| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 July 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Pärnu, Estonia | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Rivaal | |||
| Pärnu | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1996 | Pärnu/Kalev | 8 | (1) |
| 1996–1997 | Lelle | ||
| 1997–1999 | Lelle | 22 | (3) |
| 1999–2004 | Flora | 102 | (17) |
| 2000 | Tervis Pärnu | 1 | (0) |
| 2001 | Valga | 1 | (0) |
| 2003 | → Vålerenga (loan) | 11 | (1) |
| 2004–2011 | Fredrikstad | 159 | (12) |
| 2011–2012 | Vitesse | 2 | (0) |
| 2012 | Flora | 0 | (0) |
| 2013 | Chengdu Blades | 18 | (1) |
| 2014 | Flora | 0 | (0) |
| 2015 | Pärnu Linnameeskond | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 324 | (35) | |
| International career | |||
| 1993 | Estonia U16 | 2 | (0) |
| 1996–1997 | Estonia U19 | 7 | (0) |
| 1997–1998 | Estonia U21 | 13 | (0) |
| 1998–2015 | Estonia | 114 | (8) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Raio Piiroja (born 11 July 1979) is an Estonian former professional footballer. He played as a centre-back for Pärnu/Kalev, Lelle, Flora, Vålerenga, Fredrikstad, Vitesse and Chengdu Blades.
Piiroja made his international debut for the Estonia national team on 21 November 1998 in a friendly against Armenia. He was team captain from 2008 to 2011, and made a total of 113 appearances for Estonia before retiring in 2013. On 31 March 2015, Piiroja made his 114th and final appearance for Estonia in his testimonial match against Iceland.
Known for his leadership and ability in the air, Piiroja was named Estonian Footballer of the Year five times, in 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.[1][2]