{{short description|Estonian footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Artur Kotenko | image = Kotenko Artur.jpg | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1981|8|20}} | birth_place = Tallinn, Estonian SSR, Soviet Union | height = {{convert|1.86|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | position = Goalkeeper | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 1992–1993 | youthclubs1 = Puuma | years1 = 1998–1999 | caps1 = 9 | goals1 = 0 | clubs1 = Vigri | years2 = 1999 | caps2 = 10 | goals2 = 0 | clubs2 = Lantana | years3 = 2000 | caps3 = 9 | goals3 = 0 | clubs3 = Kauhajoen Karhu | years4 = 2000 | caps4 = 5 | goals4 = 0 | clubs4 = Maardu | years5 = 2001 | caps5 = 5 | goals5 = 0 | clubs5 = Levadia Pärnu | years6 = 2001–2007 | caps6 = 142 | goals6 = 1 | clubs6 = Levadia | years7 = 2008 | caps7 = 27 | goals7 = 0 | clubs7 = Sandnes Ulf | years8 = 2009–2010 | caps8 = 2 | goals8 = 0 | clubs8 = Viking | years9 = 2010–2011 | caps9 = 7 | goals9 = 0 | clubs9 = AEP Paphos | years10= 2011 | caps10= 4 | goals10= 0 | clubs10= Ravan Baku | years11= 2012 | caps11= 25 | goals11= 0 | clubs11= Jaro | years12= 2013 | caps12= 23 | goals12= 0 | clubs12= Dnepr Mogilev | years13= 2014–2016 | caps13= 38 | goals13= 0 | clubs13= Shakhtyor Soligorsk | years14= 2017–2018 | caps14= 64 | goals14= 0 | clubs14= Narva Trans | years15= 2019–2022 | caps15= 38 | goals15= 0 | clubs15= FCI Levadia | club-update = 31 December 2022 | nationalyears1 = 2004–2020 | nationalcaps1 = 27 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalteam1 = Estonia | nationalteam-update = }}
'''Artur Kotenko''' (born 20 August 1981) is a retired Estonian professional footballer who last played as a goalkeeper for FCI Levadia.
Kotenko announced his retirement from professional football in November 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/artur-kotenko-lopetab-laupaevases-derbimangus-karjaari|title=Artur Kotenko lõpetab laupäevases derbimängus karjääri|first=Kristjan|last=Remmelkoor|date=10 November 2022|website=Soccernet.ee}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vnl.ee/sport.php?id=123 |title=FC Levadia tagas jalgpalli meistritiitli |trans-title=FC Levadia secured football championship |language=Estonian |date=24 October 2004 |publisher=Virumaa Nädalaleht |access-date=6 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425143520/http://www.vnl.ee/sport.php?id=123 |archive-date=25 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sport.postimees.ee/1751933/kotenko-solmis-lepingu-norra-esiliiga-klubiga |title=Kotenko sõlmis lepingu Norra esiliiga klubiga |trans-title=Kotenko signed with Norwegian first division team |language=Estonian |date=25 January 2008 |publisher=Postimees |access-date=6 November 2011 }}</ref> 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<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sport.ohtuleht.ee/305640/nimekas-inglise-klubi-testib-artur-kotenkot |title=Nimekas Inglise klubi testib Artur Kotenkot |trans-title=Notable English club tests Artur Konteko |language=Estonian |date=24 November 2008 |publisher=Õhtuleht |access-date=6 November 2011 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/7800688.stm |title=Calderwood sacked as Forest boss |date=26 December 2008 |work=BBC News |access-date=6 November 2011}}</ref>
===Viking=== On 6 February 2009, he joined Eliteserien club Viking.<ref>[http://www.soccernet.ee/news.php?id=23951 Artur Kotenkost sai Vikingi väravavaht] {{in lang|et}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sport.postimees.ee/?id=179657 |title=Kotenko debüüt Norra meistriliigas lõppes punase kaardiga |trans-title=Kontenko's debut in Norwegian Premier League ended with red card |language=Estonian |date=25 October 2009 |publisher=Postimees |access-date=27 June 2010}}</ref>
===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,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pafosfc.com/news_detail.aspx?news_page_id=2&news_id=874 |title=Ο ΕΣΘΟΝΟΣ KOTENKO ΣΤΗΝ ΠΑΦΟ |language=Greek |date=10 June 2010 |publisher=AEP Paphos FC |access-date=12 June 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100614063544/http://www.pafosfc.com/news_detail.aspx?news_page_id=2&news_id=874| archive-date= 14 June 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref> joining compatriot Ats Purje. He failed to make an impact there and only appeared in 7 league matches.
===Ravan Baku=== After a spell in Cyprus, Kotenko moved to Azerbaijan and joined a newly promoted Ravan Baku on a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sport.postimees.ee/484846/ |title=Eesti jalgpallikoondise väravavaht siirdub Aserbaidžaani |trans-title=Estonia's national team goalkeeper moves to Azerbaijan |language=Estonian |date=30 June 2011 |publisher=Postimees |access-date=6 November 2011}}</ref> He made the debut on 6 August, in a 2–3 defeat against Kapaz. The contract was mutually terminated in October 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sport.postimees.ee/614744/ |title=Eesti jalgpallikoondise väravavaht lõpetas senise tööandjaga lepingu |trans-title=Estonia's national team goalkeeper terminated contract with club |language=Estonian |date=28 October 2011 |publisher=Postimees |access-date=6 November 2011}}</ref>
===Jaro=== On 20 January 2012, Kotenko signed 1-year deal with Finish Veikkausliiga club Jaro.<ref>{{cite web|title=Estnisk landslagsmålvakt skrev på för ett år |url=http://www.ffjaro.fi/news/145 |website=ffjaro.fi |publisher=FF Jaro |access-date=19 December 2014 |language=sv |date=20 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219124111/http://www.ffjaro.fi/news/145 |archive-date=19 December 2014 }}</ref>
===Dnepr Mogilev=== On 26 February 2013, Kotenko signed a 1-year contract with Belarusian club Dnepr Mogilev.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ru:Эстонский голкипер Артур Котенко стал игроком "Днепра"|url=http://goals.by/football/news/171086|website=goals.by|access-date=19 December 2014|language=ru|date=26 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060551/http://goals.by/football/news/171086|archive-date=8 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Виктор Гончаренко – лучший тренер Беларуси, Сергей Кривец – лучший футболист|url = http://sport.tut.by/news/football/427817.html|access-date = 29 July 2015|archive-date = 18 December 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141218120537/http://sport.tut.by/news/football/427817.html|url-status = dead}}</ref>
===Back in Estonia=== On 8 February 2017, Kotenko signed for Estonian top tier club Narva Trans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kotenko sõlmis Transiga lepingu|url=http://soccernet.ee/artikkel/kotenko-solmis-transiga-lepingu|publisher=soccernet.ee|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref> After two seasons with Trans Kotenko signed for rival Meistriliiga club FCI Levadia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Artur Kotenko vahetas Narva Tallinna vastu |url=https://sport.postimees.ee/6477531/artur-kotenko-vahetas-narva-tallinna-vastu |publisher=Postimees |access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eesti jalgpallikoondise esiväravavaht lõpetas ootamatult karjääri|url=https://sport.err.ee/1091081/eesti-jalgpallikoondise-esivaravavaht-lopetas-ootamatult-karjaari|publisher=ERR|access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref>
==International career== He played for Estonia national football team 27 times between 2004–2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://jalgpall.ee/news.php?st=style_fp.css&news_id=726 |title=Kõik Eesti internatsionaalid |trans-title=All Estonian internationals |language=Estonian |publisher=Eesti Jalgpalli Liit}}</ref> His last call-up was in October 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vigastatud Igoneni asendab Kotenko|url=http://jalgpall.ee/koondis/1/uudised/vigastatud-igoneni-asendab-kotenko-n17742|publisher=Estonian Football Association|language=et|date=30 August 2020}}</ref>
==Honours==
===Club=== ;Levadia *Meistriliiga: 2004, 2006, 2007 *Estonian Cup: 2003–04, 2004–05, 2006–07 *Estonian Supercup: 2001
;Shakhtyor Soligorsk *Belarusian Cup: 2013–14
===Individual=== * Meistriliiga Player of the Month: May 2017<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jalgpall.ee/voistlused/uudised/premium-liiga-kuu-parimad-on-pijpers-ja-kotenko-n12076|title=Premium liiga kuu parimad on Pijpers ja Kotenko|language=et|publisher=Estonian Football Association|date=8 June 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{EFA|1577}} * {{EFA2|216|old_id=1577}} * {{Soccerway|artur-kotenko/29298}} * {{NFT player|8227}} * {{ESPN FC|46182}} * [http://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/estfootball/112220.html Interview for russian sports site] (Russian)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kotenko, Artur}} Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Tallinn Category:FCI Levadia Tallinn players Category:FC Lantana Tallinn players Category:Estonian men's footballers Category:Estonia men's international footballers Category:Estonian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Finland Category:Estonian expatriate sportspeople in Finland Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway Category:Estonian expatriate sportspeople in Norway Category:Meistriliiga players Category:Eliteserien players Category:Veikkausliiga players Category:Cypriot First Division players Category:Viking FK players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Cyprus Category:Estonian expatriate sportspeople in Cyprus Category:AEP Paphos FC players Category:Estonian expatriate sportspeople in Azerbaijan Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Azerbaijan Category:Ravan Baku FK players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belarus Category:Estonian expatriate sportspeople in Belarus Category:FC Dnepr Mogilev players Category:KSK Vigri Tallinn players Category:Sandnes Ulf players Category:FF Jaro players Category:FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk players Category:JK Narva Trans players Category:FC Puuma Tallinn players Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:21st-century Estonian sportsmen