Erik Paartalu

Erik Endel Paartalu (born 3 May 1986) is an Australian professional footballer of Estonian descent who plays as a defensive midfielder. He has played professionally in Scotland, Australia, China, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand and India.[1]

Erik Paartalu
Paartalu with Greenock Morton in 2009
Personal information
Full name Erik Endel Paartalu
Date of birth (1986-05-03) 3 May 1986
Place of birth Sydney, Australia
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Defensive Midfielder
Youth career
Northern Spirit
2000–2001 NSWIS
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Northern Spirit 3 (0)
2004 Northern Tigers 17 (4)
2004–2006 Parramatta Eagles 28 (2)
2006–2008 Gretna 35 (4)
2008 → Stirling Albion (loan) 10 (1)
2008–2010 Greenock Morton 58 (6)
2010–2013 Brisbane Roar 79 (10)
2013 Tianjin Teda 30 (4)
2014 Muangthong United 21 (2)
2014–2016 Melbourne City 40 (7)
2016 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2 (0)
2016–2017 Al Kharaitiyat 9 (0)
2017–2021 Bengaluru 67 (9)
International career
2003 Australia U-17 3 (0)
2013 Australia 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:46, 18 December 2020 (UTC)

Club career

NSL

Paartalu began his career with Northern Spirit in the National Soccer League, after stints with the Spirit youth team and the New South Wales Institute of Sport. His NSL career at the Spirit was however limited to a single appearance as a substitute on 11 January 2004 against the Melbourne Knights.

After the dissolution of the Northern Spirit, Paartalu moved to the Northern Tigers in the New South Wales Winter Super League where he played 17 matches scoring four goals in the 2004 season.[2]

During 2004 Paartalu moved to the Parramatta Eagles who were then playing in the National Premier Leagues NSW. He continued with the Eagles until the latter half of the 2006 season, before he decided to take his chances on a career in the United Kingdom.

Scotland
Paartalu in 2009

After a trial with Doncaster in League One it was expected he would sign a contract until the departure of manager Dave Penney put an end to the deal.[3] Arriving at Gretna in September Paartalu was signed on a short-term contract after a trial. A number of impressive performances led to a two and a half-year contract being signed in January 2007. Paartalu joined Stirling Albion on 1 January 2008 on a loan deal from Gretna until the end of the 2007/2008 season.[4] Paartalu made his debut for the Binos against Hamilton on 5 January 2008 at New Douglas Park.[5] In his second game he scored his first and only goal for the club, in a 4–1 defeat to Livingston.[6]

Paartalu was released by Gretna in March 2008 due to them entering administration.[7] He then joined Greenock Morton.[8] After helping Morton stay in the First Division, Paartalu signed a two-year deal at the end of April 2008 to keep him at Cappielow until 2010.[9]

Brisbane Roar
Paartalu (left) celebrating Brisbane Roar's 2012 A-League Grand Final win with Besart Berisha.

With his contract at Morton running out in the summer, Paartalu signed a pre-contract agreement with Brisbane Roar on 24 February 2010.[10] Paartalu became an important player for Brisbane, a linchpin in the midfield and scoring crucial goals.[11][12][13] Paartalu's defining moment at the Roar came in the 2011 A-League Grand Final, where he scored the equaliser with the last touch of the game in the 120th minute.[14] He also went on to score the Roar's second penalty in the shootout against the Mariners. Paartalu was awarded the A-League Solo Goal of the Year for the 2010–11 season for his volley against Gold Coast United in the last game of the regular season.

In Brisbane's first match of the 2011–12 finals series, Paartalu's powerful strike sealed a 2–0 win for Brisbane in the first leg against the Central Coast.

Paartalu started in 85 consecutive games for Brisbane Roar in the A-League and the AFC Champions League in both the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons, including the A-League finals series.[13]

Tianjin Teda

On 21 January 2013 it was confirmed that Paartalu had signed a three-year deal with Tianjin Teda in the Chinese Super League.[15]

Muangthong United

After leaving Tianjin Teda in February 2014, Paartalu signed for Muangthong United in the Thai Premier League.[16]

Melbourne City

In July 2014, Paartalu was offered a to be signed as a domestic marquee player by Newcastle Jets, but he opted to see out his contract with Muangthong United.[17] In September Newcastle Jets reopened talks with Paartalu, following the departure of Craig Goodwin from the club.[18] However, despite the courting and lucrative offer by Newcastle Jets, on 15 September Paartalu signed a four-year deal with Melbourne City under the salary cap,[19] saying "I want to be at a club with an ambition to be successful on and off the field and Melbourne City FC is that club."[20] After 40 games and 7 goals for the club across nearly two season, Paartalu was released by the club to pursue opportunities in South Korea.[21]

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Following his release from Melbourne City, Paartalu joined K League Classic side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on a one-year deal.[22] However, after just three months with the team, Paartalu was dropped from the squad, with coach Chio Kang-hee asking the midfielder to train alone.[23]

Al Kharaitiyat

In October 2016, Paartalu joined Qatari Stars League club Al Kharaitiyat.[24]

Bengaluru FC

On 5 July 2017, Paartalu joined Indian Super League club Bengaluru FC on a one-year deal.[25] In November, he scored a brace against Delhi Dynamos.[26] On 14 March 2018, his contract was extended until the end of 2020.[27] Paartalu was part of the 2018–19 Indian Super League season winning squad and ended the following 2019–20 season as the club's highest assist getter with five contributions to his name.[28] Paartalu signed a two-year extension to his contract with Bengaluru FC at the end of the 2019-20 campaign. "Bengaluru has held a special place in my heart for the past three years. Every time I leave the city, I am somehow drawn back to it," Paartalu said after putting pen to paper.[29] In September 2021, Bengaluru FC announced that Paartalu and the club had parted ways.[30]

International career

Paartalu represented Australia at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship.[31] Paartalu played in all three of Australia's three games in the tournament, including losses against Argentina and Nigeria. On 21 February 2012 he was selected to play for the "Socceroos" against Saudi Arabia national football team in a World Cup qualification match.[32] Paartalu also represented the Australian National Team in two games at the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup, with appearances against South Korea and China PR.[33][34]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played on 9 January 2020
Club Season League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Northern Spirit 2003–04[35] National Soccer League 10——10
Northern Tigers 2004[35] National Premier Leagues NSW 2 174——288
Gretna 2007–08[36] Scottish Premier League 9020—110
Sitrling Albion (loan) 2007–08[37] Scottish First Division 10100—101
Greenock Morton 2007–08[37] Scottish First Division 5000—50
2008–09[38] Scottish First Division 27351—324
2009–10[39] Scottish First Division 26310—273
Total 58661—647
Brisbane Roar 2010–11[36] A-League 334——334
2011–12[36] A-League 304——304
2012–13[36] A-League 162—6[lower-alpha 1]0222
Total 7910—608510
Tianjin Teda 2013[36] Chinese Super League 30400—304
Muangthong United 2014[36] Thai Premier League 212—212
Melbourne City 2014–15[36] A-League 26300—263
2015–16[36] A-League 16420—184
Total 42720—447
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2016[36] K League Classic 20004[lower-alpha 1]060
Al Kharaitiyat 2016–17[36] Qatar Stars League 9000—90
Bengaluru FC 2017–18 Indian Super League 1834011[lower-alpha 2]3336
2018–19 Indian Super League 1420000142
2019–20 Indian Super League 1720040212
2020–21 Indian Super League 1820010192
Total 679401638712
Career total 3454314126338547
  1. Appearances in AFC Champions League
  2. Appearances in AFC Cup

Honours

Club

Gretna

Brisbane Roar

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motars

Bengaluru

International

Australia U-17

Individual

References
  1. "Australia – E. Paartalu – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  2. "OzFootball Australian Player Database". OzFootball. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
  3. "Roo Erik bouncing as he lines up new deal". News and Star. 12 December 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2007.
  4. "Stirling in bold move for McCann". The Scotsman. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  5. "Stirling Albion.com Match Report". Robin Bairner, stirlingalbion.com reporter. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  6. "Stirling Albion 1–4 Livingston". BBC. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  7. "Gretna make 22 players redundant". BBC Sport. 26 March 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  8. "Paartalu completes Morton switch". BBC Sport. 1 April 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  9. "Paartalu signs new deal at Morton". BBC Sport. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2008.
  10. "Erik Paartalu signs for Brisbane". brisbaneroar.com.au. 24 February 2010. Archived from the original on 6 March 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  11. "Oz brings best out of Paartalu: A League: News: The World Game on SBS". Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  12. "Postecoglou confident Brisbane Roar can keep Paartalu – Tribal Football". 3 June 2023.
  13. Brisbane Roar player Erik Paartalu is the ironman of the team having played every game for the last two seasonsThe Courier Mail Archived 7 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  14. "Paartalu in disbelief – Football – Sportal Australia". Archived from the original on 19 March 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  15. Roar star Eric Paartalu signs two-year deal with Chinese Super League Side Tianjin Teda Herald Sun
  16. Muangthong claims Paartalu signature Archived 2 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine – The World Game on SBS
  17. Lewis, David (31 July 2014). "Newcastle Jets pursuit of Paartalu on hold". SBS.
  18. Gardiner, James (8 September 2014). "Erik Paartalu back in the picture for Jets as Goodwin heads home". The Newcastle Herald.
  19. "Melbourne City FC sign Erik Paartalu". Football Federation Australia. 15 September 2014.
  20. Windley, Matt (15 September 2014). "Melbourne City sign former Brisbane Roar midfielder Erik Paartalu for four years". Herald Sun.
  21. "City Release Erik Paartalu". Melbourne City FC. 2 February 2016.
  22. "Australia international Paartalu seals move to Jeonbuk". AFC. 5 February 2016.
  23. Windley, Matt (16 May 2016). "Former Socceroo Erik Paartalu not featuring for Jeonbuk Motors as speedy K-League takes its toll". Herald Sun. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  24. "Koua joins Al Arabi Club; Sumaila opts for Gharafa". Qatar Tribune. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  25. "Bengaluru FC sign Aussie midfielder Paartalu". Bengaluru FC. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  26. Shreedutta Chidanda (26 November 2017). "BFC cruises to victory". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  27. "ISL: Paartalu extends stay with Bengaluru FC". The Times of India. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  28. "Bengaluru sign Spanish midfielder Alejandro Barrera to replace injured Erik Paartalu". Indian Super League. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  29. "Erik Paartalu extends Bengaluru stay". Indian Super League. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  30. "Bengaluru FC and Eric Paartalu Mutually Part Ways Ahead of ISL 2021-22". News18. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  31. Mitchell, Jonathan, "Erik Paartalu ... Homeward Bound", Greenock Morton F.C. official matchday programme
  32. "Osieck names stars to take on Saudi Arabia @ Football Australia 2011". Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  33. "Erik Paartalu Photos Photos: Australia v China – EAFF East Asian Cup 2013". Zimbio. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  34. "China's Zhang Linpeng competes for the ball with Australia's Erik..." Getty Images. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  35. "Paartalu, Erik". Oz Football. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  36. "E. Paartalu". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  37. "Games played by Erik Paartalu in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  38. "Games played by Erik Paartalu in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  39. "Games played by Erik Paartalu in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
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