Ragnar Klavan: Former Liverpool player has ventured into the dancing world as he featured in Strictly Come Dancing in his home nation.
Tony Adams, a legendary player for Arsenal, may be having trouble on the reality show’s UK version, but he is not the only ex-player flaunting his dancing skills.
Ragnar Klavan, a 37-year-old center-back who played for Liverpool from 2016 to 2018, is presently competing in the Estonian format.
The judges applauded his performance during his initial appearance on the program, and the couple received a score of 24 out of 40.
Juri Nael, a judge, said: “I see fantastic potential. Of course, it is necessary to make some concessions, but the potential is absolutely there.”
Martin Parmas also added: “Such a relaxed performance, I like it. The feeling was there.”
Even though Klavan’s performance impressed the judges, he remained humble about it.
He said: “Something came out… at least I moved.”
And then his dance partner who also serves as his dance coach Kerttu Tanav replied: “It was very good! I liked Martin’s comment. I also told Raku to just enjoy and be yourself.”
When Kerttu Tanav was compared to Jurgen Klopp, his then manager at Liverpool, Tanav was questioned about who was a better coach.
The Estonian footballer responded: “The quality is the same. The only difference is that Kerttu doesn’t shout or curse at me in rough German.”
Klavan oddly asserted that if he wins the competition, he would continue his football career which goes to show how unlikely it is for him to grab the grand prize.
In his two seasons with Liverpool after moving there from Augsburg for £4.2 million, Klavan made 53 appearances.
In the 2018 Champions League final, which the Reds lost to Real Madrid 3-1, he was not utilized as a substitute.
He left for Cagliari in the summer of 2018 before joining Paide Linnameeskond in Estonia the following year.
Who is Ragnar Klavan?
Ragnar Klavan, an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a defender for both the Estonian national team and club Paide Linnameeskond, was born on October 30, 1985.
He is a left-footed center back who has also played left back in the past.
Before coming to the Netherlands, Klavan represented Heracles Almelo and AZ, winning the Eredivisie with the latter in the 2008–09 season. Klavan played for Elva, Tulevik, and Flora in Estonia, winning the Meistriliiga with Flora in the 2003 season.
Before moving to Liverpool in 2016 for €5 million, he spent four seasons in the Bundesliga after transferring to FC Augsburg in 2012.
2018 saw Klavan make a £2 million switch to Cagliari. He returned to Estonia in 2021 and signed for Paide Linnameeskond.
For Estonia, Klavan made his senior international debut in 2003. He was appointed captain in 2012.
He reached the milestone of 100 appearances for Estonia in 2015 and is now the player with the fifth-most caps in the country’s history.
In 2012 and from 2014 through 2019, Klavan received the Estonian Footballer of the Year award a record seven times.
Personal Life
On June 10, 2011, Klavan and Lili Orel became husband and wife. Romer and Ronan are their two sons.
Klavan was appointed president of Tallinna Kalev, an Estonian football team, in May 2016. He had a COVID-19 positive test result on December 19, 2020.
