2021 Esiliiga

The 2021 Esiliiga was the 31st season of the Esiliiga, the second-highest Estonian league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. The season began on 4 March 2021 and concluded on 21 November 2021. Defending champions Maardu Linnameeskond won their second Esiliiga title.

Esiliiga
Season2021
ChampionsMaardu Linnameeskond
(2nd title)
PromotedTallinna Kalev
RelegatedMaardu Linnameeskond
Tammeka U21
Welco
Matches played147
Goals scored584 (3.97 per match)
Top goalscorerRobi Saarma (28 goals)
Biggest home winMaardu Linnameeskond 7–0 Welco
(18 September 2021)
Biggest away winTammeka U21 0–8 Nõmme United
(12 September 2021)
Highest scoringPaide Linnameeskond U21 6–5 Nõmme United
(20 November 2021)
← 2020
2022 →

Teams

Stadiums and locations
Locations of the 2021 Esiliiga teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Elva Elva Elva linnastaadion 600[1]
FCI Levadia U21 Tallinn Maarjamäe Stadium 30[2]
Flora U21 Lilleküla training ground 200[3]
Maardu Linnameeskond Maardu Maardu linnastaadion 500[4]
Nõmme United Tallinn Männiku Stadium 50[5]
Paide Linnameeskond U21 Paide Paide linnastaadion 268[6]
Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi Pärnu Pärnu Rannastaadion 1,501[7]
Tallinna Kalev Tallinn Kalev Keskstaadion 11,500[8]
Tammeka U21 Tartu Sepa Football Centre Stadium 508[9]
Welco Tartu Annelinna Stadium 1,500[10]

Personnel and kits
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Elva Estonia Veiko Haan Estonia Markus Lokk Nike Sportland
FCI Levadia U21 Estonia Robert Sadovski Estonia Andrei Grigorjev Adidas Viimsi Keevitus
Flora U21 Estonia Ats Sillaste Estonia Igor Ustritski Nike Tele2[11]
Maardu Linnameeskond Lithuania Algimantas Briaunys Estonia Ilja Zelentsov Adidas
Nõmme United Estonia Martin Klasen Estonia Sander Alex Liit Uhlsport Apollo
Paide Linnameeskond U21 Estonia Erki Kesküla Estonia Mattias Sapp Nike Verston
Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi Estonia Igor Prins Estonia Veiko Vespere Hummel Savi
Tallinna Kalev Estonia Aivar Anniste
Estonia Daniel Meijel		 Estonia Kaspar Laur Macron Coolbet
Tammeka U21 Estonia Marti Pähn Estonia Dominic Laaneots Nike Metec
Welco Estonia Meelis Eelmäe Estonia Mikk Valtna Adidas Holm Bank

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Tallinna Kalev Latvia Dmitrijs Kalašņikovs End of caretaker spell 30 November 2020[12] Pre-season Estonia Aivar Anniste
Estonia Daniel Meijel		 1 March 2021[13]
Welco Estonia Janar Sagim Resigned 22 January 2021[14] Estonia Meelis Eelmäe 25 January 2021[15]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Maardu Linnameeskond (C) 30 23 4 3 99 30 +69 73
2 Tallinna Kalev 30 21 8 1 78 32 +46 71 Promotion to Meistriliiga[lower-alpha 1]
3 Paide Linnameeskond U21 30 17 3 10 85 56 +29 54
4 Nõmme United 30 12 5 13 79 67 +12 41
5 Flora U21 27 11 6 10 38 47 −9 39
6 Elva 27 9 2 16 42 54 −12 29
7 FCI Levadia U21 30 10 5 15 52 77 −25 35
8 Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi 30 8 5 17 38 61 −23 29 Qualification for relegation play-offs[lower-alpha 1]
9 Tammeka U21 (R) 30 6 7 17 43 82 −39 25 Relegation to Esiliiga B
10 Welco (R) 30 5 5 20 30 78 −48 20
Source: Soccerway (in English), Esiliiga (in Estonian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Less matches awarded against; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Matches won; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Away goals scored; 9) Fair-play points; 10) Draw
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Despite winning the league, Maardu Linnameeskond declined promotion to Meistriliiga and applied to join II liiga for the following season. Tallinna Kalev was promoted instead and Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi was able to maintain its spot in Esiliiga despite losing the relegation play-offs.[16]

Relegation play-offs
Alliance4–1Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi
  • Yuri 25', 66'
  • Mitsuk 45+1'
  • Orlov 76'
 Report Simanis 38'
Kohtla-Järve artificial turf, Kohtla-Järve
Attendance: 88
Referee: Dmitri Kirilov
Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi0–0Alliance
Report
Pärnu Rehepapi artificial turf, Pärnu
Attendance: 50
Referee: Marko Liiva

Alliance won 4–1 on aggregate.

Results

Season statistics

Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals[17]
1Estonia Robi SaarmaNõmme United28
2Estonia Ats PurjeTallinna Kalev24
3Estonia Vitali GussevMaardu Linnameeskond21
4Estonia Vadim AksjonovMaardu Linnameeskond16
Estonia Kristofer PihtPaide Linnameeskond U21
6Estonia Roman SobtšenkoMaardu Linnameeskond15
7Estonia Ilja ZelentsovMaardu Linnameeskond13
8Estonia Lars-Indrek AigroNõmme United12
Estonia Silard SimanisPärnu Jalgpalliklubi
10Estonia Andreas KiivitFlora U2111
Estonia Ramol SillamaaTallinna Kalev

Awards

Monthly awards
Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month
ManagerClub PlayerClub
May[18] Lithuania Algimantas BriaunysMaardu Linnameeskond Estonia Ats PurjeTallinna Kalev
June/July[19] Estonia Aivar Anniste
Estonia Daniel Meijel		Tallinna Kalev Estonia Kaspar Laur
September[20] Estonia Martin KlasenNõmme United Estonia Robi SaarmaNõmme United
October[21] Lithuania Algimantas BriaunysMaardu Linnameeskond Estonia Lars-Indrek Aigro

Esiliiga Player of the Year

Ats Purje was named Esiliiga Player of the Year.[22]

See also

References
  1. "Elva linnastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  2. "Maarjamäe jalgpallikeskus" (in Estonian). Eesti spordiregister.
  3. "Lilleküla harjutusväljak I" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  4. "Maardu Linna staadion" (in Estonian). Eesti spordiregister.
  5. "Männiku Jalgpallikeskuse jalgpalliväljakud" (in Estonian). Eesti spordiregister.
  6. "Paide linna staadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
  7. "Pärnu Rannastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  8. "Kalevi Keskstaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  9. "Tartu Sepa jalgpallikeskuse kunstmuruväljak" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  10. "Tartu Annelinna kunstmurustaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  11. "Flora sai koondisega sama sponsori" (in Estonian). soccernet.ee. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  12. "Kindel: Kalevi ja Kalašnikovsi teed läksid lahku" (in Estonian). soccernet.ee. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  13. "Tallinna Kalevit juhendab uuel hooajal tuttav treeneriduo" (in Estonian). soccernet.ee. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  14. "Ametist taandunud Welco juhendaja Sagim: võtan poliitilise vastutuse liiga mittevõitmise eest" (in Estonian). soccernet.ee. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  15. "Santose looja asub juhendama Welco esindusmeeskonda" (in Estonian). soccernet.ee. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  16. "Maardu Linnameeskond loobus tippliigades mängimisest" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  17. "Mängude ajalugu" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  18. "Esiliiga kuu parimateks valiti Purje ja Briaunys" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  19. "Esiliiga kuu parimad tulevad Tallinna Kalevist" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  20. "Esiliiga kuu parimad on Saarma ja Klasen" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  21. "Esiliiga kuu parimad on Briaunys ja Aigro" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  22. "Esiliiga parimaks mängijaks valiti Ats Purje" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
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