August 14, 2020
History
The Estonian Championship, known as the Meistriliiga,
was first competed for in 1992 after the country gained independence from the
Soviet Union.
Historically, the Championship has been dominated by sides
based in Tallinn, with Nomme Kalju arguably the only team from outside of the
capital to have ever won the title, which they have done twice ( in 2012 and
2018 ), although Nomme is one of the administrative districts of Tallinn. Flora
Tallinn and Levadia Tallinn are the “giants” of Estonian football with 12 and 9
league wins respectively.
The Meistriliiga is currently ranked 51st by
UEFA, with only Kosovo, the Faroe Islands, Andorra and San Marino below them.
For sponsorship reasons the league is referred to as the A. le Coq Premium
Liiga.
The National
Side
The
national side are currently 104th in the FIFA world rankings, making them 43rd
best in Europe, below Luxembourg and Armenia but above the Faroe Islands,
Lithuania and Latvia.
Estonia had a terrible Euro 2020 qualifying campaign winning just one point, a 0-0 draw in Belarus, and losing the return, as well as both matches against Germany, The Netherlands and Northern Ireland.
The
national side’s best tournament performance was in the Euro 2012 qualifiers
where they finished second in their group behind Italy after wins in Serbia,
Slovenia and Northern Ireland but lost the play-off to the Republic of Ireland
despite a draw in Dublin. The most famous Estonian footballer is probably ex
Derby County and Sunderland goal-keeper Mart Poom who racked up 120 caps for
the national team. However, that total is only good enough for 6th
place in the all-time list, with Martin Reim holding the record with 157
appearances. Reim was until recently the manager at Levadia Tallinn.
Ex-Liverpool
defender Ragnar Klavan is still playing for Cagliari and could break Reim’s
record, having 134 caps at present. Anders Oper is the record goal-scorer with
38 goals in 134 appearances, with Aalborg and Roda Kerkrade amongst the clubs
he played for.
From the last two national squads, 11 players are with
Flora and 2 play for Nomme. The rest of the squad are dispersed across Norway,
Sweden, Poland, Ukraine, Slovenia, Armenia. Kazakhstan and USA. Ex Motherwell
and Dundee United’s Henri Anier is now at Dutch Second Division side Go Ahead Eagles,
and as mentioned Klavan is playing in Italy. Nomme’s Sander Puri made 8
appearances for York City.
League
Structure
The league consists of 10 sides who play each other four
times for a 36 game season, which due to the climate is typically played between
March and November.
The winners qualify for the first qualifying round of
the UEFA Champions League with the runners-up, the team finishing third and the
winner of the Estonian Cup qualifying for the UEFA Conference League. If the
Cup Winner finishes in the top three then the side finishing fourth qualifies
for Europe.
The side finishing bottom is automatically relegated, whilst the 9th place team has a two-legged play-off with the side finishing 2nd in the Second Division.
The Second Division is known as the Esiliiga League and
consists of 10 teams, of which the bottom two are relegated to the Third Level
Esiliiga B, with side in 8th facing a play-off. In 2020 there are
three B sides playing in the Esiliiga, but these are not eligible for promotion.
Last
Season
Flora Tallinn were the champions in 2019 finishing 12
points ahead of Levadia to qualify for the 2020/21 Champions League, where they
will play FK Suduva in the first qualifying round. The previous year’s
champions Nomme were a point further behind in third place. As Flora won the
2019/20 Cup Final, beating Narva Trans in a match played in July 2020, fourth
placed Paide Linnameeskond were confirmed as the final European qualifiers for
the first time in their history, nine months after the 2019 season had finished
!
In the first qualifying round of the 2020/21 Europa
league Levadia will visit the winners of B36 Torshavn and St Georges of
Gibraltar, Nomme will host NS Mura of
Slovenia and Paide will visit FK Zalgiris of Lithuania
In the 2018/19 Champions League, Nomme were hammered
by Glasgow Celtic and were then outclassed by FC Dudelange of Luxembourg in the
Europa League.
In the Europa League, Flora achieved a good result in
eliminating Radnicki Nis from Serbia but then lost twice 1-2 to Eintracht
Frankfurt. Levadia were knocked out by Stjarnan from Iceland
whilst Montenegrin’s Buducnost were too good for Narva Trans.
Attendances
When football resumed after the COVID suspension, matches
were played behind closed doors until the restriction was lifted on July 1st.
So far two matches have attracted crowds of over 1,000, with 1,205 attending
Flora Tallinn vs Nomme Kalju and 1,113 saw Levadia Tallinn vs Flora.
In 2019 the league average was 365, one of the lowest
for a highest league in a European Country. Flora were the best supported side
with an average of 711 whilst Kuressaare with 209 had the lowest average.
How To
Watch
All Meistriliiga matches can be watched live on
YouTube, with the Estonian FA website helpfully giving links to the broadcaster
( soccernet.ee, etv or the FA themselves ), and from there you can then connect
to the stream on YouTube.
Highlights are also posted on the Estonian FA website,
as well as on the YouTube Premium Liiga channel a couple of hours after the
match has ended.
All Second Division matches are also streamed live,
with highlights on the YouTube Esiliiga channel and the FA website. One match from each round of
the Women’s Championship is also shown live on the FA website.
The Season So Far
The season started on March 6th, but only
one round of matches were possible before the league was suspended due to the
Covid-19 virus. Matches resumed on May 19th with the regular season
being reduced to 27 matches, with sides playing each other three times by
November 8th. Thereafter there will be play-offs to determine the
outcome of the championship and relegation.
After 16 matches Flora are runaway leaders whilst
Tallinna Kalev are adrift at the bottom.
Round 17
Friday 14th August
Kuressaare vs Levadia ( kick-off 19.00 local/17.00 UK
)
Tammeka vs Flora ( kick-off 19.30 local/17.30 UK )
Saturday 15th August
Legion vs Nomme Kalju ( kick-off 16.00 local/14.00 UK
)
Viljandi Tulevik vs Paide Linnameeskond ( kick-off 19.00
local/17.00 UK )
Sunday 16th August
Narva Trans vs Tallinna Kalev ( kick-off 19.00 local/17.00
UK )
A Guide To Each Club :
FC Flora
Location : Tallinn
Stadium : A. Le Coq Arena
( 14,336 capacity )
Colours : Green
Shirt, White Shorts – change colours All White with Green Socks.
Last Season :
Champions
Internationals/Key Players : Rauno
Sappinen ( forward – 25 caps ), Martin Miller ( midfield – 9 caps ), Martin
Kuusk ( defender – 2 caps ), Ken Kallaste ( left back – 45 caps ), Konstantin
Vassilijev ( midfield – 119 caps ), Mihkel Ainsalu ( midfield – 7 caps ),
Vladislav Kreida ( midfield – 3 caps ), Frank Liivak ( forward – 17 caps ), ,
Enar Jaager ( defender – 126 caps ), Vlasiy Sinyavskiy ( forward – 2 caps ),
Markus Poom ( midfield – 1 cap ), Michael Lilander ( defender – 2 caps ), , Ingmar
Paplavskis ( keeper )
Top Scorers : 16
- Rauno Sappinen, 5 - Martin Kuusk
Comment : Record
title holders Flora only sign Estonian players and their squad is packed with
past and present Internationals. The champions have won 14 out of 16 matches,
failing only in the first match after resumption when Tammeka held out for a
draw in Tallinn, and a 1-2 loss in Viljandi. They are currently on a 6 game
winning streak and are 11 points clear after just 16 games. Sappinen is
unlikely to be caught for the golden boot award
Prediction : Champions
Nomme Kalju FC
Location : Nomme,
8km south of Tallinn
Stadium :
Hiiu Stadium ( 2,750 capacity – 650 seats, artificial grass pitch )
Colours : All
Black with pink numbering, change kit Pink shirts, Black shorts
Last Season : 3rd
Internationals/Key Players : Marko
Meerits ( keeper – 12 caps ), Sander Puri ( midfield – 78 caps ), Igor Subbotin
( captain and midfield – 5 caps ), Vladyslav Khomutov ( Ukrainian midfielder ),
Andrey Markovych ( Ukrainian defender ), Kaspar Paur ( forward ), Ivan Lobay (
Ukrainian defender ), Pedro Victor ( Brazilian centre back ), Amir Natkho (
Russian midfielder )
Top Scorers : 8-
Vladyslav Khomutov, 6 – Kaspar Paur
Comment : Known
as the Pink Panthers, Nomme currently have the best defensive record in the
division having conceded only 10 goals but scoring can be a bit of a problem. They have been strong on the road, losing
only to Flora ( 1-2 ), but they have been hampered by three home losses ( Flora
1-2, Legion 0-2 and Paide 0-1 ). However, they are on a run of just one defeat
in 8, which was the slightly unfortunate loss at Flora.
Prediction : 2nd
Paide Linnameeskond
Location : Paide,
95km south-east of Tallinn
Stadium : Paide
Linnastaadion ( 1,000 capacity - 268
seats )
Colours : All
Dark Blue
Last Season :
4th
Internationals/Key Players : Edrisa
Lubega ( striker – 11 caps for Uganda ), Andre Frolov ( midfield – 4 caps ),
Sergei Mosnikov ( midfield – 35 caps ), Siim Luts ( midfield - 41 caps ), Joseph
Saliste ( midfield – 3 caps ), Karl Mool ( defender – 9 caps ), Kevin Kauber (
forward – ex TNS ), Kristofer Piht ( forward ), Muhammed Sanneh ( Gambian
right-back ), Martin Kase ( centre-back ), Mikel Gurrutxaga ( Spanish defender
)
Top Scorers : 10
– Edrisa Lubega, 7 - Siim Luts, 6 – Kristofer Piht
Comment : Nicknamed
the Estonian Barcelona because of their claret and blue club badge, Paide have
been blowing hot and cold this season, Having won 8-1 in their only match
before the COVID break, they lost three of their first 4 matches after the
resumption before reeling off 4 wins and then losing the next 3. They are now
on a run of three wins, with Lubega on a hot streak of 7 goals in the last 4 matches
having not scored in the previous 6 matches. Watch-out for his back-flip somersault
goal celebration ! Paide should secure European football for the second consecutive
season.
Prediction : 4th
FCI Levadia Tallinn
Location : Tallinn
Stadium : A.
Le Coq Arena ( 14,336 capacity )
Colours : All Green
Last Season : Runners-Up
Internationals/Key Players : Dmitri
Kruglov ( left-back/wing back – 114 caps ), Markus Jorgenson ( right-back – 11 caps
), Marcelin Gando ( Cameroon midfielder ), Zurab Ochihava ( Ukrainian defender
), Yuriy Kolomoyets ( Ukrainian forward – 1 cap ), Manucho ( Ivorian forward ),
Robert Kirss ( forward – 1 cap ), Rasmus Peetson ( midfield – 2 caps ), Brent Lepistu
( midfield – 13 caps ), Trevor Elhi ( left-back – 9 caps ), Maksim Podholjuzin
( centre back – 1 cap ), Mark Roosnupp ( midfield – 7 caps ), Artur Kotenko (
keeper – 27 caps ), Bogdan Vastsuk ( forward )
Top Scorer : 6
– Marcelin Gando
Comment : With
their experienced squad, Levadia will be disappointed to be in only 4th
spot and 15 points behind Flora. Their home form has been good, losing only to
Flora, with whom they share the stadium. However, they have been decidedly ordinary
away from home with only three wins in 8 matches and three losses ( Nomme 0-2,
Flora 0-4 and Paide 2-4 ), and conceding more goals away than everyone else
except rock-bottom Kalev. They also conceded 4 in a draw at Narva Trans who at
the time were winless and adrift at the bottom. The poor results saw the
resignation of coach Martin Reim in July. Top Scorer Gando also goes in for a back-flip
somersault goal celebration………….
Prediction : 3rd
Viljandi JK Tulevik
Location : Viljandi,
160km south of Tallinn
Stadium : Viljandi
Linnastaadion ( 1,084 capacity )
Colours : Yellow
Shirts, Black Shorts
Last Season :
7th
Internationals/Key Players : Pavel
Marin ( midfield – 9 caps ), Kalmar Saag ( forward – 46 caps ), Jeriamah Dabowski
( Polish defender ), Jude Barrow ( Canadian midfielder, born in London ), Herol
Riiberg ( midfield ), Karl Rommet Nomm ( keeper ), Kristjan Kask ( midfielder
), Sander Kapper ( midfield ), Nikita Komissarov ( great name ! )
Top Scorer : 9
– Pavel Marin
Comment : Formed
as a feeder club to Flora but with the link broken in 2011, Tulevik are on
course for their highest ever league finish, the previous best being 7th.
They are currently the only side to beat Flora, thanks to two goals from
Kristjan Kask and some inspired goal-keeping. Like Paide, they are yet to draw
this season, and possess a 4-0-4 record both home and away. Their form has not
been as streaky as Paide’s, though they have lost 2 in a row.
Prediction : 5th
Tartu JK Tammeka
Location : Tartu,
185km south-east of Tallinn
Stadium : Tartu
Tamme Stadium ( 1,750 capacity )
Colours : All
Blue, change kit all White with blue socks.
Last Season :
5th
Internationals/Key Players : Tristan
Koskor ( forward – 2 caps ), Igor Dudarev ( Russian defender ), Mikhail
Slashchev ( Russian defender ), Tauno Tekko ( midfield ) , Karl Johan Pechter (
keeper ), Patrick Veelma ( forward ), Mikhel Jarviste ( midfield )
Top Scorer : 4
- Tristan Koskor
Comment : Tammeka
are currently top of the best of the rest category, lying 7 points behind Tulevik in 5th
place. Home form is their problem, with the only win coming in the first game
of the season and no wins at home since the resumption. The away form has been
solid though and overall they have only lost once in the last 5 matches.
Prediction : 7th
JK Narva Trans
Location : Narva,
210km east of Tallinn, close to the border with Russia
Stadium : Narva
Kreenholm Staadion ( 1,065 capacity )
Colours : Red
Shirts, Black shorts
Last Season :
6th
Internationals/Key Players : Geoffrey
Chinedu ( Nigerian striker ), Elysee ( Ivorian midfielder – 1 cap ), Andreas
Vaikla ( keeper – 3 caps ), Alexsandr Ivanyushin ( Russian defender ),
Alexsandr Zakarlyuka ( Russian forward ), Nikita Mihhailov ( defender ), Sadio
Tounkara ( Mailian midfielder ), Roman Sobtsenko ( midfield ), Nurlan Novruzov
( Azeri defender ), Martin Kaos ( great name for a defender ! )
Top Scorer : 6
– Geoffrey Chinedu
Comment : Narva
Trans have turned their season around after a disastrous start where their
only points in the first 11 matches came from 3 draws. They then went on an unbeaten
run of 6 matches ( five wins, one draw ) until losing at Nomme last week. Turkish
coach Cenk Ozcan was sacked after 9 matches and interim manager Oleg Kuretskin appears
to have turned things around.
Prediction : 6th
FC Kuressaare
Location : Kuressaare,
on the island of Saaremaa, 215km south-west of Tallinn, accessible only by air
or ferry !
Stadium : Kuressaare
Linnastaadion ( 1,000 capacity )
Colours : All
Yellow, change colours all Pale Blue
Last Season : 9th
- Relegation play-off winners
Internationals/Key Players : Soren
Kaldma ( defender – 3 caps ), Sander Laht ( winger ), Magnus Karofeld ( keeper ),
Ranon Kriisa ( left back ), Mario Miil ( defender )
Top Scorer : 3
- Sander Laht
Comment : Like
Flora the squad consists entirely of Estonians albeit with slightly different
results ! Likely favourites for relegation before a ball was kicked and
starting with three defeats, Kuressaare have overachieved so far to currently be
outside of the relegation places. However, they are without a win in 6 matches
and need to recover some form to stay ahead of Legion and Kalev. Keeper
Karofeld has looked in good form in recent weeks, and Kuressaare will need this
to continue !
Prediction : 9th
( relegation play-off )
Tallinna JK Legion
Location : Tallinn
Stadium : Kadriog
Stadium ( 5,000 capacity )
Colours : All
Red
Last Season : Esiliiga
Champions
Internationals/Key Players : Andrei
Sidorenko ( left-back - 23 caps ), Artjom Artjunin ( centre-back – 6 caps ),
German Slein ( midfield ), Nikita Andreyev ( Russian forward ), Pavel Londak (
keeper – 40 caps ), Albert Prosa ( forward – 7 caps ), Maksim Gussev ( forward
– 9 caps ), Marek Satov ( forward )
Top Scorer : 4
– Marek Satov
Comment : Newly
promoted Legion were expected to do well having signed a number of former
internationals and experienced veterans.
They started with two encouraging displays in defeats against Flora and
Levadia and then won at Nomme, but it has been a struggle since. The 2-0 win at
Tulevik over the weekend though, with both goals coming from new signing
Russian forward Andreyev, has given them some breathing space at the bottom and
brought them within touching distances to the three sides immediately above
them.
Prediction : 8th
JK Tallinna Kalev
Location : Tallinn
Stadium : Playing
this season at the Kadriog Stadium ( 5,000 capacity ) rather than their own
Kalevi Keskstaadion ( 13,000 capacity )
Colours : Blue
Shirt, Black Shorts
Last Season :
8th
Internationals/Key Players : Hannes
Anier ( striker - 4 caps ), Marek Kaljumae ( defender - 5 caps ), Dominik Ivkic
( Slovenian centre-back ), Alger Dzumadil ( midfield ), Reinhard Reimaa (
right-back ), Pavel Domov ( midfielder on loan from Flora – 2 caps )
Top Scorer : 4
- Hannes Anier
Comment : The
season started with a 1-8 home defeat to Paide but Kalev picked up 7 points from
the first 4 matches after the resumption including two wins ( 1-0 vs Legion,
2-0 at Tammeka ). However, they have not won in 11 games since, with just 2
draws, and the 41 goals conceded being by far the worst in the division. Talev
have tried to improve their squad, Domov
and Ivkic made their debuts in Sunday’s dismal 0-4 loss at Paide, but more
signings are needed.
Prediction : 10th
( relegation )
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