Artur Kotenko

Artur Kotenko (born 20 August 1981) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for FCI Levadia.

Artur Kotenko
Personal information
Date of birth (1981-08-20) 20 August 1981
Place of birth Tallinn, Estonia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 FCI Levadia
Number 81
Youth career
1992–1993 Puuma
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 Vigri 9 (0)
1999 Lantana 10 (0)
2000 Kauhajoen Karhu 9 (0)
2000 Maardu 5 (0)
2001 Levadia Pärnu 5 (0)
2001–2007 Levadia 142 (1)
2008 Sandnes Ulf 27 (0)
2009–2010 Viking 2 (0)
2010–2011 AEP Paphos 7 (0)
2011 Ravan Baku 4 (0)
2012 Jaro 25 (0)
2013 Dnepr Mogilev 23 (0)
2014–2016 Shakhtyor Soligorsk 38 (0)
2017–2018 Narva Trans 64 (0)
2019– FCI Levadia 31 (0)
National team‡
2004–2020 Estonia 27 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 December 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2020

Club career

Career in Estonia

On 24 October 2004, Kotenko scored Levadia's second goal against Tulevik in the penultimate round of 2004 Meistriliiga. The team won the match 4–1 and secured the title, ultimately making it the league winning goal.[1]

Having been frozen out of the Levadia side in 2007, after refusing to sign a contract extension with the club (a similar fate was suffered by teammates Konstantin Vassiljev and Ats Purje earlier that season), Kotenko joined the Norwegian First Division side Sandnes Ulf,[2] but was free to leave the club after less than a year because of a relegation release clause in his contract. In December 2008, Kotenko underwent a successful two-week trial at the English Championship side Nottingham Forest[3] and was expected to join the club in January. The deal, however, fell through when Colin Calderwood was sacked following a boxing day defeat to Doncaster Rovers.[4]

Viking

On 6 February 2009, he joined Eliteserien club Viking.[5] The Estonian goalkeeper made his league debut for the Dark Blues more than eight months after the signing, on 25 October 2009. It ended after just 25 minutes, as he was sent off for handling the ball outside the 18-yard box.[6]

AEP Paphos

On 10 June 2010, he signed a 1-year deal with Cypriot team AEP Paphos, with an option to extend it by another year,[7] joining compatriot Ats Purje. He failed to make an impact there and only appeared in 7 league matches.

Ravan Baku

After an spell in Cyprus, Kotenko moved to Azerbaijan and joined a newly promoted Ravan Baku on a two-year contract.[8] He made the debut on 6 August, in a 2–3 defeat against Kapaz. The contract was mutually terminated in October 2011.[9]

Jaro

On 20 January 2012, Kotenko signed 1-year deal with Finish Veikkausliiga club Jaro.[10]

Dnepr Mogilev

On 26 February 2013, Kotenko signed a 1-year contract with Belarusian club Dnepr Mogilev.[11] After a successful season in Dnepr Mogilev, Artur Kotenko moved to bronze medalist Shakhtyor Soligorsk.

Shakhtyor Soligorsk

On 3 May 2014, Kotenko became Belarus Cup winner. His great performance helped Shakhtyor Soligorsk to win bronze medals of Belarus premier league and reach play-off round of Euro League where Shakhtyor Soligorsk lost to PSV Eindhoven. Artur Kotenko have played 29 games in the Belarus premier league and made 17 clean sheets. On 13 December 2014, Artur Kotenko was awarded by Belarus Football Association as a best goalkeeper of Belarus premier league 2014.[12]

Back in Estonia

On 8 February 2017, Kotenko signed for Estonian top tier club Narva Trans.[13] After two seasons with Trans Kotenko signed for rival Meistriliiga club FCI Levadia.[14] During his first season in Levadia he was mainly used as a backup for the national team first choice goalkeeper Sergei Lepmets. However, on May 18 2020, Lepmets unexpectedly announced his decision to retire from professional football, after which Kotenko was placed in charge of first team goalkeeping duties.[15]

International career

He played for Estonia national football team 27 times between 2004–2013.[16] His last call-up was in October 2020.[17]

Honours

Club
Levadia
Shakhtyor Soligorsk

References
  1. "FC Levadia tagas jalgpalli meistritiitli" [FC Levadia secured football championship] (in Estonian). Virumaa Nädalaleht. 24 October 2004. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  2. "Kotenko sõlmis lepingu Norra esiliiga klubiga" [Kotenko signed with Norwegian first division team] (in Estonian). Postimees. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  3. "Nimekas Inglise klubi testib Artur Kotenkot" [Notable English club tests Artur Konteko] (in Estonian). Õhtuleht. 24 November 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  4. "Calderwood sacked as Forest boss". BBC News. 26 December 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  5. Artur Kotenkost sai Vikingi väravavaht (in Estonian)
  6. "Kotenko debüüt Norra meistriliigas lõppes punase kaardiga" [Kontenko's debut in Norwegian Premier League ended with red card] (in Estonian). Postimees. 25 October 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  7. "Ο ΕΣΘΟΝΟΣ KOTENKO ΣΤΗΝ ΠΑΦΟ" (in Greek). AEP Paphos FC. 10 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  8. "Eesti jalgpallikoondise väravavaht siirdub Aserbaidžaani" [Estonia's national team goalkeeper moves to Azerbaijan] (in Estonian). Postimees. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  9. "Eesti jalgpallikoondise väravavaht lõpetas senise tööandjaga lepingu" [Estonia's national team goalkeeper terminated contract with club] (in Estonian). Postimees. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  10. "Estnisk landslagsmålvakt skrev på för ett år". ffjaro.fi (in Swedish). FF Jaro. 20 January 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  11. Эстонский голкипер Артур Котенко стал игроком "Днепра". goals.by (in Russian). 26 February 2013. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  12. "Виктор Гончаренко – лучший тренер Беларуси, Сергей Кривец – лучший футболист". Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  13. "Kotenko sõlmis Transiga lepingu". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  14. "Artur Kotenko vahetas Narva Tallinna vastu". Postimees. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  15. "Eesti jalgpallikoondise esiväravavaht lõpetas ootamatult karjääri". ERR. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  16. "Kõik Eesti internatsionaalid" [All Estonian internationals] (in Estonian). Eesti Jalgpalli Liit.
  17. "Vigastatud Igoneni asendab Kotenko" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 30 August 2020.
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