Joseph Lapira

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, he played for Ireland in a single friendly match.^[1] Besides the United States, he has played in Norway and India.^[2][3]

Early life

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

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

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

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

• 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

• List of Republic of Ireland international footballers born outside the Republic of Ireland

References

1. The curious case of Joe Lapira and his solitary Ireland cap Archived 2014-04-13 at the Wayback Machine
2. 'A whirlwind week that ended with me being hungover on the way to the airport' – Joe Lapira on getting his one Ireland cap Archived 21 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine indepenendet.ie
3. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Lapira, Joseph". national-football-teams.com. National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
4. "Player of the Year". Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
5. "Joseph Lapira - Notre Dame Athletics". Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
6. "Joseph Lapira - Another Player with Maltese Roots!". Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
7. "Joseph Lapira Wins M.A.C. Hermann Trophy". 2 December 2006. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
8. The Bayou's golden boy - Lapira harnesses Ragin' Cajun style to star at Notre Dame Archived 24 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine SI.com, December 27, 2006
9. Dons talent search goes Stateside Archived 3 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine BBC Sport, April 17, 2007
10. "Lapira on trial at Rangers". RTÉ.ie. 23 July 2007. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
11. "Lapira's Rangers trial cut short". 25 July 2007. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
12. Dons give Lapira chance to shine Archived 20 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine BBC Sport, January 23, 2008
13. Transfer round-up Archived 19 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Scotsman.com, January 31, 2008
14. Miller And Lapira Selected In Major League Soccer SuperDraft Archived 13 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine University of Notre Dame Athletic, January 19, 2008
15. Joseph Lapira Signs...With Tiny Norwegian 2nd Division Club... Archived 2014-04-13 at the Wayback Machine
16. What Joe Lapira did next... Archived 20 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine Herald.ie, July 3, 2008
17. "What Joe Lapira did next..." Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
18. Sengupta, Rahul (22 March 2011). "India: Dazzling Launch For United Sikkim As Bhaichung Bhutia Shows Indian Football Does Have Investors". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
19. Baichung's side takes on Shillong outfit Archived 20 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine. The Times of India. March 31, 2011.
20. "Republic of Ireland - J. Lapira - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
21. Republic of Ireland 1-1 Ecuador Archived 3 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine BBC Sport, May 24, 2007

External links

• Joseph Lapira University of Notre Dame
• Republic of Ireland 1 Ecuador 1 Match report Sporting Life, May 24, 2007