FC Kuressaare striker Mattias Männilaan has completed a move to Lincoln Red Imps FC in Gibraltar, signing a six month contract with the club, with possibility of extending the contract by a year via mutual agreement. Lincoln Red Imps FC are the reigning champions of Gibraltar and the country’s most successful club, having won the domestic title 28 times.
Mattias Männilaan made his FC Kuressaare debut on the 17th of July 2020, totaling 154 games in all competitions, scoring on 65 occasions for the club. The 23-year old has also represented Estonia’s U21s, U19s and U17s national teams.
“The offer came in the last moment and a bit unexpectedly, but it seemed interesting. Joining the Gibraltar champions is definitely the next step and a challenge in my career and I am glad to show my skills abroad again. Lincoln Red Imps is definitely a very good place for it. The club’s targets are to win the domestic league and perform goodly in Europe and I want to help them accomplish that.” Männilaan told the press release.
“It is difficult to conclude the time spent in Kuressaare, because i just can not find enough praises, to describe it. I would like to thank FC Kuressaare’s team, the club family and fans for the support and warm emotions during these four and a half years,” Männilaan added. “I believe, that such community spirit and loud support will be hard to find anywhere else. Kuressaare’s team has showed and taught me, what the viking spirit and uncompromised fighting spirit really mean. I will take all the good things with me and express gratitude, that I can make next step, being a more experienced player. I wish you the best of luck in the new season. Once a viking, always a viking!”
“Although we are sad to see Mattias leave, we are also very proud and happy for the next step in his career, he has definitely earned it with his dedication, hard work and footballing passion. Mattias knows, that our doors will always remain open to him, we wish him all the best, a lot of minutes and many goals.” FC Kuressaare’s CEO Martin Tammel added.