Joseph Lapira

Joe Lapira
Personal information
Full name Joseph Lapira
Date of birth (1986-08-13) August 13, 1986
Place of birth Rochester, New York, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position Forward
Youth career
2000–2004 St. Louis Saints
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 University of Notre Dame
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003 Louisiana Outlaws 4 (1)
2004 Lafayette Swamp Cats 2 (0)
2007 Baton Rouge Capitals 7 (3)
2008–2009 Nybergsund 55 (16)
2011 United Sikkim FC 3 (2)
2011 Nybergsund 8 (1)
2013 Nybergsund 0 (0)
National team‡
2007 Republic of Ireland 1 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 December 2011.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2010

Joseph Lapira (born August 13, 1986, Rochester, New York) is a former Irish-American soccer player.[1]

Club career

Lapira graduated from St. Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana.[2] After high school, he continued a family tradition and attended the University of Notre Dame.[3] In 2006, he was the winner of the Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top collegiate player of the year,[4] after scoring 22 goals for Notre Dame.[5] During his college years, Lapira also played in the USL Premier Development League with Louisiana Outlaws, Lafayette Swamp Cats and Baton Rouge Capitals.

In April 2007, it was reported that Lapira would be joining Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen for a trial at some point in summer 2007,[6] although he eventually went on trial at Rangers instead.[7] Lapira broke down with a calf injury minutes into his first training session with the Ibrox club.[8] In January 2008, Lapira finally joined Aberdeen for a week-long trial after recovering from his calf injury.[9] He played for the reserve side in a 1-1 draw with Falkirk reserves but did not do enough to earn a contract with the Dons.[10]

Instead, Lapira was selected in the third round of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC,[11] but never signed a contract with Major League Soccer.[12]

On April 1, 2008, Lapira signed with Norwegian Adeccoligaen side Nybergsund IL-Trysil,[13] who played in the second tier after being promoted from the third tier in 2007.[14] Lapira scored a brace in his Nybergsund debut, a 3-0 victory.[15]

In March 2011, Lapira signed for I-League 2nd Division side United Sikkim FC.[16]

In the summer of 2011, Lapira returned to Norway after signing again with Nybergsund IL-Trysil.[17]

Career statistics

Season Club Division League Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2008 Nybergsund-Trysil Adeccoligaen 29800298
2009 Adeccoligaen 26800268
2011 United Sikkim I-League 2nd Division 320032
2011 Nybergsund-Trysil Adeccoligaen 710071
Career total 6519006519

International career

Lapira is a full international for the Republic of Ireland. He qualifies for the Republic by virtue of his Irish mother,[14] and came to the attention of former Irish boss Steve Staunton through some FAI big wig.[4] He gained a cap for Ireland on May 23, 2007 against Ecuador,[18] becoming the first amateur player to play for Ireland since Willie Browne in 1964.[8]

Awards and honours

Joe Lapira FIFA tournament

The Joe Lapira is a FIFA tournament held in Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath, Ireland twice a year since 2012.

Winners: Cathal O'Reilly x 4 Andrew Brennan x 2 John Coleman x 1 Mark Bates x 1 Brian Colgan x 1

References

  1. ↑ The curious case of Joe Lapira and his solitary Ireland cap
  2. ↑ Player of the Year
  3. ↑ Joseph Lapira - Notre Dame Athletics
  4. 1 2 Staunton rues Duff luck Mail Online, 22 May 2007
  5. ↑ The Bayou's golden boy - Lapira harnesses Ragin' Cajun style to star at Notre Dame SI.com, December 27, 2006
  6. ↑ Dons talent search goes Stateside BBC Sport, April 17, 2007
  7. ↑ Rangers take a look at Irish ace Lapira Mail Online, July 23, 2007
  8. 1 2 College star Lapira can't be a blue until he graduates Mail Online, July 24, 2007
  9. ↑ Dons give Lapira chance to shine BBC Sport, January 23, 2008
  10. ↑ Transfer round-up Scotsman.com, January 31, 2008
  11. ↑ Miller And Lapira Selected In Major League Soccer SuperDraft University of Notre Dame Athletic, January 19, 2008
  12. ↑ Joseph Lapira - Another Player with Maltese Roots!
  13. ↑ Joseph Lapira Signs...With Tiny Norwegian 2nd Division Club...
  14. 1 2 What Joe Lapira did next... Herald.ie, July 3, 2008
  15. ↑ What Joe Lapira did next...
  16. ↑ Baichung's side takes on Shillong outfit The Times of India, March 31, 2011
  17. ↑ J. Lapira - Soccerway
  18. ↑ Republic of Ireland 1-1 Ecuador BBC Sport, May 24, 2007
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