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Joseph Lapira

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Joe John Lapira
Personal information
Full name Joseph Lapira
Date of birth (1986-08-13)August 13, 1986(age 38)
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

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]

Early life

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Lapira graduated fromSt. Louis Catholic High Schoolin Lake Charles, Louisiana.[4]After high school, he continued a family tradition and attended theUniversity of Notre Dame.[5]He is of Maltese descent.[6]

Club career

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In 2006, he was the winner of theHermann 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 theUSL Premier Development LeaguewithLouisiana Outlaws,Lafayette Swamp CatsandBaton Rouge Capitals.

In April 2007, it was reported that Lapira would be joiningScottish Premier LeaguesideAberdeenfor a trial at some point in summer 2007,[9]although he eventually went on trial atRangersinstead.[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 withFalkirkreserves but did not do enough to earn a contract with the Dons.[13]

Instead, Lapira was selected in the third round of the2008 MLS SuperDraftbyToronto FC,[14]but never signed a contract withMajor League Soccer.[6]

On April 1, 2008, Lapira signed with NorwegianAdeccoligaensideNybergsund 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 forI-League 2nd DivisionsideUnited Sikkim FC.[18][19]

In the summer of 2011, Lapira returned to Norway after signing again with Nybergsund IL-Trysil.[20]

Career statistics

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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

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Lapira is a full international for theRepublic of Ireland.He qualifies for the Republic by virtue of his Irish mother,[16]and came to the attention of former Irish BossSteve Stauntonthrough Lapira's uncle, who worked at the FAI.[7]He gained a cap forIrelandon May 23, 2007, againstEcuador,[21]becoming the first amateur player to play for Ireland sinceWillie Brownein 1964.[11]

Awards and honours

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  • 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

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References

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  1. ^The curious case of Joe Lapira and his solitary Ireland capArchived2014-04-13 at theWayback Machine
  2. ^'A whirlwind week that ended with me being hungover on the way to the airport' – Joe Lapira on getting his one Ireland capArchived21 July 2021 at theWayback Machineindepenendet.ie
  3. ^Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin."NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Lapira, Joseph".national-football-teams.National Football Teams. Archived fromthe originalon 25 September 2022.Retrieved18 May2018.
  4. ^"Player of the Year".Archived fromthe originalon 5 October 2013.Retrieved11 April2014.
  5. ^"Joseph Lapira - Notre Dame Athletics".Archivedfrom the original on 10 December 2013.Retrieved11 April2014.
  6. ^ab"Joseph Lapira - Another Player with Maltese Roots!".Archived fromthe originalon 3 June 2012.Retrieved11 April2014.
  7. ^ab"Joseph Lapira Wins M.A.C. Hermann Trophy".2 December 2006.Archivedfrom the original on 28 July 2020.Retrieved28 July2020.
  8. ^The Bayou's golden boy - Lapira harnesses Ragin' Cajun style to star at Notre DameArchived24 December 2009 at theWayback MachineSI, December 27, 2006
  9. ^Dons talent search goes StatesideArchived3 February 2008 at theWayback MachineBBC Sport, April 17, 2007
  10. ^"Lapira on trial at Rangers".RTÉ.ie.23 July 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 28 July 2020.Retrieved28 July2020.
  11. ^ab"Lapira's Rangers trial cut short".25 July 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 20 September 2023.Retrieved28 July2020.
  12. ^Dons give Lapira chance to shineArchived20 September 2023 at theWayback MachineBBC Sport, January 23, 2008
  13. ^Transfer round-upArchived19 August 2014 at theWayback MachineScotsman, January 31, 2008
  14. ^Miller And Lapira Selected In Major League Soccer SuperDraftArchived13 April 2014 at theWayback MachineUniversity of Notre Dame Athletic, January 19, 2008
  15. ^Joseph Lapira Signs...With Tiny Norwegian 2nd Division Club...Archived2014-04-13 at theWayback Machine
  16. ^abWhat Joe Lapira did next...Archived20 September 2023 at theWayback MachineHerald.ie, July 3, 2008
  17. ^"What Joe Lapira did next..."Archivedfrom the original on 13 April 2014.Retrieved11 April2014.
  18. ^Sengupta, Rahul (22 March 2011)."India: Dazzling Launch For United Sikkim As Bhaichung Bhutia Shows Indian Football Does Have Investors".Goal.Archived fromthe originalon 6 April 2011.Retrieved16 September2012.
  19. ^Baichung's side takes on Shillong outfitArchived20 September 2023 at theWayback Machine.The Times of India.March 31, 2011.
  20. ^"Republic of Ireland - J. Lapira - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".int.soccerway.Archivedfrom the original on 14 November 2017.Retrieved20 February2018.
  21. ^Republic of Ireland 1-1 EcuadorArchived3 February 2008 at theWayback MachineBBC Sport, May 24, 2007
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