Taijo Teniste

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Taijo Teniste

| image = Taijo Teniste, Sogndal-Rosenborg 07-15-2017.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Teniste with Sogndal in 2017

| fullname = Taijo Teniste

| height = {{Height|m=1.73}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1988|1|31}}{{cite web|title=Taijo Teniste|url=http://jalgpall.ee/voistlused/player/5729|publisher=Estonian Football Association|language=et}}

| birth_place = Tartu, Estonia

| currentclub = Tartu Welco

| clubnumber = 33

| position = Right back

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2004 | youthclubs1 = SK 10 Premium

| youthyears2 = 2005 | youthclubs2 = Levadia

| years1 = 2004 | caps1 = 17 | goals1 = 16 | clubs1 = SK 10 Premium

| years2 = 2005–2007 | caps2 = 49 | goals2 = 15 | clubs2 = Levadia II

| years3 = 2005–2011 | caps3 = 148 | goals3 = 13 | clubs3 = Levadia

| years4 = 2011–2017 | caps4 = 164 | goals4 = 1 | clubs4 = Sogndal

| years5 = 2018–2020 | caps5 = 59 | goals5 = 2 | clubs5 = Brann

| years6 = 2021–2023 | caps6 = 64 | goals6 = 2 | clubs6 = Tartu Tammeka

| years7 = 2024 | caps7 = 1 | goals7 = 0 | clubs7 = Tartu Welco

| years8 = 2024 | caps8 = 12 | goals8 = 0 | clubs8 = Tallinna Kalev

| years9 = 2025– | caps9 = 6 | goals9 = 0 | clubs9 = Tartu Welco

| pcupdate = 30 April 2025

| nationalyears1 = 2004| nationalcaps1 = 7| nationalgoals1 = 0| nationalteam1 = Estonia U17

| nationalyears2 = 2005| nationalcaps2 = 1| nationalgoals2 = 0| nationalteam2 = Estonia U18

| nationalyears3 = 2005–2006| nationalcaps3 = 8| nationalgoals3 = 0| nationalteam3 = Estonia U19

| nationalyears4 = 2005–2010| nationalcaps4 = 19| nationalgoals4 = 0| nationalteam4 = Estonia U21

| nationalyears5 = 2010| nationalcaps5 = 1| nationalgoals5 = 0| nationalteam5 = Estonia U23

| nationalyears6 = 2007–| nationalcaps6 = 99| nationalgoals6 = 1| nationalteam6 = Estonia

| ntupdate = 26 June 2023

}}

Taijo Teniste (born 31 January 1988) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a right back for Estonian Esiliiga club Tartu Welco and the Estonia national team.

Club career

=SK 10=

Teniste came through the Spordiklubi 10 youth academy and played for the club's first team in the IV liiga.

=Levadia=

In January 2005, Teniste signed for Levadia.{{cite web|url=https://www.postimees.ee/1454667/fc-elva-kupsetab-noortest-mangumehi|title=FC Elva küpsetab noortest mängumehi|trans-title=FC Elva developing youth players|work=Postimees|date=14 January 2014|language=et}} He made his debut in the Meistriliiga on 3 April 2005, in a 4–0 home victory over Merkuur Tartu. Teniste helped Levadia win four successive Meistriliiga titles in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.{{cite web|url=http://jalgpall.ee/voistlused/uudised/tallinna-fc-levadia-kindlustas-endale-meistritiitli-n840|title=Tallinna FC Levadia kindlustas endale meistritiitli|trans-title=FC Levadia Tallinn secures championship title|publisher=Estonian Football Association|date=24 October 2009|language=et}}

On 4 July 2011, Teniste joined League Two side Swindon Town for a trial, but was not offered a contract as manager Paolo Di Canio felt Teniste was not a natural left back.{{cite web|url=http://www.swindon.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=246233|title=Taijo Teniste joins Town on trial|website=Vital Football|date=4 July 2011|access-date=3 December 2017|archive-date=4 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204061315/http://www.swindon.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=246233|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://sport.postimees.ee/496402/teniste-jai-inglismaal-lepinguta|title=Teniste jäi Inglismaal lepinguta|trans-title=Teniste failed to secure a contract in England|work=Postimees|date=12 July 2011|language=et}}

=Sogndal=

On 1 September 2011, Teniste joined Norwegian club Sogndal on loan until the end of the season, with the option to make the deal permanent.{{cite web|url=http://sport.err.ee/4258/taijo-teniste-siirdub-norra-korgliigasse|title=Taijo Teniste siirdub Norra kõrgliigasse|publisher=ERR Sport|date=1 September 2011|language=et|trans-title=Taijo Teniste moving to Norwegian top-flight}} He made his debut in the Tippeligaen on 11 September, in a 0–0 home draw against Aalesund, coming on as a substitute for Ole Jørgen Halvorsen in injury time.{{cite web|url=https://sport.postimees.ee/560454/teniste-tegi-debuudi-norra-korgliigas|title=Teniste tegi debüüdi Norra kõrgliigas|trans-title=Teniste debuted in the Norwegian top-flight|work=Postimees|date=11 September 2011|language=et}} On 23 December 2011, Teniste signed a two-year contract with Sogndal.{{cite web|url=http://sport.err.ee/9219/taijo-teniste-solmis-sogndaliga-kaheaastase-lepingu|title=Taijo Teniste sõlmis Sogndaliga kaheaastase lepingu|publisher=ERR Sport|date=23 December 2011|language=et|trans-title=Teniste signed a two-year contract with Sogndal}} His contract was subsequently extended to 2015 and then to 2017.{{cite web|url=http://sport.err.ee/77618/teniste-jaab-sogndali-veel-kaheks-aastaks|title=Teniste jääb Sogndali veel kaheks aastaks|publisher=ERR Sport|date=31 October 2015|language=et|trans-title=Teniste will stay at Sogndal for another two years}} Teniste scored his first goal for Sogndal on 26 November 2017, in a 5–2 home win over Vålerenga in the last match of the 2017 season.{{cite web|url=https://sport.postimees.ee/4324045/video-teniste-varav-hoidis-koduklubi-valjakukkumisest|title=Video: Teniste värav hoidis koduklubi väljakukkumisest|work=Postimees|date=27 November 2017|language=et|trans-title=Video: Teniste's goal saved his club from relegation}}

=Brann=

On 14 August 2017, it was announced that Teniste would join Brann after the 2017 season on a three-year deal.{{cite web|url=http://sport.err.ee/612896/teniste-liitub-jargmisel-hooajal-norra-suurklubiga|title=Teniste liitub järgmisel hooajal Norra suurklubiga|trans-title=Teniste to join a Norwegian top club next season|publisher=ERR Sport|date=14 August 2017|language=et}}

International career

File:2019-06-11 Fußball, Männer, Länderspiel, Deutschland-Estland StP 2244 LR10 by Stepro.jpg in 2019]]

Teniste has represented Estonia at under-17, under-18, under-19, under-21 and under-23 levels.

Teniste made his senior international debut for Estonia on 9 November 2007, replacing Urmas Rooba in the 70th minute of a 0–2 away loss to Saudi Arabia in a friendly.{{cite web|title=Taijo Teniste|url=http://jalgpall.ee/koondis/koosseis/player/5729|publisher=Estonian Football Association|language=et}}

Teniste finally scored his first goal for the national team on his 93rd cap on 26 September 2022 scoring in a 4–0 UEFA Nations League away win against San Marino. This goal also helped Estonia seal their return to the C League.

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|8 November 2020.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fotball.no/fotballdata/person/profil/?fiksId=2777442|title=Taijo Teniste|publisher=Football Association of Norway|language=no}}{{cite web|title=Taijo Teniste|url=http://www.altomfotball.no/element.do?cmd=player&personId=117742|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928025331/http://www.altomfotball.no/element.do?cmd=player&personId=117742|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 September 2015|website=altomfotball.no|language=no}}{{cite web|title=Taijo Teniste|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/taijo-teniste/25781|website=Soccerway.com}}

rowspan=2\|Club !rowspan=2\|Season !colspan=3\|League !colspan=2\|CupIncludes the Estonian Cup and Norwegian Cup !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
SK 10 Premium	2004	IV liiga	17	16	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	17	16
rowspan=4\|Levadia II	2005	Esiliiga	16	5	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	16	5
2006	Esiliiga	27	5	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	27	5
2007	Esiliiga	6	5	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	6	5
colspan=2\|Total	49	15	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	49	15
rowspan=8\|Levadia	2005	Meistriliiga	12	2	1	0	1Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League	0	0	0	14	2
2006	Meistriliiga	6	0	0	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	6	0
2007	Meistriliiga	19	1	4	0	2	0	2Appearances in Baltic League	0	27	1
2008	Meistriliiga	31	2	5	0	2	0	4One appearance in Estonian Supercup, three appearances in Baltic League	0	42	2
2009	Meistriliiga	24	3	1	0	6Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League	0	2One appearance in Estonian Supercup, one appearance in Baltic League	0	33	3
2010	Meistriliiga	33	1	3	0	2	0	1Appearance in Estonian Supercup	0	39	1
2011	Meistriliiga	23	4	2	0	2Appearances in UEFA Europa League	0	2	0	29	4
colspan=2\|Total	148	13	16	0	15	0	11	0	190	13
Sogndal (loan)	2011	Tippeligaen	7	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	7	0
rowspan=7\|Sogndal	2012	Tippeligaen	24	0	1	0	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	25	0
2013	Tippeligaen	30	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	32	0
2014	Tippeligaen	25	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	27	0
2015	OBOS-ligaen	25	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	27	0
2016	Tippeligaen	27	0	3	0	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	30	0
2017	Eliteserien	26	1	2	0	colspan=2\|—	2Appearances in Eliteserien relegation play-offs	0	30	1
colspan=2\|Total	164	1	12	0	colspan=2\|—	2	0	178	1
rowspan=4\|Brann	2018	Eliteserien	23	1	1	0	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	24	1
2019	Eliteserien	26	1	2	0	2	1	colspan=2\|—	30	2
2020	Eliteserien	10	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	10	0
colspan=2\|Total	59	2	3	0	2	1	colspan=2\|—	64	3
colspan=3\|Career total	437	47	31	0	17	1	13	0	498	48

=International=

{{updated|20 June 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/est-teniste-intl.html |title=Taijo Teniste – International Appearances |last=Mamrud |first=Roberto |date= 14 July 2023 |website=RSSSF}}

National team	Year	Apps
class=wikitable style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan=16\|Estonia \|2007	3	0
2009	2	0
2010	1	0
2011	5	0
2012	6	0
2013	10	0
2014	8	0
2015	7	0
2016	10	0
2017	10	0
2018	6	0
2019	9	0
2020	7	0
2021	4	0
2022	7	1
2023	4	0
colspan=2\|Total	99	1

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
class="wikitable"
1.	26 September 2022	San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino	{{fb\|SMR}}	align=center\|2–0	align=center\| 4–0	2022–23 UEFA Nations League