Viljandi JK Tulevik

Founded in 1912 as Sports Association Tulevik (Future), in part, by Heinrich Aviksoo, they began playing football in 1913 on a field by Lake Viljandi, where Viljandi linnastaadion was built in 1928. Interrupted by World War I and the Estonian War of Independence, Tulevik didn't resume playing football until 1927. In 1937, they won the Central division of the regional B klass. Following the Soviet occupation of Estonia in 1940, Tulevik was disbanded.[2]

In 1977, Viljandi Linnameeskond was formed. The team was promoted to the Soviet Estonian Championship in 1981 and spent the next decade within the top two tiers of Estonian football.[2]

In 1992, after Estonia had regained its independence, Viljandi Linnameeskond was first renamed JK Viljandi, and then JK Tulevik, and became a founding member of the Meistriliiga. After two seasons, the club was relegated to the Esiliiga. In 1997, Tulevik became a part of the Flora system and returned to the Meistriliiga, while Sergei Ratnikov was appointed as manager. In June 1998, Ratnikov was replaced by Tarmo Rüütli.

The club made their European debut in the 1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup, losing to St. Gallen 3–9 on aggregate in the first round. Under Rüütli, Tulevik reached the 1998–99 Estonian Cup final, losing to Levadia 2–3, and finished the 1999 Meistriliiga season as runners-up. Tulevik faced Club Brugge in the 1999/00 UEFA qualifying rounds, but lost 0–5 on aggregate. In November 1999, Rüütli left the club to manage Flora and the Estonia national team, and was replaced by his assistant Aivar Lillevere. Tulevik reached the Estonian Cup final again in the following season, but were defeated by Levadia again 0–2.[2]

Ex-Liverpool F.C. defender Ragnar Klavan and Estonian centre-back pairing Karol Mets & Joonas Tamm all started their careers at Viljandi Tulevik

In 2011, Tulevik ended their affiliation with Flora. As a result, the newly formed FC Viljandi took their place in the Meistriliiga and Tulevik were relegated to the II liiga. In January 2013, Aivar Lillevere returned to the club as manager. Tulevik finished the 2014 Esiliiga in fifth place and defeated Lokomotiv 1–1 on aggregate on away goal in the promotion play-offs, thus earning promotion to the Meistriliiga.[2] The team's stay in the top division proved short-lived as the club finished the 2015 season in last place and were relegated. Tulevik won the 2016 Esiliiga and were once again promoted to the Meistriliiga. Lillevere resigned in November 2017 and was replaced by Marko Kristal in the following month. In April 2018, Kristal's contract was terminated after disappointing results in the league, with Sander Post taking over as manager.[3]

Under Sander Post, Tulevik established themselves in the Meistriliiga, finishing the 2018 season and 2019 season in 7th place and 2020 season in 6th place. In November 2020, Sander Post announced that he would be stepping down as manager and continue as the sporting director of Tulevik. Jaanus Reitel was announced as his replacement as manager.[4] Viljandi Tulevik finished the 2021 season in 8th place. On 8 December 2021, Tulevik announced they will leave top-flight football due to financial reasons, with club president Raiko Mutle saying the Covid pandemic had made the club's economic situation extraordinarily difficult and Tulevik would now take the time to focus on improving their sustainability and youth system.[5]

In the following 2022 season, Viljandi Tulevik entered Esiliiga, the second of tier of Estonian football. With the team consisting mostly of club's youth players, Tulevik finished the season in 9th place.

As of 11 January 2023.[8][9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  EST Marten Ritson 2 DF  EST Rome Veske 3 DF  EST Karl Kurvits 4 DF  EST Marius Vister 6 FW  ALG Houd Boukhelkha 10 MF  EST Edvin Tapfer 11 MF  EST Riho Domberg 12 GK  EST Kaupo Kruusmäe 13 MF  EST Sander Liir 16 MF  EST Lauri Elur 16 DF  EST Gustav-Hendrik Seeder 17 FW  EST Rainer Peips

No. Pos. Nation Player 18 DF  EST Raimond Mets 19 DF  EST Karl Kask 21 DF  EST Kristen Kähr 22 MF  EST Arlet Hunt 23 MF  EST Roven Pilv 24 MF  EST Johannes Metsmaa 28 DF  EST Kevin Soitu 30 MF  EST Cevin Suurhallik 72 GK  EST Karl-Eerik Jürisson 77 MF  EST Andre Varusk 90 MF  EST Ingo Ott

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 27 FW  NED Carson Buschman-Dormond (at Zürich until 30 June 2023)

• Meistriliiga
  • Runners-up (1): 1999
• Esiliiga
  • Winners (1): 2016
• B klass (Central Division)
  • Winners (1): 1937

• Estonian Cup
  • Runners-up (2): 1998–99, 1999–2000
• Estonian Supercup
  • Runners-up (1): 2000