Joseph Lapira

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Joe John Lapira

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Joseph Lapira

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|8|13}}

| birth_place = Rochester, New York, United States

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=8}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2000–2004 | youthclubs1 = St. Louis Saints

| collegeyears1 = 2004–2007 | college1 = University of Notre Dame

| collegecaps1 = 89 | collegegoals1 = 41

| years1 = 2003 | clubs1 = Louisiana Outlaws | caps1 = 4 | goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2004 | clubs2 = Lafayette Swamp Cats | caps2 = 2 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2007 | clubs3 = Baton Rouge Capitals | caps3 = 7 | goals3 = 3

| years4 = 2008–2009 | clubs4 = Nybergsund | caps4 = 55 | goals4 = 16

| years5 = 2011 | clubs5 = United Sikkim FC | caps5 = 3 | goals5 = 2

| years6 = 2011 | clubs6 = Nybergsund | caps6 = 8 | goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2013 | clubs7 = Nybergsund |caps7= 0 |goals7= 0

| nationalyears1 = 2007 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 9 December 2011

| ntupdate = 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.[http://www.thescore.ie/joe-lapira-ireland-one-cap-usa-945271-Jun2013/ The curious case of Joe Lapira and his solitary Ireland cap] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413123233/http://www.thescore.ie/joe-lapira-ireland-one-cap-usa-945271-Jun2013/ |date=2014-04-13 }} Besides the United States, he has played in Norway and India.[https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/a-whirlwind-week-that-ended-with-me-being-hungover-on-the-way-to-the-airport-joe-lapira-on-getting-his-one-ireland-cap-35341029.html 'A whirlwind week that ended with me being hungover on the way to the airport' – Joe Lapira on getting his one Ireland cap] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721203744/https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/a-whirlwind-week-that-ended-with-me-being-hungover-on-the-way-to-the-airport-joe-lapira-on-getting-his-one-ireland-cap-35341029.html |date=21 July 2021 }} indepenendet.ie{{cite web|last=Strack-Zimmermann|first=Benjamin|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/22742/Joseph_Lapira.html|title=NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Lapira, Joseph|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=18 May 2018|archive-date=25 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925005042/https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/22742/Joseph_Lapira.html|website=national-football-teams.com}}

Early life

Lapira graduated from St. Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana.{{Cite web |url=http://www.lahssoccer.com/GPOYboys.html |title=Player of the Year |access-date=2014-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005230747/http://lahssoccer.com/GPOYboys.html |archive-date=2013-10-05 |url-status=dead }} After high school, he continued a family tradition and attended the University of Notre Dame.{{Cite web |url=http://www.und.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/lapira_joseph00.html |title=Joseph Lapira - Notre Dame Athletics |access-date=11 April 2014 |archive-date=10 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210160210/http://www.und.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/lapira_joseph00.html |url-status=live }} He is of Maltese descent.{{Cite web |url=http://www.maltesefootballstarlets.com/joseph-lapira-another-player-maltese-roots |title=Joseph Lapira - Another Player with Maltese Roots! |access-date=11 April 2014 |archive-date=3 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603062741/http://www.maltesefootballstarlets.com/joseph-lapira-another-player-maltese-roots |url-status=dead }}

Club career

In 2006, he was the winner of the Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top collegiate player of the year,{{Cite web|url = https://und.com/joseph-lapira-wins-m-a-c-hermann-trophy/|title = Joseph Lapira Wins M.A.C. Hermann Trophy|date = 2 December 2006|access-date = 28 July 2020|archive-date = 28 July 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728135740/https://und.com/joseph-lapira-wins-m-a-c-hermann-trophy/|url-status = live}} after scoring 22 goals for Notre Dame.[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/sioncampus/12/27/uaward.lapira/index.html The Bayou's golden boy - Lapira harnesses Ragin' Cajun style to star at Notre Dame] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224202656/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/sioncampus/12/27/uaward.lapira/index.html |date=24 December 2009 }} SI.com, December 27, 2006 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,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/6565993.stm Dons talent search goes Stateside] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203141708/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/6565993.stm |date=3 February 2008 }} BBC Sport, April 17, 2007 although he eventually went on trial at Rangers instead.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2007/0723/220674-lapiraj/|title=Lapira on trial at Rangers|website=RTÉ.ie|date=23 July 2007|access-date=28 July 2020|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728135741/https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2007/0723/220674-lapiraj/|url-status=live}} Lapira broke down with a calf injury minutes into his first training session with the Ibrox club.{{Cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6912435.stm|title = Lapira's Rangers trial cut short|date = 25 July 2007|access-date = 28 July 2020|archive-date = 20 September 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230920083616/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6912435.stm|url-status = live}} In January 2008, Lapira finally joined Aberdeen for a week-long trial after recovering from his calf injury.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/7204575.stm Dons give Lapira chance to shine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920083613/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/7204575.stm |date=20 September 2023 }} BBC Sport, January 23, 2008 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.[http://www.scotsman.com/sport/transfer-round-up-1-1076414 Transfer round-up] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083445/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/transfer-round-up-1-1076414 |date=19 August 2014 }} Scotsman.com, January 31, 2008

Instead, Lapira was selected in the third round of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC,[http://www.und.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/011908aaa.html Miller And Lapira Selected In Major League Soccer SuperDraft] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413132419/http://www.und.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/011908aaa.html |date=13 April 2014 }} University of Notre Dame Athletic, January 19, 2008 but never signed a contract with Major League Soccer.

On April 1, 2008, Lapira signed with Norwegian Adeccoligaen side Nybergsund IL-Trysil,[http://www.collegetopros.com/2008/04/joseph-lapira-signswith-tiny-norwegian.html Joseph Lapira Signs...With Tiny Norwegian 2nd Division Club... ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413132022/http://www.collegetopros.com/2008/04/joseph-lapira-signswith-tiny-norwegian.html |date=2014-04-13 }} who played in the second tier after being promoted from the third tier in 2007.[http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/what-joe-lapira-did-next-1426188.html What Joe Lapira did next...] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920083648/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin |date=20 September 2023 }} Herald.ie, July 3, 2008 Lapira scored a brace in his Nybergsund debut, a 3–0 victory.{{Cite web |url=http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/what-joe-lapira-did-next-27877691.html |title=What Joe Lapira did next... |access-date=11 April 2014 |archive-date=13 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413140405/http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/what-joe-lapira-did-next-27877691.html |url-status=live }}

In March 2011, Lapira signed for I-League 2nd Division side United Sikkim FC.{{cite web|last=Sengupta|first=Rahul|title=India: Dazzling Launch For United Sikkim As Bhaichung Bhutia Shows Indian Football Does Have Investors|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1838/i-league-division-ii/2011/03/22/2406841/india-dazzling-launch-for-united-sikkim-as-bhaichung-bhutia|website=Goal.com|date=22 March 2011|access-date=16 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406085245/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1838/i-league-division-ii/2011/03/22/2406841/india-dazzling-launch-for-united-sikkim-as-bhaichung-bhutia|archive-date=6 April 2011|url-status=dead}}[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Baichungs-side-takes-on-Shillong-outfit/articleshow/7830835.cms Baichung's side takes on Shillong outfit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920083613/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Baichungs-side-takes-on-Shillong-outfit/articleshow/7830835.cms |date=20 September 2023 }}. The Times of India. March 31, 2011.

In the summer of 2011, Lapira returned to Norway after signing again with Nybergsund IL-Trysil.{{Cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/joe-lapira/30555/ |title=Republic of Ireland - J. Lapira - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway |website=int.soccerway.com |access-date=20 February 2018 |archive-date=14 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114180656/http://int.soccerway.com/players/joe-lapira/30555/ |url-status=live }}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Season !rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Division !colspan="2"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2008 \|rowspan="2" valign="center"\|Nybergsund-Trysil \|Adeccoligaen \|29	8	0	0	29	8
2009 \|Adeccoligaen \|26	8	0	0	26	8
2011 \|rowspan="1" valign="center"\|United Sikkim \|I-League 2nd Division \|3	2	0	0	3	2
2011 \|rowspan="1" valign="center"\|Nybergsund-Trysil \|Adeccoligaen \|7	1	0	0	7	1
colspan="3"\|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, and came to the attention of former Irish boss Steve Staunton through Lapira's uncle, who worked at the FAI. He gained a cap for Ireland on May 23, 2007, against Ecuador,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6686569.stm Republic of Ireland 1-1 Ecuador] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203141613/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6686569.stm |date=3 February 2008 }} BBC Sport, May 24, 2007 becoming the first amateur player to play for Ireland since Willie Browne in 1964.

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)

References

External links

[http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/lapira_joseph00.html Joseph Lapira] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523111008/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/lapira_joseph00.html |date=23 May 2007 }} University of Notre Dame
[http://www.sportinglife.com/football/international/republic/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=soccer/07/05/24/SOCCER_Republic.html&TEAMHD=eire Republic of Ireland 1 Ecuador 1 Match report] Sporting Life, May 24, 2007

Category:Living people

Category:1986 births

Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers

Category:Republic of Ireland men's international footballers

Category:American men's soccer players

Category:American people of Irish descent

Category:American people of Maltese descent

Category:American expatriate men's soccer players

Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's soccer players

Category:Men's association football forwards

Category:Lafayette Swamp Cats players

Category:Baton Rouge Capitals players