Joseph Lapira
Joseph Lapira (born August 13, 1986) is a retired footballer. Born in the United States, represented Ireland at youth level.[1] Besides the United States, he has played in Norway and India.[2][3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joseph Lapira | ||
| Date of birth | August 13, 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Rochester, New York, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2004 | St. Louis Saints | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2007 | University of Notre Dame | 89 | (41) |
| 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) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007 | Republic of Ireland | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 December 2011 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 November 2010 | |||
Early life edit
Lapira graduated from St. Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana.[4] After high school, he continued a family tradition and attended the University of Notre Dame.[5] He is of Maltese descent.[6]
Club career edit
In 2006, he was the winner of the Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top collegiate player of the year,[7] after scoring 22 goals for Notre Dame.[8] 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,[9] although he eventually went on trial at Rangers instead.[10] Lapira broke down with a calf injury minutes into his first training session with the Ibrox club.[11] In January 2008, Lapira finally joined Aberdeen for a week-long trial after recovering from his calf injury.[12] 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.[13]
Instead, Lapira was selected in the third round of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC,[14] but never signed a contract with Major League Soccer.[6]
On April 1, 2008, Lapira signed with Norwegian Adeccoligaen side Nybergsund IL-Trysil,[15] who played in the second tier after being promoted from the third tier in 2007.[16] Lapira scored a brace in his Nybergsund debut, a 3-0 victory.[17]
In March 2011, Lapira signed for I-League 2nd Division side United Sikkim FC.[18][19]
In the summer of 2011, Lapira returned to Norway after signing again with Nybergsund IL-Trysil.[20]
Career statistics edit
| Season | Club | Division | League | Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 2008 | Nybergsund-Trysil | Adeccoligaen | 29 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 8 |
| 2009 | Adeccoligaen | 26 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 8 | |
| 2011 | United Sikkim | I-League 2nd Division | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 2011 | Nybergsund-Trysil | Adeccoligaen | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Career total | 65 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 19 | ||
International career edit
Lapira is a full international for the Republic of Ireland. He qualifies for the Republic by virtue of his Irish mother,[16] and came to the attention of former Irish boss Steve Staunton through Lapira's uncle, who worked at the FAI.[7] He gained a cap for Ireland on May 23, 2007 against Ecuador,[21] becoming the first amateur player to play for Ireland since Willie Browne in 1964.[11]
Awards and honours edit
- M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Winner (2006)
- Soccer America National
- Player of the Year (2006)
- All-America First Team (2006)
- All-BIG EAST First Team (2006)
- BIG EAST Offensive
- Player of the Year (2006)
- All-BIG EAST Third Team (2005)
- Participated in the 2019 Joe Lapira FIFA tournament, placing a respectable 21st out of 22 participants (2019)
See also edit
References edit
- ^ The curious case of Joe Lapira and his solitary Ireland cap 2014-04-13 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 'A whirlwind week that ended with me being hungover on the way to the airport' – Joe Lapira on getting his one Ireland cap 21 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine indepenendet.ie
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. . national-football-teams.com. National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ "Joseph Lapira - Notre Dame Athletics". from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ a b . Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Joseph Lapira Wins M.A.C. Hermann Trophy". 2 December 2006. from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ The Bayou's golden boy - Lapira harnesses Ragin' Cajun style to star at Notre Dame 24 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine SI.com, December 27, 2006
- ^ Dons talent search goes Stateside 3 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine BBC Sport, April 17, 2007
- ^ "Lapira on trial at Rangers". RTÉ.ie. 23 July 2007. from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Lapira's Rangers trial cut short". 25 July 2007. from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ Dons give Lapira chance to shine 20 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine BBC Sport, January 23, 2008
- ^ Transfer round-up 19 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Scotsman.com, January 31, 2008
- ^ Miller And Lapira Selected In Major League Soccer SuperDraft 13 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine University of Notre Dame Athletic, January 19, 2008
- ^ Joseph Lapira Signs...With Tiny Norwegian 2nd Division Club... 2014-04-13 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b What Joe Lapira did next... 20 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine Herald.ie, July 3, 2008
- ^ "What Joe Lapira did next..." from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ Sengupta, Rahul (22 March 2011). . Goal.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ Baichung's side takes on Shillong outfit 20 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine. The Times of India. March 31, 2011.
- ^ "Republic of Ireland - J. Lapira - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- ^ Republic of Ireland 1-1 Ecuador 3 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine BBC Sport, May 24, 2007
External links edit
- Joseph Lapira University of Notre Dame
- Republic of Ireland 1 Ecuador 1 Match report Sporting Life, May 24, 2007