Frank Liivak (born 7 July 1996) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a forward for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers and the Estonia national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Frank Liivak | ||
| Date of birth | 7 July 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Rakvere, Estonia | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sligo Rovers | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2013 | Almere City FC | ||
| 2006 | FCE Olümpia | ||
| 2013–2014 | Napoli | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2016 | Alcobendas Sport | 46 | (5) |
| 2017–2018 | Sarajevo | 3 | (0) |
| 2018–2020 | Flora | 91 | (27) |
| 2021–2022 | FCI Levadia | 48 | (8) |
| 2022– | Sligo Rovers | 48 | (4) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2011 | Estonia U16 | 2 | (0) |
| 2011–2013 | Estonia U17 | 12 | (4) |
| 2013–2014 | Estonia U19 | 12 | (5) |
| 2013–2018 | Estonia U21 | 29 | (4) |
| 2016–2019 | Estonia U23 | 2 | (0) |
| 2014– | Estonia | 25 | (3) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 November 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 December 2022 | |||
Club career
Early career
Liivak came through the youth system at Ajax affiliated Almere City FC. In August 2013, he moved to Italian club Napoli.[1] Liivak played for the club's under-19 side in the 2013–14 UEFA Youth League.
In January 2015, Liivak joined Spanish club Alcobendas Sport. He made his senior league debut in the Tercera División on 1 February, in a 0–0 draw against Alcobendas.[2]
Sarajevo
On 16 February 2017, Liivak signed a three-year contract with Bosnian club Sarajevo.[3] He made his debut in the Bosnian Premier League on 4 March, in a 1–0 away victory over Olimpik.[4]
Flora
On 29 January 2018, Liivak signed a two-year contract with Estonian club Flora.[5] On 3 March, he made his Meistriliiga debut, in a 1–0 home win over Tulevik.
FCI Levadia
On 1 February 2021, Liivak signed a two-year contract with Flora's league rivals FCI Levadia.[6]
Sligo Rovers
On 22 June 2022, it was announced that Liivak had signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers.[7]
International career
Liivak began his international career for Estonia with the national under-16 team in 2011, and went on to represent the under-17, under-19, under-21, and under-23 national sides.
Liivak made his senior international debut for Estonia on 26 May 2014, in 1–1 home draw against Gibraltar in a friendly. He scored his first goal for Estonia on 1 June 2016, in the fourth minute of injury time of a 2–0 home win over Andorra.[8]
Personal life
Liivak's father, Jaanus Liivak, is a basketball coach and a former basketball player.
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Alcobendas Sport | 2014–15 | Tercera División | 15 | 0 | — | — | 2[b] | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | Tercera División | 30 | 5 | — | — | — | 30 | 5 | ||||
| 2016–17 | Tercera División | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 46 | 5 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 48 | 5 | ||||
| Sarajevo | 2016–17 | Bosnian Premier League | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | Bosnian Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Flora | 2018 | Meistriliiga | 34 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | 2[d] | 2 | 42 | 18 |
| 2019 | Meistriliiga | 31 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 32 | 8 | ||
| 2020 | Meistriliiga | 26 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4[e] | 0 | — | 34 | 3 | ||
| Total | 91 | 27 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 112 | 29 | ||
| FCI Levadia | 2021 | Meistriliiga | 31 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4[f] | 0 | — | 40 | 5 | |
| 2022 | Meistriliiga | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | |
| Total | 48 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 8 | ||
| Sligo Rovers | 2022 | LOI Premier Division | 15 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5[g] | 0 | — | 21 | 4 | |
| 2023 | LOI Premier Division | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 0 | |||
| Total | 40 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 47 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 236 | 44 | 17 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 278 | 46 | ||
- ^ Includes the Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup, Estonian Cup & FAI Cup
- ^ Appearances in Tercera División promotion play-offs
- ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ One appearance and one goal in Livonia Cup, one appearance and one goal in Estonian Supercup
- ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
International
- As of 3 December 2020.[12]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia | |||
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 7 | 1 | |
| Total | 24 | 3 | |
International goals
- As of 11 October 2020. Estonia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Liivak goal.[12]
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 June 2016 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 5 |  Andorra |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 23 November 2017 | Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu | 7 |  Vanuatu |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 11 October 2020 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 20 |  North Macedonia |
3–1 | 3–3 | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League |
Honours
Flora
FCI Levadia
References
- ^ "Eesti noormängija siirdus Serie A klubisse Napoli" [Estonia youth player moved to Serie A club Napoli] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 31 August 2013.
- ^ "Liivak tegi Hispaanias debüüdi" [Liivak debuted in Spain] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 1 February 2015.
- ^ "Frank Liivak sõlmis lõpuks Sarajevoga lepingu" [Frank Liivak finally signed a contract with Sarajevo] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 16 February 2017.
- ^ "Sarajevo oli Frank Liivaku debüütmängus võidukas" [Sarajevo victorious in Frank Liivak's debut match] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 4 March 2017.
- ^ "Liivak sõlmis FC Floraga kaheaastase lepingu" [Liivak signed a two-year contract with FC Flora] (in Estonian). ERR Sport. 29 January 2018.
- ^ "Frank Liivak sõlmis Levadiaga kaheaastase lepingu". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ O'Hehir, Paul (June 22, 2022). "Sligo Rovers sign Estonian international midfielder". Irish Mirror.
- ^ "Eesti alistas Joel Lindpere lahkumismängus Andorra 2:0" [Estonia defeated Andorra 2–0 in Joel Lindpere's testimonial] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 1 June 2016.
- ^ "F. Liivak" (in Spanish). Resultados de Fútbol.
- ^ "F. Liivak". Soccerway.com.
- ^ "Frank Liivak" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- ^ a b "Frank Liivak" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
External links
- Frank Liivak at the Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
- Frank Liivak national team profile at the Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
- Frank Liivak – UEFA competition record (archive)