 June 2012 | Tamme Stadium, Tartu, Estonia | 123 | Finland | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2012 Baltic Cup |
| 38 | 16 October 2012 | Estadi Comunal, Andorra la Vella, Andorra | 129 | Andorra | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |

## Honours

Flora
* Meistriliiga: 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998
* Estonian Cup: 1997–98
* Estonian Supercup: 1998
Individual
* Estonian Footballer of the Year: 1999, 2002, 2005
* Estonian Silverball: 2001, 2005