Martin Reim
An Estonian footballing constant, his career as a player and manager has defined the nation's soccer identity for over three decades.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Estonian footballer and manager·Birthday: May 14·Generation X
Biography
Martin Reim's story is woven into the fabric of Estonian football. Emerging as a creative midfielder just as the country regained independence, his technical skill and vision made him the heartbeat of the national team for a remarkable 23 years. His playing career, spent almost entirely with Flora Tallinn, was a masterclass in loyalty and consistency, yielding a trophy cabinet full of domestic honors. The transition from captain to manager felt inevitable, and he has since shaped the next generation from the dugout, first with Flora and later guiding the national team. Reim is less a flashy star and more a foundational pillar; his enduring presence, through the team's highs and lows, has made him the definitive face of the sport in Estonia.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Martin was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Martin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Martin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Held the record for most caps for the Estonia national football team for many years, with over 150 international appearances.
- Spent the vast majority of his club career with FC Flora Tallinn, winning multiple Meistriliiga titles and Estonian Cups.
- Served as the head coach of the Estonia national football team from 2016 to 2019.
- Was inducted into the Estonian Football Hall of Fame for his contributions as both a player and manager.
Did You Know?
He made his debut for the Estonia national team in 1992 and played his final international match in 2009, spanning an incredible 17-year international career.
Reim won the Estonian Footballer of the Year award three times during his playing days.
He is known for his distinctive bald head and goatee, a look he maintained throughout much of his career.
“My heart has always been with Flora and the blue, black, and white jersey.”
