Ragnar Klavan (born 30 October 1985) is an Estonian former professional footballer who played as a defender. He is regarded as one of the greatest Estonian footballers of all time. A left-footed centre back, he also played as a left back during his career.
Klavan played for Elva, Tulevik and Flora in Estonia, winning the Meistriliiga with Flora in the 2003 season, before moving to the Netherlands where he played for Heracles Almelo and AZ, winning the Eredivisie with the latter in the 2008âÂÂ09 season. In 2012, he transferred to FC Augsburg and spent four seasons in the Bundesliga before his move to Liverpool in 2016 for â¬5 million. In 2018, Klavan signed for Serie A's Cagliari in a transfer worth ã2 million. In 2021, he returned to Estonia signing for Paide Linnameeskond and retired from football with Kalev in 2024.
Klavan made his senior international debut for Estonia in 2003, and became captain in 2012. In 2015, he became the ninth player to make 100 appearances for Estonia, and is currently the fifth-most capped player in the history of the national team. Klavan has won the Estonian Footballer of the Year award a record seven times, in 2012 and six consecutive from 2014 to 2019.
Klavan was born on 30 October 1985 in Viljandi, Estonia to Tiina and Dzintar Klavan. His father was a professional footballer who played as a midfielder and represented the Estonia national team. Klavan also started playing football as a midfielder; later stating that Zinedine Zidane was his inspiration.
Klavan started out playing for his hometown team Tulevik. He made his senior league debut in the Esiliiga on 8 April 2001, playing for Tulevik's reserve team Elva and scoring the winning goal against Sillamäe Kalev in a 2âÂÂ1 home victory. He moved to Tulevik's first team in 2002 and made his debut in the Meistriliiga on 31 March 2002, at age 16, in a goalless draw against Levadia. While at Tulevik, Klavan had a trial with Sunderland, but was not offered a contract.
In July 2003, Klavan joined Meistriliiga club Flora. He made his debut for the club on 11 July 2003, when he came on as a 67th-minute substitute and scored in the 85th minute of a 4âÂÂ4 away draw against TVMK. Klavan won the Meistriliiga title in the 2003 season.
On 31 August 2004, Klavan joined Norwegian club VÃÂ¥lerenga on a three-month loan for a fee of 300,000 NOK, with an option to sign permanently for â¬500,000 when the loan period ended. He made his debut in the Tippeligaen on 19 September 2004, coming on as a substitute in the 86th minute of a 4âÂÂ1 victory over Molde. Klavan made one more league appearance before spending two matches on the bench as an unused substitute. On 19 November 2004, his loan was extended for a year until 30 November 2005.
On 4 August 2005, Klavan signed a three-year contract with Eredivisie club Heracles Almelo for a fee of â¬200,000. He made his debut in the Eredivisie on 13 August 2005, in a 1âÂÂ1 home draw against PSV. Klavan scored his first Eredivisie goal on 31 December 2006, in a 2âÂÂ2 home draw against Vitesse, and provided the assist for Everton's goal in the same match. He scored his second goal on 24 August 2007, in a 2âÂÂ1 loss to Roda JC. 30 October 2007, Klavan scored in a 3âÂÂ0 home victory over FC Omniworld in the third round of the KNVB Cup. On 29 December 2007, Klavan signed a new contract that would extend his stay at the club until 30 June 2009. On 20 April 2008, he scored his side's only goal in a 5âÂÂ1 loss to Ajax in the last match of the 2007âÂÂ08 season. In the opening match of the 2008âÂÂ09 season on 31 August 2008, Klavan set-up Darl Douglas' opening goal and scored the second goal in a 3âÂÂ1 home victory over Feyenoord.
On 27 January 2009, Klavan joined AZ on loan until the end of the 2008âÂÂ09 season with an option to sign permanently. He made his debut for the club on 4 February 2009, in a 1âÂÂ0 home victory over Roda JC when he came on as a 60th-minute substitute for Kees Luijckx. On 14 February, Klavan signed a four-year contract, keeping him with AZ until June 2013. Klavan won the Eredivisie title in the 2008âÂÂ09 season.
On 29 September 2009, Klavan became the first Estonian to play in the UEFA Champions League group stage when he came on as an 82nd-minute substitute for Sébastien Pocognoli in a 1âÂÂ1 home draw against Standard Liège. He saw limited playing time under managers Ronald Koeman and Dick Advocaat, making only 11 league appearances in the 2009âÂÂ10 season, before becoming a regular starter for AZ under Gertjan Verbeek. On 29 July 2010, Klavan scored his first goal for AZ in a 2âÂÂ0 home win against IFK Göteborg in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. He scored the third goal in a 3âÂÂ0 home victory over FC Eindhoven on 10 November 2010, in the fourth round of the KNVB Cup. On 27 October 2011, Klavan scored his side's second goal in the 3âÂÂ2 extra time win against FC Dordrecht in the third round of the KNVB Cup.
On 2 July 2012, Klavan signed a two-year contract with German club FC Augsburg for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut in the Bundesliga on 14 September 2012, when he came on as a 67th-minute substitute for Matthias Ostrzolek in a 0âÂÂ0 home draw against VfL Wolfsburg. Klavan soon became a first team regular, establishing himself as a first choice centre back alongside Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker. He scored his first Bundesliga goal on 1 March 2014, in a 1âÂÂ1 home draw against Hannover 96. On 10 May 2014, Klavan scored in a 2âÂÂ1 home victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
On 8 February 2015, Klavan scored the opening goal in a 2âÂÂ2 home draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. Six days later, he scored in a 3âÂÂ2 away loss to Werder Bremen. Klavan played every minute of the 2014âÂÂ15 season as FC Augsburg finished fifth in the league, their highest position in history, and qualified for the 2015âÂÂ16 UEFA Europa League.
On 20 July 2016, Klavan signed a three-year contract with Premier League club Liverpool for a reported fee of ã4.2 million (â¬5 million). The transfer fee of â¬5 million made him the most expensive Estonian footballer ever. The club confirmed that he would wear the number 17 shirt.
Klavan made his debut in the Premier League on 14 August 2016, in a 4âÂÂ3 victory over Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. He scored his first goal for Liverpool on 20 September 2016, in a 3âÂÂ0 away victory over Derby County in the third round of the EFL Cup. On 19 December 2016, Klavan was named man of the match for his performance in Liverpool's 1âÂÂ0 victory in the derby match against Everton at Goodison Park.
On 1 January 2018, Klavan became the first-ever Estonian player to score in the Premier League when he scored the winning goal in the fourth minute of injury time in a 2âÂÂ1 away win against Burnley. He made eight appearances in the 2017âÂÂ18 UEFA Champions League and was an unused substitute in Liverpool's 3âÂÂ1 loss to Real Madrid in the final of the tournament.
On 17 August 2018, Klavan signed a two-year contract with Italian club Cagliari for a fee of ã2 million. He made his debut in the Serie A on 26 August, in a 2âÂÂ2 home draw against Sassuolo. Klavan made a total of 61 appearances in Serie A over the span of three seasons.
On 1 July 2021, Klavan signed for Estonian Meistriliiga club Paide Linnameeskond, returning to Estonia after 17 years abroad. He made his debut for the club in a 2âÂÂ1 loss against à Âlàsk Wrocà Âaw in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying match and his league debut ended 0âÂÂ0 against the defending champion Flora on 31 July. He scored two goals in the next game against his boyhood club Tulevik.
On 17 July 2023, Klavan signed for Estonian Meistriliiga club Tallinna Kalev. He joined the first team squad of the club, which he has been the president of since 2016. Klavan made his last professional appearance in football on 30 November 2024, guiding Kalev to a 1âÂÂ0 extra-time victory against Viimsi in the Meistriliiga relegation play-offs.
On 10 December 2024, Klavan held a press conference to announce his retirement from professional football and his candidacy for the presidency of the Estonian Football Association. In an election held on 19 June 2025, Klavan received 34 votes and lost to the incumbent president Aivar Pohlak, who secured 68 votes.
Klavan began his youth career in 1999 with the Estonia under-15 team. He also represented the under-17, under-18, under-20, and under-21 national sides, amassing 22 youth appearances overall.
Klavan made his senior international debut for Estonia on 3 July 2003, at age 17, in 5âÂÂ1 loss to Lithuania at the 2003 Baltic Cup. He scored his first international goal on 31 May 2006, in a 1âÂÂ1 home draw against New Zealand in a friendly. Klavan made his 50th appearance for the national team on 11 October 2008, in a 3âÂÂ0 home defeat to Spain in a qualification match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He played in both matches against the Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying play-offs as Estonia lost 5âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
On 29 February 2012, Klavan captained Estonia for the first time and scored in a 2âÂÂ0 friendly victory over El Salvador. In 2012, he succeeded Raio Piiroja as Estonia's captain. On 27 March 2015, Klavan made his 100th appearance for Estonia, in a 0âÂÂ3 away loss to Switzerland in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match. Klavan has been named Estonian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Klavan and his wife, Lili Orel, married on 10 June 2011. They have two sons, Romer and Ronan, and one daughter, Luna.
In May 2016, Klavan became president of Estonian football club Tallinna Kalev.
Klavan announced the Estonian jury points at the grand final of Eurovision Song Contest 2023 as the country's spokesperson. The contest was held in the city of Liverpool.
Flora
AZ
Liverpool
Paide Linnameeskond
Individual