Henri Anier (born 17 December 1990) is an Estonian professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Hong Kong Premier League club Lee Man and the Estonia national team.

Henri Anier
Anier playing for Lee Man in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-12-17) 17 December 1990 (age 33)
Place of birth Tallinn, Estonia
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Lee Man
Number 9
Youth career
1997–2007 Flora
2009–2010Sampdoria (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Flora II 8 (7)
2008–2011 Flora 86 (52)
2007Warrior (loan) 24 (13)
2012 Viking 2 6 (4)
2012–2014 Viking 16 (0)
2013Fredrikstad (loan) 13 (3)
2013–2014Motherwell (loan) 19 (7)
2014 Motherwell 14 (2)
2014–2015 Erzgebirge Aue 6 (0)
2015–2016 Dundee United 20 (2)
2015–2016Hibernian (loan) 3 (0)
2016 Kalmar FF 9 (1)
2017 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 13 (0)
2017–2018 Lahti 45 (11)
2019 Suwon FC 21 (4)
2020 Go Ahead Eagles 2 (0)
2020–2021 Paide Linnameeskond 41 (36)
2022–2023 Muangthong United 31 (11)
2023– Lee Man 20 (17)
International career
2006 Estonia U17 3 (0)
2007–2009 Estonia U19 19 (2)
2008–2012 Estonia U21 21 (2)
2010 Estonia U23 1 (0)
2011– Estonia 96 (23)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2024

Club career

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Flora

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Anier came through the Flora youth system. He moved to Esiliiga club Warrior on loan for the 2007 season, and scored 13 goals in 24 league appearances. In January 2008, Anier was promoted to Flora's first team.[1] He made his debut in the Meistriliiga on 8 March 2008, in a 1–1 home draw against Nõmme Kalju. On 29 March 2008, aged 17 years 103 days, Anier became Flora's youngest ever goalscorer in the Meistriliiga when he scored in a 3–0 away win over Tallinna Kalev.[2]

In August 2009, Anier joined Italian club Sampdoria on a season-long loan, where he played for the club's Primavera side.[3]

Anier returned to Flora in July 2010. He scored 13 goals in 16 appearances and won his first Meistriliiga title in the 2010 season.[4] He won his second Meistriliiga title in the 2011 season, and was Flora's top goalscorer with 21 goals.[5]

Viking

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On 20 December 2011, Anier signed a three-year contract with Norwegian Tippeligaen club Viking.[6] He made his debut in the Tippeligaen on 26 March 2012, in a 2–2 away draw against Sandnes Ulf.[7]

Loan to Fredrikstad

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On 4 April 2013, Anier joined Adeccoligaen club Fredrikstad on loan until 15 July.[8]

Motherwell

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On 29 July 2013, Anier joined Scottish Premiership club Motherwell on an initial six-month loan, after being recommended by his Estonian teammate Henrik Ojamaa, who left the club the previous month.[9][10] He made his first official appearance for Motherwell on 1 August 2013, in a 2–0 loss to Kuban Krasnodar in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.[11] Anier made his debut in the Scottish Premiership on 4 August 2013, coming on as a substitute for Robert McHugh in the 69th minute and scoring the only goal of an away win over Hibernian.[12] On 10 January 2014, Anier signed for Motherwell permanently on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[13][14] He ended the 2013–14 season with 9 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions for the Steelmen.

Erzgebirge Aue

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On 19 June 2014, Anier and his brother Hannes signed three-year contracts with German 2. Bundesliga side Erzgebirge Aue.[15][16] He made his debut for the club on 9 August 2014, in a 5–1 home loss to VfL Bochum.[17] Anier made eight appearances for Erzgebirge Aue, but struggled to break into the first team under new manager Tomislav Stipić.[18]

Dundee United

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On 15 January 2015, Anier returned to the Scottish Premiership, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with Dundee United.[19] He made his debut for the club on 21 January 2015, in a 1–1 away draw against St Mirren.[20]

Dundee United were relegated from the Scottish Premiership in the 2015–16 season. On 8 August 2016, Anier left Dundee United after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.[21]

Loan to Hibernian

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On 1 September 2015, Anier joined Scottish Championship side Hibernian on a season-long loan.[22] However, on 14 January 2016, he was recalled by relegation-threatened Dundee United.[23]

Kalmar FF

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On 10 August 2016, Anier signed for Swedish Allsvenskan club Kalmar FF until the end of the 2016 season.[24] He made his debut in the Allsvenskan on 14 August 2016, in a 1–1 home draw against Malmö FF. On 17 September 2016, Anier scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 home win over Östersunds FK.[25]

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

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On 16 January 2017, Anier returned to Scottish football, signing for Inverness Caledonian Thistle until the end of the 2016–17 season.[26] He made his debut for the club on 21 January, in a 2–1 away victory over Elgin City in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.[27]

FC Lahti

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On 10 July 2017, Anier signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Veikkausliiga club FC Lahti.[28]

Suwon FC

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On 1 February 2019, South Korean club Suwon FC announced the signing of Anier.[29]

Go Ahead Eagles

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In February 2020, Anier moved to Netherlands to join Go Ahead Eagles.

Paide Linnameeskond

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On 14 August 2020, Anier moved back to his native country after 8 years joining Paide Linnameeskond.

Muangthong United

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On 4 January 2022, Anier moved to Thailand to join Thai League 1 side, Muangthong United.

Lee Man

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On 8 July 2023, Hong Kong Premier League club Lee Man announced the signing of Anier.[30]

International career

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Anier began his youth career in 2006 with the Estonia under-17 team. He also represented the under-19, under-21, and under-23 national sides.

On 25 May 2011, Anier made an unofficial senior debut for Estonia, in a 2–1 home loss to Basque Country in a non-FIFA match.[31] On 10 June 2011, he was named by manager Tarmo Rüütli in the Estonia squad to face Chile and Uruguay in friendly matches.[32] Anier made his senior international debut in a 4–0 lost to Chile on 19 June 2011.[33] He scored his first international goal on 8 November 2012, in a 2–1 away win over Oman in a friendly.[34]

In his 90th cap, he scored his 22nd goal against Southeast Asia powerhouse, Thailand.

Personal life

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Anier's younger brother Hannes is also a professional footballer.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 26 May 2024[35][36][37][38][39]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental[c] Other[d] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Warrior (loan) 2007 Esiliiga 24 13 0 0 24 13
Flora II 2008 Esiliiga 6 7 0 0 6 7
2009 2 0 0 0 2 0
Total 8 7 0 0 8 7
Flora 2008 Meistriliiga 28 15 4 3 2 0 2 0 36 18
2009 10 3 4 3 1 0 1 0 16 6
2010 16 13 2 0 0 0 2 0 20 13
2011 32 21 5 10 2 0 2 0 41 31
Total 86 52 15 16 5 0 7 0 113 68
Viking 2 2012 3. divisjon 6 4 6 4
Viking 2012 Tippeligaen 16 0 2 1 18 1
2013 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 16 0 2 1 18 1
Fredrikstad (loan) 2013 Adeccoligaen 13 3 3 2 16 5
Motherwell 2013–14 Scottish Premiership 33 9 1 0 1 0 2 0 37 9
Erzgebirge Aue 2014–15 2. Bundesliga 6 0 2 0 8 0
Dundee United 2014–15 Scottish Premiership 12 1 2 0 2 0 16 1
2015–16 7 1 2 2 0 0 9 3
2016–17 Scottish Championship 1 0 0 0 4 2 5 2
Total 20 2 4 2 6 2 30 6
Hibernian (loan) 2015–16 Scottish Championship 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Kalmar FF 2016 Allsvenskan 9 1 0 0 9 1
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2016–17 Scottish Premiership 13 0 2 0 0 0 15 0
FC Lahti 2017 Veikkausliiga 14 6 0 0 14 6
2018 31 5 5 3 2 0 38 8
Total 45 11 5 3 2 0 52 14
Suwon FC 2019 K League 2 21 4 21 4
Go Ahead Eagles 2019–20 Eerste Divisie 2 0 0 0 2 0
Paide Linnameeskond 2020 Meistriliiga 11 10 1 0 12 10
2021 30 26 1 8 2 0 1 0 34 34
Total 41 36 1 8 3 0 1 0 46 44
Muangthong United 2021–22 Thai League 1 14 8 1 0 0 0 15 8
2022–23 17 3 1 1 1 1 19 5
Total 31 11 2 1 1 1 34 13
Lee Man 2023–24 Hong Kong Premier League 20 17 2 0 2 2 2 0 2 0 28 19
Career total 397 170 39 33 10 5 14 0 10 0 470 208

International

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As of match played 11 June 2024[40]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Estonia 2011 2 0
2012 2 1
2013 9 4
2014 8 1
2015 2 0
2016 11 1
2017 13 3
2018 9 2
2019 5 1
2020 4 0
2021 12 4
2022 7 4
2023 8 1
2024 4 1
Total 96 23
As of 11 June 2024[40]
Scores and results list Estonia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Anier goal.
List of international goals scored by Henri Anier
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 8 November 2012 Sultan Qaboos Stadium, Muscat, Oman 3   Oman 1–1 2–1 Friendly
2 26 March 2013 A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia 5   Andorra 1–0 2–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 7 June 2013 A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia 7   Trinidad and Tobago 1–0 1–0 Friendly
4 19 November 2013 Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein 13   Liechtenstein 2–0 3–0 Friendly
5 3–0
6 18 November 2014 A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia 21   Jordan 1–0 1–0 Friendly
7 13 November 2016 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium 32   Belgium 1–3 1–8 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 12 November 2017 National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta 44   Malta 3–0 3–0 Friendly
9 19 November 2017 ANZ Stadium, Suva, Fiji 45   Fiji 1–0 2–0 Friendly
10 26 November 2017 Stade Numa-Daly Magenta, Nouméa, New Caledonia 47   New Caledonia 1–0 1–1 Friendly
11 7 January 2018 Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 48   Sweden 1–0 1–1 Friendly
12 15 October 2018 A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia 55   Hungary 3–2 3–3 2018–19 UEFA Nations League C
13 11 January 2019 Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar 57   Finland 2–0 2–1 Friendly
14 24 March 2021 Arena Lublin, Lublin, Poland 66   Czech Republic 2–6 2–6 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
15 27 March 2021 Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus 67   Belarus 1–0 2–4 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
16 2–1
17 1 June 2021 LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania 69   Lithuania 1–0 1–0 2020 Baltic Cup
18 9 June 2022 National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta 82   Malta 2–1 2–1 2022–23 UEFA Nations League D
19 23 September 2022 A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia 83   Malta 2–1 2–1 2022–23 UEFA Nations League D
20 26 September 2022 San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino 84   San Marino 1–0 4–0 2022–23 UEFA Nations League D
21 4–0
22 17 October 2023 Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia 90   Thailand 1–0 1–1 Friendly
23 8 June 2024 Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia 95   Faroe Islands 2–1 4–1 2024 Baltic Cup

Honours

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Flora

Lee Man

Estonia

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "FC Flora teatas koosseisu uueks hooajaks" [FC Flora announced squad for upcoming season] (in Estonian). Delfi Sport. 1 September 2004.
  2. ^ "Henri Anierist sai FC Flora rekordimees" [Henri Anier became FC Flora's record player]. Postimees (in Estonian). 31 March 2008.
  3. ^ "Henri Anier liitub Itaalia tippklubiga" [Henri Anier to join Italian top club]. Postimees (in Estonian). 28 August 2009.
  4. ^ "FC Flora võitis Nõmme Kalju 3:0 ja tuli Eesti meistriks!" [FC Flora defeated Nõmme Kalju 3–0 and became Estonian champions!] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 30 October 2010.
  5. ^ "FC Flora kindlustas 2011. aasta meistritiitli" [FC Flora secured the 2011 championship title] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 1 November 2011.
  6. ^ "Henri Anier sõlmis Stavangeri Vikingiga 3-aastase lepingu" [Henri Anier signed a three-year contract with Viking Stavanger] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 20 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Henri Anier aitas Stavangeri Vikingi viigini" [Henri Anier helped Viking Stavanger to a draw] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 26 March 2012.
  8. ^ "Viking laenas Henri Anieri Norra esiliigaklubisse" [Viking loaned Henri Anier to a Norwegian second division club] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 5 April 2013.
  9. ^ "Anier joins 'Well on loan". Motherwell F.C. 29 July 2013. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Motherwell sign Viking striker Henri Anier on loan". BBC Sport. 29 July 2013.
  11. ^ "Motherwell 0–2 Kuban Krasnodar". BBC Sport. 1 August 2013.
  12. ^ "Hibernian 0–1 Motherwell". BBC Sport. 4 August 2013.
  13. ^ "Anier completes Well switch". Motherwell F.C. 10 January 2014. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  14. ^ "Henri Anier: Motherwell complete deal for Estonia striker". BBC Sport. 10 January 2014.
  15. ^ "Motherwell sell striker Henri Anier to Erzgebirge Aue". BBC Sport. 19 June 2014.
  16. ^ "Vennad Anierid siirduvad koos Saksamaale" [Brothers Aniers moving to Germany together] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 19 June 2014.
  17. ^ "Aue sai Henri Anieri 2. Bundesliga debüütmängus suure kaotuse" [Aue suffered a heavy defeat in Henri Anier's 2. Bundesliga debut] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 9 August 2014.
  18. ^ "Henri Anier võib Erzgebirge Aue ridadest lahkuda" [Henri Anier might leave Erzgebirge Aue] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 23 December 2014.
  19. ^ "Dundee United: Striker Henri Anier signs up at Tannadice". BBC Sport. 15 January 2015.
  20. ^ "St Mirren 1–1 Dundee United". BBC Sport. 21 January 2015.
  21. ^ Mackenzie, Alasdair (8 August 2016). "Striker Henri Anier leaves Dundee United by mutual consent". The Herald.
  22. ^ "Hibernian: Islam Feruz and Henri Anier arrive on loan". BBC Sport. 1 September 2015.
  23. ^ "Hibs allow striker Henri Anier to return to Dundee United". The Scotsman. 14 January 2016.
  24. ^ "Eesti vutikoondise ründaja Henri Anier leidis uue koduklubi" [Estonia national team striker Henri Anier found a new home club] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 10 August 2016.
  25. ^ "Henri Anier avas Rootsi kõrgliigas väravaarve" [Henri Anier opened his goal tally in the Swedish top flight] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 17 September 2016.
  26. ^ "Henri Anier: Inverness Caley Thistle sign Estonia striker". BBC Sport. 16 January 2017.
  27. ^ "Elgin City 1–2 Inverness CT". BBC Sport. 21 January 2017.
  28. ^ "Henri Anier liitus Soome kõrgliiga kolmanda klubiga" [Henri Anier joined third-placed Finnish top flight club] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 10 July 2017.
  29. ^ "Totaalselt ootamatu lüke: Henri Anier hakkab mängima Lõuna-Korea esiliigas" (in Estonian). Delfi Sport. 1 February 2019."Totaalselt ootamatu lüke: Henri Anier hakkab mängima Lõuna-Korea esiliigas" (in Estonian). Delfi Sport. 1 February 2019.
  30. ^ "愛沙尼亞國腳投理文 安尼亞:唔驚影響入選機會". on.cc. Retrieved 8 July 2023. (in Chinese)
  31. ^ "Eesti kaotas Baskimaale 1:2, ametlik protokoll" [Estonia lost to Basque Country 1–2, official protocol] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 25 May 2011.
  32. ^ "Eesti koondise esialgne koosseis mängudeks Lõuna-Ameerikas" [Estonia preliminary squad for the matches in South America] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 10 June 2011.
  33. ^ "Eesti koondis kaotas Tšiilile 0:4" [Estonia squad lost to Chile 0–4] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 19 June 2011.
  34. ^ "Eesti koondis alistas tänu lõpuspurdile Omaani" [Estonia team defeated Oman with a late surge] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 8 November 2012.
  35. ^ "Henri Anier" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  36. ^ "Henri Anier". altomfotball.no (in Norwegian).
  37. ^ "Henri Anier" (in Norwegian). Football Association of Norway.
  38. ^ "H. Anier". Soccerway.com.
  39. ^ "Anier, Henri" (in Finnish). Veikkausliiga.
  40. ^ a b "Henri Anier" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  41. ^ "Fännide lemmik 2020 - Rauno Sappinen (milline sai sümboolne koosseis?)". Soccernet.ee. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  42. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimad tulevad Paidest" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 30 April 2021.
  43. ^ "Premium liiga Väravalööjate edetabel". soccernet.ee.
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