2021 in Estonian football

This page summarizes Estonian football in 2021. It contains information about the league system, national teams, beach football and futsal.

Football in Estonia
Season2021
← 2020 2022 →

National teams

Senior
12 January Unofficial friendly Estonia  0–1 Ferencvárosi TC Marbella, Spain
17:00 (UTC+3) Report
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Marbella
Attendance: 0
Referee: Juan Gabriel Gallegos Jimenez
24 March 2022 WC quali. Estonia  v  Czech Republic Tallinn, Estonia
Stadium: A. Le Coq Arena
27 March 2022 WC quali. Belarus  v  Estonia Belarus
20:00 (UTC+3)
31 March Friendly Sweden  v  Estonia Stockholm, Sweden
18:45 (UTC+3) Stadium: Friends Arena
1 June Baltic Cup Lithuania  v  Estonia Lithuania
19:00 (UTC+3)
10 June Baltic Cup Estonia  v  Latvia Estonia
19:00 (UTC+3)
2 September 2022 WC quali. Estonia  v  Belgium Tallinn, Estonia
21:45 (UTC+3) Stadium: A. Le Coq Arena
8 September 2022 WC quali. Wales  v  Estonia Wales
21:45 (UTC+3)
8 October 2022 WC quali. Estonia  v  Belarus Tallinn, Estonia
21:45 (UTC+3) Stadium: A. Le Coq Arena
11 October 2022 WC quali. Estonia  v  Wales Tallinn, Estonia
21:45 (UTC+3) Stadium: A. Le Coq Arena
13 November 2022 WC quali. Belgium  v  Estonia Belgium
21:45 (UTC+3)
16 November 2022 WC quali. Czech Republic  v  Estonia Czech Republic
21:45 (UTC+3)

Youth

No arranged fixtures.

Senior
23 February[1] 2022 EC quali. Slovenia  v  Estonia Tallinn, Estonia
18:00 (UTC+3) Stadium: Sportland Arena

Youth
16 February U19 — 2021 EC quali. Scotland  v  Estonia
19 February U19 — 2021 EC quali. Hungary  v  Estonia
22 February U19 — 2021 EC quali. Estonia  v  Montenegro

Futsal

No arranged fixtures.

Beach

No arranged fixtures.

League system

Men
  • a – team cannot get promoted.
  • – spent 2020 season in a higher division.
  • – spent 2020 season in a lower division.
  • – spent 2020 season in the same division, but in a different group.
  • – spent 2020 season in the same division.
  • – did not compete in the league system in 2020.
  • – finished first in 2020 Meistriliiga.

Meistriliiga

The 2021 season, which is scheduled to begin on the 5th of March and end on the 6th of November, contains only one newcomer: Pärnu Vaprus, who have previously completed five seasons in the division, finished the 2020 Esiliiga season as champions and were therefore promoted, while Tallinna Kalev got relegated after placing tenth in the league.[2]

Relegation play-off:

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(Esiliiga 2nd) (Meistriliiga 9th)

Esiliiga

The 2021 season had three team changes in comparison to the previous year. Pärnu Vaprus got promoted and was therefore replaced by the relegated Tallinna Kalev, who ended their three year run in the top division. The last two teams - Vändra Vaprus and Kohtla-Järve Järve - were relegated to Esiliiga B and their spot was taken by third divisions top teams: Paide Linnameeskond U21 will be debuting in Esiliiga, while Tartu Welco returns after a year in the lower division.[2]

Relegation play-off:

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(Esiliiga B 3rd) (Esiliiga 8th)

Esiliiga B

The 2021 Esiliiga B season contains five teams from the last season and five new teams. Vändra Vaprus and Ida-Virumaa Alliance got both relegated from the higher tier and will therefore return to Esiliiga B after respectively one and two seasons. They replace the promoted Tartu Welco and Paide Linnameeskond U21. Three teams got relegated after the last season: Rakvere Tarvas, Keila and Võru Helios will all play in II liiga after respectively ten, four and two years. They will be replaced by three debutants - Tallinna Legion U21, Tallinn and Harju Laagri.[2]

Relegation play-off:

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(II N/E 2nd) (II S/W 2nd)
Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(II league play-off winner) (Esiliiga B 8th)

II liiga

The 2021 season will have teams from 12 different counties for the first time in the league's history. The season is scheduled to begin on the 27th of March and end on the 24th of October.

Maardu II
Alliance U21
Trans II
Helios / Welco II
Tartu Kalev
Viimsi II
Paide III
Vaprus II
Kuressaare II
Kose
Rummu
Hiiumaa
Locations of the 2021 II liiga teams

Group A (North & East)
In comparison to the previous season, only four teams got promoted or relegated: while Tallinn and Tallinna Legion U21 got promoted to Esiliiga B for the first time, Tartu Tammeka III and Jõgeva Wolves returned to the lower divisions after respectively three and two years in II liiga. These teams are replaced by Võru Helios, Rakvere Tarvas (both relegated from Esiliiga B), 2020 III liiga's champion Tartu Kalev and III liiga South's best team Elva II. In addition Kohtla-Järve Järve II changed its name to Ida-Virumaa Alliance[4]

Group B (South & West)
The II liiga S/W will consist of 14 teams of which eleven remain the same as last season. The only team that got promoted was second-placed Harju Laagri, who will be replaced by another Harju County club Keila. Whereas 2020 season's last and third to last team - Pärnu Poseidon and Põhja-Sakala - got relegated, the 13th placed Kose got readmitted for the second year in a row. The spots that those teams left vacant, were filled by III liiga West's top two. Hiiu County will have a team (Hiiumaa) in the fourth division for the first time since 2013 and Rummu Dünamo returns to the league after spending four years in III liiga.[4]

Champion's match:

Final v

Relegation play-off:

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(III N 2nd) (III E 2nd)
(play-off winner) (II N/E 12th)
Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(III W 2nd) (III S 2nd)
(play-off winner) (II S/W 12th)

III liiga

The fifth division's format remains the same as on previous years: each group's champion gets promoted to II liiga, second-placed clubs enter the promotion play-offs, 10th placed clubs enter the relegation play-offs and the bottom two will be relegated. The season starts on the 11th of April and ends on the 10th of October. For the first time in 15 years, there are no teams from islands.

Aliens
Järve III
Anija
Järva-Jaani
Phoenix
Tarvas II
Aruküla
Keila II
Rummu II
Märjamaa
PÄRNU
Tabasalu II
Harju II
Haapsalu
Raplamaa II
Wolves
TARTU
Warrior
Paide IV
Tulevik III
Saku
TALLINN
Kernu / Zenit
Locations of the 2021 III liiga teams

Group A (North)
2021 III liiga North consists of 12 teams, ten teams from Tallinn and two from Harju County. In comparison to the last season, there are only two changes: the two teams that finished last in 2020 (Tallinna Rumori Calcio and Tallinna Toompea) got relegated and therefore replace by two clubs, who debuted in the Estonian league system in 2020. While Tallinna Pocarr narrowly missed out on promotion in III liiga W, then Tallinna ReUnited became IV liiga's champion after winning every match in the A-tier.[5]

Group B (South)
The South group's line-up changed a lot in comparison to the previous year: in total six new teams joined the league. Three of them – Põhja-Sakala, Tartu Tammeka III and Jõgeva Wolves – got relegated from II liiga after respectively two, three and two seasons. One team (Viljandi Tulevik III) got promoted from IV liiga, one (Paide Linnameeskond IV) changes groups and one (Tartu Team Helm), who reached Rahvaliiga's (people's league) final, debutes in the Estonian league system. These clubs replace Elva II (promoted), Tartu Tammeka IV, Tarvastu & Tõrva ÜM, Tartu Helios II, Tartu TRT77 (all disbanded) and Äksi Wolves (relegated).[5]

Group C (East)

Group D (West)

League champion:

Semifinals Final
      
 
 
 
 
 
 

Relegation play-off:

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(IV B 1st) (III N 10th)
Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(IV B 2nd) (III E 10th)
Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(IV B 3rd) (III W 10th)
Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(IV B 4th) (III S 10th)

Naiste Meistriliiga

Relegation play-off:

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(Esiliiga 2nd) (Meistriliiga 7th)

Naiste Esiliiga

Futsal

On the 11th of December, the FA decided that all indoor football leagues would be suspended due to the spread of COVID-19. The Coolbet Saaliliiga resumed on the 8th of January 2021, while the lower leagues resumed in February.[7]

Coolbet Saaliliiga

The 2020/21 season began on the 30th of October 2020 with eight clubs. Seven teams remained the same as the previous year, the only change coming from Esiliiga's second-placed Rummu Dünamo getting promoted and replacing Sillamäe Alexela, who did not enter the league system. Therefore Npm Sillamäe Silmet, who were last in 2019/20, were readmitted.[8]

Play-off:

Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 

Relegation play-off:

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(Meistriliiga 7th) (Esiliiga 2nd)

Saali Esiliiga

Esiliiga's teamlist remained almost the same as the previous year: the only changes being that Rummu Dünamo got promoted to Coolbet Saaliliiga and II liiga's top two Aruküla Radius and Rõuge Saunamaa got promoted to the league. Due to Sillamäe disbanding, Narva Ganza were readmitted to the second division. There were also a few name changes: Kadrina, Aruküla Unibox and Sillamäe Alexela II are now known as Kadrina Vitamin Well, Aruküla Radius and Sillamäe Kalev.[8]

Relegation play-off:

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(Esiliiga 7th) (II liiga 2nd)

Saali Teine liiga

The 2020/21 season's indoor football lowest league consisted of five clubs. Originally Narva Ganza, who was placed last in Esiliiga, was relegated into Teine liiga, but due to Sillamäe Dina not competing in the league system, they were readmitted to the second tier. Four of the five clubs remain the same, the only newcomer being Wolves III.[8]

Notable transfers

Inside Meistriliiga

Listed are only players, who have played at least one game for the Estonian national team.

1 Zakaria Beglarishvili has represented Georgia.

Outside Meistriliiga

Listed are all Estonian players, who have joined a foreign team.

Foreign players

Listed are all foreign players that have joined or left Meistriliiga.

Retired players

Listed are all players, whose last club was a foreign team or a club that plays in Meistriliiga.

Managerial changes

Listed are all managers, who started coaching the national teams or in the top three divisions (Meistriliiga, Esiliiga, Esiliiga B).

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming manager Date of appointment
Estonia Karel VoolaidEnd of contract31 December 2020 Thomas Häberli5 January 2021[50]
Viljandi Tulevik Sander PostResigned6 December 2020[51] Jaanus Reitel6 December 2020
Nõmme Kalju Marko KristalResigned7 December 2020[12] Sergei Frantsev7 December 2020
Tallinna Kalev U21 Daniel MeijelSacked15 December 2020[52] Ats Purje15 December 2020
Narva Trans Oleg KurotškinEnd of contract6 December 2020[53] Igor Pyvin3 January 2021
Nõmme Kalju U21 Tarmo NeemeloMutual consent18 January 2021[54] Marko Kristal18 January 2021
Tartu Welco Janar SagimResigned22 January 2021[55] Meelis Eelmäe25 January 2021
Estonia U21 Igor PrinsEnd of contract31 December 2020 Roman Kozhukhovskyi5 February 2021[56]

See also
  • 2020 Meistriliiga
  • 2020-21 Estonian Cup
  • List of Estonian football transfers winter 2020-21

References
  1. "Eesti-Sloveenia EM valikmängu teisipäeval ei toimu". EJL (in Estonian). 25 October 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  2. "EJL kinnitas tippliigade koosseisud, Esiliiga B-s hakkab mängima Ida-Virumaa Alliance". Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  3. "Eesti 2021. a jalgpalli meistrivõistluste Premium ja Esiliigade juhend" (PDF). jalgpall.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. "Teises liigas saab tänavu näha 12 maakonna esindajaid" (in Estonian). Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  5. "Madalamates liigades on tänavu arvukalt uusi võistkondi" (in Estonian). Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  6. "Eesti 2021. a naiste meistrivõistluste juhend" (PDF). jalgpall.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  7. "Saalijalgpall läheb (sunnitud) pausile". Soccernet.ee. 11 December 2020.
  8. "Kinnitati saalijalgpalli meistrivõistluste koosseisud". Soccernet.ee. 30 September 2020.
  9. "Eesti 2020/21. a saalijalgpalli meistrivõistluste juhend" (PDF). jalgpall.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  10. Lepik, Ivar (20 November 2020). "Pomm! Zakaria Beglarišvili liitub FCI Levadiaga". Soccernet.ee.
  11. Remmelkoor, Kristjan (3 December 2020). "Taijo Teniste liitus Tammekaga". Soccernet.ee.
  12. Remmelkoor, Kristjan (7 December 2020). "Frantsev naaseb Kalju peatreeneri kohale". Soccernet.ee.
  13. Remmelkoor, Kristjan (11 January 2021). "Kaldma ja Tuhkanen lahkusid Kuressaarest". Soccernet.ee.
  14. Kallas, Martti (3 January 2021). "Hindrek Ojamaa liitus Paidega". Soccernet.ee.
  15. Voolaid, Rasmus (4 January 2021). "Tagasi tippjalgpalli! Aksalu liitus Paide Linnameeskonnaga". Soccernet.ee.
  16. Kallas, Martti (6 January 2021). "Vaprus hankis Kalevist kogenud mängumehe". Soccernet.ee.
  17. Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (7 January 2021). "Ametlik: Henrik Ojamaa naaseb Eestisse ja liitub Floraga". Soccernet.ee.
  18. Voolaid, Rasmus (13 January 2021). "Belovi telefon on testimissoovidest punane. Dõmoviga kaup koos, Appiah vaatluse all". Soccernet.ee.
  19. Remmelkoor, Kristjan (19 January 2021). "Kruglov liitus Maardu Linnameeskonnaga". Soccernet.ee.
  20. Järvela, Ott (20 January 2021). "FC Flora tugevnes jälle – edurivisse palgati Sergei Zenjov!". Soccernet.ee.
  21. Ilves, Kris (25 November 2020). "Viljandist tagasi Tallinna kolinud Marin otsib uut väljakutset: vaatan, kas saan sammu edasi teha". Soccernet.ee.
  22. Ilves, Kris (1 February 2021). "Eesti koondise ääreründaja liitus Nõmme Kaljuga". Soccernet.ee.
  23. Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (18 December 2020). "Florast lahkuv Liivak jäi tuleviku osas salapäraseks: kas välismaale või Eestisse? Kui pole üks, siis on teine". Soccernet.ee.
  24. Ilves, Kris (1 February 2021). "Frank Liivak sõlmis Levadiaga kaheaastase lepingu". Soccernet.ee.
  25. Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (2 February 2021). "Kaljuga ametlikult käed löönud Lepmets: mängijana pole mul jalgpallis veel kõik öeldud". Soccernet.ee.
  26. Remmelkoor, Kristjan (3 February 2021). "Ametlik: Hannes Anierist sai Levadia 11. talvine täiendus". Soccernet.ee.
  27. Kase, Otto (4 February 2021). "Levadia täienes veelgi: Antonoviga sõlmiti kaheaastane leping". Soccernet.ee.
  28. Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (17 January 2021). "Esimene välisleping käes: Kreida siirdub nimekasse Rootsi klubisse". Soccernet.ee.
  29. Lepik, Ivar (3 December 2020). "Koppel Tenistest: mingitel hetkedel saad aru, miks ta on olnud aastaid välismaal ja A-koondises". Soccernet.ee.
  30. Lepik, Ivar (4 December 2020). "Gurrutxaga lahkub Paide ridadest". Soccernet.ee.
  31. Lepik, Ivar (30 December 2020). "Levadia jättis hüvasti veel kahe leegionäriga". Soccernet.ee.
  32. Järvela, Ott (4 January 2020). "Trans otsib ründajat ja keskkaitsjat. Ofosu Appiah ei jätka, küsimärk Matrossovi kohal". Soccernet.ee.
  33. Remmelkoor, Kristjan (8 January 2021). "Levadiaga liitus Serbia vasakkaitsja". Soccernet.ee.
  34. Remmelkoor, Kristjan (11 January 2021). "Kaljust lahkunud Lobai liitus Ainsalu koduklubiga". Soccernet.ee.
  35. Ilves, Kris (12 January 2021). "Ametlik: Gruusia keskkaitsja liitus Levadiaga". Soccernet.ee.
  36. Voolaid, Rasmus (12 January 2021). "Paide sõlmis laenul olnud kaitsjaga pika lepingu". Soccernet.ee.
  37. Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (13 January 2021). "Käed löödud: Paide kaitseliini tugitala kolis Tšehhi kõrgliigasse". Soccernet.ee.
  38. "Sadio Tounkara "Keşlə"də!". keshlafc.az (in Azerbaijani). Keşla FK. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  39. Remmelkoor, Kristjan (26 January 2021). "Levadiaga sõlmis lepingu Vaštšukile tuttav Ukraina keskkaitsja". Soccernet.ee.
  40. Kase, Otto (26 January 2021). "Mullu Levadias pallinud ründeäss siirdus Saudi Araabiasse". Soccernet.ee.
  41. Ilves, Kris (27 January 2021). "Levadia sõlmis pikakasvulise Serbia keskkaitsjaga kolmeaastase lepingu". Soccernet.ee.
  42. Remmelkoor, Kristjan (28 January 2021). "Austraalia ründaja sõlmis Levadiaga oma esimese profilepingu". Soccernet.ee.
  43. Ilves, Kris (29 January 2021). "Levadiaga liitus endine Manchester City ründav poolkaitsja". Soccernet.ee.
  44. Voolaid, Rasmus (1 February 2021). "Austrias asjaks ei läinud, Gando siirdus hoopis Küprose kõrgliigasse". Soccernet.ee.
  45. Voolaid, Rasmus (2 February 2021). "Legion sai põneva leedulase allkirja kätte, järgmisena on oodata selgust Puri ja Šapovalovi osas". Soccernet.ee.
  46. Kallas, Martti (2 February 2021). "Levadia sõlmis Põhja-Makedoonia ründajaga aastase töölepingu". Soccernet.ee.
  47. Remmelkoor, Kristjan (5 December 2020). "Enar Jääger lõpetab karjääri". Soccernet.ee.
  48. Lepik, Ivar (11 December 2020). "Lõpusirgel Valmas: tegelikult oleks võinud selle välismaa lepingu vastu võtta". Soccernet.ee.
  49. Järvela, Ott (4 January 2021). "Vaprusest lahkujaid pole, treeningutega liitub PJK keskkaitsja". Soccernet.ee.
  50. "Eesti koondise uus peatreener on Thomas Häberli". Soccernet.ee. 5 January 2021.
  51. Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (13 November 2020). "Viljandi Tulevik leidis Sander Posti asemele uue peatreeneri, kel kogemust nii Hollandist, Soomest kui ka Aafrikast". Soccernet.ee.
  52. Ilves, Kris (15 December 2020). "Soomest naasnud Ats Purje ühendab Tallinna Kalevis mängimise ja treeneritöö". Soccernet.ee.
  53. Kallas, Martti (3 January 2021). "Trans sai uue peatreeneri". Soccernet.ee.
  54. Järvela, Ott (18 January 2021). "Kalju loobus staarpoolkaitsja isa teenetest ja määras Kristali duubli peatreeneriks". Soccernet.ee.
  55. Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (22 January 2021). "Ametist taandunud Welco juhendaja Sagim: võtan poliitilise vastutuse liiga mittevõitmise eest". Soccernet.ee.
  56. "Kaheaastase lepingu sõlminud Kožuhhovski asub juhendama Eesti U21 koondist". Soccernet.ee. 5 February 2021.
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