Karol Mets

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Karol Mets

| image = Karol Mets in CSKA.jpg

| caption = Mets playing for CSKA Sofia in 2021

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|5|16|df=y}}

| birth_place = Viljandi, Estonia

| height = 1.91 m

| position = Centre-back, defensive midfielder

| currentclub = St. Pauli

| clubnumber = 3

| youthyears1 = 2003–2009

| youthclubs1 = Tulevik

| youthyears2 = 2011

| youthclubs2 = Flora

| years1 = 2009–2010

| clubs1 = Tulevik II

| caps1 = 51

| goals1 = 4

| years2 = 2010

| clubs2 = Warrior

| caps2 = 4

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2010–2014

| clubs3 = Flora

| caps3 = 115

| goals3 = 7

| years4 = 2011–2012

| clubs4 = Flora II

| caps4 = 19

| goals4 = 3

| years5 = 2014–2017

| clubs5 = Viking

| caps5 = 72

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2017–2019

| clubs6 = NAC Breda

| caps6 = 40

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2019–2020

| clubs7 = AIK

| caps7 = 46

| goals7 = 2

| years8 = 2020–2021

| clubs8 = Al-Ettifaq

| caps8 = 23

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2021–2022

| clubs9 = CSKA Sofia

| caps9 = 12

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2022–2023

| clubs10 = Zürich

| caps10 = 25

| goals10 = 1

| years11 = 2023

| clubs11 = → St. Pauli (loan)

| caps11 = 17

| goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2023–

| clubs12 = St. Pauli

| caps12 = 42

| goals12 = 0

| club-update = 1 January 2025

| nationalyears1 = 2009

| nationalteam1 = Estonia U17

| nationalcaps1 = 8

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2010

| nationalteam2 = Estonia U18

| nationalcaps2 = 1

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2010–2012

| nationalteam3 = Estonia U19

| nationalcaps3 = 32

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2012–2014

| nationalteam4 = Estonia U21

| nationalcaps4 = 20

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| nationalyears5 = 2013–

| nationalteam5 = Estonia

| nationalcaps5 = 100

| nationalgoals5 = 0

| nationalteam-update = 19 November 2024 (UTC)

}}

Karol Mets ({{IPA|et|ˈkɑrol mets|lang}}; born 16 May 1993) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a centre back or defensive midfielder for Bundesliga club St. Pauli and the Estonia national team.

Club career

=Early football career in Estonia=

Mets came through the Tulevik youth system, and played for the club's reserve sides Tulevik II and Warrior.

In November 2010, Mets was included in Flora's first team squad for pre-season training.{{cite web|url=https://sport.postimees.ee/349334/flora-alustab-hooajaks-ettevalmistumist-detsembri-keskel|title=Flora alustab hooajaks ettevalmistumist detsembri keskel|trans-title=Flora will begin preparations for the coming season in mid-December|work=Postimees|date=29 November 2010|language=et}} He made his debut for the club on 1 March 2011, against Levadia in the Estonian Supercup match. Flora won 5–3 on penalties. Mets made his debut in the Meistriliiga on 2 April 2011 in a 1–0 away victory over Kuressaare. He soon established himself as Flora's first choice centre back alongside Karl Palatu. Mets helped Flora win the Meistriliiga title in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://jalgpall.ee/voistlused/uudised/fc-flora-kindlustas-2011-aasta-meistritiitli-n3113|title=FC Flora kindlustas 2011. aasta meistritiitli|language=et|trans-title=FC Flora secured the 2011 championship title|publisher=Estonian Football Association|date=1 November 2011}}

=Viking=

On 5 December 2014, Mets signed a three-year contract with Norwegian club Viking.{{cite web|url=https://sport.err.ee/63485/karol-mets-liitub-norra-korgliigaklubiga|title=Karol Mets liitub Norra kõrgliigaklubiga|trans-title=Karol Mets joins Norwegian top-flight club|publisher=ERR Sport|date=5 December 2014|language=et}} He made his debut in the Tippeligaen on 6 April 2015 in a 1–0 away loss to Mjøndalen.{{cite web|url=http://sport.err.ee/68637/karol-mets-alustas-esimest-valismaa-hooaega-pohimehena|title=Karol Mets alustas esimest välismaa hooaega põhimehena|trans-title=Karol Mets began his first season abroad as a starter|publisher=ERR Sport|date=6 April 2015|language=et}}

=NAC Breda=

On 31 July 2017, Mets joined Eredivisie club NAC Breda on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee, rumored to be around €100,000.{{cite web|url=http://sport.postimees.ee/4195103/asi-kindel-eesti-jalgpallikoondislane-siirdub-hollandi-korgliigasse|title=Asi kindel: Eesti jalgpallikoondislane siirdub Hollandi kõrgliigasse|trans-title=Confirmed: Estonian international moves to Dutch top flight|work=Postimees|date=31 July 2017|language=et}} He made his debut in the Eredivisie in a 4–1 away loss to Vitesse on 12 August 2017, when he came on as a half-time substitute for Arno Verschueren. Mets scored his first goal for NAC Breda on 20 September 2017, in a 4–3 loss to Achilles '29 in the first round of the KNVB Cup.{{cite web|url=https://sport.err.ee/631579/mets-avas-hollandis-varavaarve-kuid-breda-sai-sokeeriva-kaotuse|title=Mets avas Hollandis väravaarve, kuid Breda sai šokeeriva kaotuse|trans-title=Mets scored his first goal in the Netherlands, but Breda suffered a shocking loss|publisher=ERR Sport|date=20 September 2017|language=et}}

=AIK=

On 14 March 2019, Mets signed a three-year contract with Swedish champions AIK for a fee of €300,000.{{cite web|url=https://sport.err.ee/920277/karol-mets-liitus-rootsi-valitseva-meisterklubiga|title=Karol Mets liitus Rootsi valitseva meisterklubiga|trans-title=Karol Mets joined the reigning Swedish champions|publisher=ERR Sport|date=14 March 2019|language=et}} He made his debut in the Allsvenskan on 31 March 2019, in a 0–0 home draw against Östersund.{{cite web|url=https://sport.err.ee/925737/mets-tegi-rootsis-pea-30-000-inimese-ees-eduka-debuudi|title=Mets tegi Rootsis pea 30 000 inimese ees eduka debüüdi|trans-title=Mets made a successful debut in Sweden in front of almost 30,000 people|publisher=ERR Sport|date=1 April 2019|language=et}}

=Later career=

On 2 October 2020, Mets signed a three-year contract with Saudi club Al-Ettifaq.{{cite web|url=https://akhbaar24.argaam.com/article/detail/513146|script-title=ar:الاتفاق يدعم صفوفه بمدافع المنتخب الاستوني|date=10 October 2020|language=ar}} On 10 August 2021, he signed a contract with Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia until the end of 2021–22 season.{{cite web |title=ЦСКА привлече естонски национал |url=https://cska.bg/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&cPath=65&products_id=10213&zenid=r4nrs49paacs92epoge905j606 |website=cska.bgcska.bg |access-date=10 September 2021 |language=bg}} On 7 January 2022, Mets signed with Swiss club Zürich until June 2024.{{cite press release|publisher=Zürich|url=https://www.fcz.ch/en/first-team/news/2022/fcz-verpflichtet-innenverteidiger-karol-mets/|title=FC Zurich sign center-back Karol Mets|date=7 January 2022|access-date=2 February 2022|archive-date=18 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618231751/https://www.fcz.ch/en/first-team/news/2022/fcz-verpflichtet-innenverteidiger-karol-mets/|url-status=dead}}

On 5 January 2023, Mets joined 2. Bundesliga club St. Pauli on loan from Zürich until the end of the season with an option to buy,{{cite web|url=https://www.fcstpauli.com/en/news/published/fc-st-pauli-sign-centre-back-karol-mets/|title=FC St. Pauli Sign Centre-back Karol Mets|website=FC St. Pauli|date=5 January 2023|accessdate=5 January 2023}} which the club eventually bought at the end of season.{{cite web|website=FC St. Pauli|url=https://www.fcstpauli.com/en/news/published/karol-mets-handed-permanent-deal/|title=Mets Handed Permanent Deal|date=31 May 2023|access-date=13 September 2023}} Mets played all games of the 2023–24 season in the starting line-up, only missed out 2 games due to a red card.{{soccerway}}{{Cite web |last=Kallas |first=Martti |date=7 August 2023 |title=Halb uudis: sakslased otsustasid Metsa mängukeeldu pikendada |url=https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/halb-uudis-sakslased-otsustasid-metsa-mangukeeldu-pikendada |website=soccernet.ee}} St. Pauli won the league and were promoted to the Bundesliga for the 2024–25 season.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-12 |title=St. Pauli earn Bundesliga promotion after 13 years |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40131213/st-pauli-promoted-back-bundesliga-13-year-wait|website=ESPN|access-date=2024-08-18}}

International career

File:Karol Mets (1).jpg]]

On 19 November 2013, Mets debuted for Estonian senior squad in a 3–0 friendly away against over Liechtenstein.{{Cite news|title=Eesti Emile {{!}} Karol Mets: kui on tahet, siis tuleb ka tulemus!|url=https://www.ohtuleht.ee/sport/592958/eesti-emile-karol-mets-kui-on-tahet-siis-tuleb-ka-tulemus|website=Õhtuleht|date=30 August 2014|access-date=18 August 2024|language=et}} On 19 November 2024, he featured in his 100th international match against Slovakia during the UEFA Nations League.{{cite web |url=https://www.fcstpauli.com/news/fcsp-verteidiger-karol-mets-absolviert-100-landerspiel-fur-estland/ |title=Mets absolviert 100. Länderspiel für Estland |publisher=FC St. Pauli |language=de |date=20 November 2024 }}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|1 March 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://jalgpall.ee/voistlused/player/11534|title=Karol Mets|publisher=Estonian Football Association|language=et}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fotball.no/fotballdata/person/profil/?fiksId=3096301|title=Karol Mets|publisher=Football Association of Norway|language=no}}{{Soccerway|karol-mets/157687}}{{NFT player|54131}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|CupIncludes the Estonian Cup, Norwegian Cup, KNVB Cup, Svenska Cupen, King Cup, Bulgarian Cup, Swiss Cup, DFB-Pokal !colspan="2"\|Europe !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="3"\|Tulevik II	2009	Esiliiga	28	3	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	1Appearance in Esiliiga relegation play-offs	0	32	3
2010	II liiga	23	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	23	1
colspan="2"\|Total	51	4	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	1	0	55	4
Warrior	2010	Esiliiga	4	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	4	1
rowspan="5"\|Flora	2011	Meistriliiga	16	1	3	1	0	0	3Two appearances in Baltic Champions Cup, one appearance in Estonian Supercup	0	22	2
2012	Meistriliiga	32	4	3	0	2Appearances in UEFA Champions League	0	0	0	37	4
2013	Meistriliiga	32	2	4	0	2Appearances in UEFA Europa League	0	colspan="2"\|—	38	2
2014	Meistriliiga	35	0	3	2	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	38	2
colspan="2"\|Total	115	7	13	3	4	0	3	0	135	10
rowspan="3"\|Flora II	2011	Esiliiga	17	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	17	1
2012	Esiliiga	2	2	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	2	2
colspan="2"\|Total	19	3	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	19	3
rowspan="4"\|Viking	2015	Tippeligaen	28	0	6	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	34	0
2016	Tippeligaen	29	0	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	32	0
2017	Eliteserien	15	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	17	0
colspan="2"\|Total	72	0	11	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	83	0
rowspan="3"\|NAC Breda	2017–18	Eredivisie	25	0	1	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	26	1
2018–19	Eredivisie	15	1	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	16	1
colspan="2"\|Total	40\|\|1\|\|2\|\|1\|\|colspan="2"\|—\|\|colspan="2"\|—\|\|42\|\|2
rowspan="3"\|AIK	2019	Allsvenskan	26	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	26	1
2020	Allsvenskan	20	1	5	0	8	0	colspan="2"\|—	33	1
colspan="2"\|Total	46\|\|2\|\|5\|\|0\|\|8\|\|0\|\|colspan="2"\|—\|\|59\|\|2
Ettifaq	2020–21	Saudi Pro League	23	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	24	0
CSKA Sofia	2021–22	Bulgarian First League	\|12	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	14	0
rowspan="3"\|Zürich	2021-22	Swiss Super League	12	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	12	1
2022-23	Swiss Super League	13	0	0	0	6Appearances in UEFA Europa League	0	colspan="2"\|—	19	0
colspan="2"\|Total	25	1	0	0	6	0	colspan="2"\|—	31	1
\|St. Pauli (loan)	2022-23	2. Bundesliga	17	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	17	0
rowspan="2"\|St. Pauli	2023-24	2. Bundesliga	22	0	4	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	26	0
colspan="2"\|Total	39	0	4	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	43	0
colspan="3"\|Career total	446	18	41	4	18	0	4	0	501	23

=International=

{{updated|19 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://jalgpall.ee/koondis/koosseis/player/1617|title=Karol Mets|publisher=Estonian Football Association|language=et|access-date=23 August 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=28428 |title=Karol Mets |publisher=eu-football.info }}

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="12"\|Estonia \|2013	1	0
2014	13	0
2015	9	0
2016	13	0
2017	9	0
2018	7	0
2019	9	0
2020	4	0
2021	10	0
2022	9	0
2023	7	0
2024	9	0
colspan="2"\|Total	100	0