Meistriliiga

Meistriliiga (pronounced [ˈmeistriliːɡ̊ɑː], known as the A. Le Coq Premium Liiga for sponsorship reasons) is the highest division of the Estonian Football Association annual football championship. The league was founded in 1992, and was initially semi-professional with amateur clubs allowed to compete. With the help of solidarity mechanisms, the league is fully professional since the 2020 season.[1]

Meistriliiga
Founded1992 (1992)
CountryEstonia
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toEsiliiga
Domestic cup(s)Estonian Cup
Estonian Supercup
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa Conference League
Current championsLevadia (10th title)
(2021)
Most championshipsFlora
(13 titles)
Most appearancesAndrei Kalimullin (517)
Top goalscorerMaksim Gruznov (304 goals)
TV partnersETV2, ETV+, soccernet.ee
WebsiteOfficial website
Current: 2022 season

As in most countries with low temperatures in winter time, the season starts in March and ends in November. Meistriliiga consists of ten clubs, all teams play each other four times. After each season the bottom team is relegated and the second last team plays a two-legged play-off for a place in the Meistriliiga.

In February 2013, A. Le Coq, an Estonian brewery company, signed a five-year cooperation agreement with the Estonian Football Association, which included Meistriliiga naming rights.[2]

Meistriliiga plans to start using video assistant referee (VAR) from 2023.[3]

2022 season

The following 10 clubs will compete in the Meistriliiga during the 2022 season.

Club Position
in 2021
First season
in Meistriliiga
Seasons in
Meistriliiga
Current
spell since
Titles Last title/
Best finish
FCI Levadiac1st1999241999102021
Floraa, b, c2nd1992321992132020
Kuressaare7th200014201807th
Narva Transa, b, c6th199232199202nd
Nõmme Kaljuc4th200815200822018
Paide Linnameeskondc3rd200914200902nd
Legion5th20202202005th
Tallinna KalevEsiliiga, 2nd20079202206th
Tammekac9th200518200505th
Vaprus10th20066202107th

a = Founding member of the Meistriliiga
b = Played in every Meistriliiga season
c = Never been relegated from the Meistriliiga

Kuressaare
Narva Trans
Paide Linnameeskond
Tammeka
Vaprus
Location of clubs in Estonia for the 2021–22 Meistriliiga season
Levadia/Flora
Legion
Tallinna Kalev
Nõmme Kalju
Location of clubs in Tallinn for the 2021–22 Meistriliiga season

Champions

Season Champions Runners-up Third place Top goalscorer Goals
1992 Norma Eesti Põlevkivi TVMV Sergei Bragin (Norma)18
1992–93 Norma (2) Flora Nikol Sergei Bragin (Norma)27
1993–94 Flora Norma Nikol Maksim Gruznov (Narva Trans/Tevalte)21
1994–95 Flora (2) Lantana-Marlekor Narva Trans Serhiy Morozov (Lantana-Marlekor)25
1995–96 Lantana Flora Tevalte-Marlekor Lembit Rajala (Flora)16
1996–97 Lantana (2) Flora Tallinna Sadam Sergei Bragin (Lantana)18
1997–98 Flora (3) Tallinna Sadam Lantana Konstantin Kolbassenko (Tallinna Sadam)18
1998 Flora (4) Tallinna Sadam Lantana Konstantin Kolbassenko (Tallinna Sadam)13
1999 Levadia Tulevik Flora Toomas Krõm (Levadia)19
2000 Levadia (2) Flora TVMK Egidijus Juška (TVMK)
Toomas Krõm (Levadia)
24
2001 Flora (5) TVMK Levadia Maksim Gruznov (Narva Trans)37
2002 Flora (6) Levadia TVMK Andrei Krõlov (TVMK)37
2003 Flora (7) TVMK Levadia Tor Henning Hamre (Flora)39
2004 Levadia (3) TVMK Flora Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko (Flora)28
2005 TVMK Levadia Narva Trans Tarmo Neemelo (TVMK)41
2006 Levadia (4) Narva Trans Flora Maksim Gruznov (Narva Trans)31
2007 Levadia (5) Flora TVMK Dmitri Lipartov (Narva Trans)30
2008 Levadia (6) Flora Narva Trans Ingemar Teever (Nõmme Kalju)23
2009 Levadia (7) Sillamäe Kalev Narva Trans Vitali Gussev (Levadia)26
2010 Flora (8) Levadia Narva Trans Sander Post (Flora)24
2011 Flora (9) Nõmme Kalju Narva Trans Aleksandrs Čekulajevs (Narva Trans)46
2012 Nõmme Kalju Levadia Flora Vladislav Ivanov (Sillamäe Kalev/Narva Trans)23
2013 Levadia (8) Nõmme Kalju Sillamäe Kalev Vladimir Voskoboinikov (Nõmme Kalju)23
2014 Levadia (9) Sillamäe Kalev Flora Yevgeni Kabaev (Sillamäe Kalev)36
2015 Flora (10) Levadia Nõmme Kalju Ingemar Teever (Levadia)24
2016 Infonet Levadia Nõmme Kalju Yevgeni Kabaev (Sillamäe Kalev)25
2017 Flora (11) Levadia Nõmme Kalju Albert Prosa (FCI Tallinn)
Rauno Sappinen (Flora)
27
2018 Nõmme Kalju (2) FCI Levadia Flora Liliu (Nõmme Kalju) 31
2019 Flora (12) FCI Levadia Nõmme Kalju Erik Sorga (Flora) 31
2020 Flora (13) Paide Linnameeskond FCI Levadia Rauno Sappinen (Flora) 26
2021 FCI Levadia (10) Flora Paide Linnameeskond Henri Anier (Paide Linnameeskond) 26

Total titles won

Club Winning seasons
Flora 13 7 6 1993–94, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020
Levadia 10 9 3 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2021
Nõmme Kalju 2 2 4 2012, 2018
Lantana 2 1 2 1995–96, 1996–97
Norma 2 1 0 1992, 1992–93
TVMK 1 3 5 2005
FCI Tallinn 1 0 0 2016
Tallinna Sadam 0 2 1
Sillamäe Kalev 0 2 1
Narva Trans 0 1 6
Paide Linnameeskond 0 1 1
Eesti Põlevkivi 0 1 0
Tulevik 0 1 0
Nikol 0 0 2

All-time Meistriliiga table

The table is a cumulative record of all match results, points and goals of every team that has played in the Meistriliiga since its inception in 1992. The table that follows is accurate as of the end of the 2021 season. Teams in bold play in the Meistriliiga 2022 season. Numbers in bold are the record (highest) numbers in each column.

In this ranking 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 for a draw, and 0 for a loss, although Meistriliiga awarded 2 points for a win until the 1994–95 season. Championship matches, relegation matches and relegation tournament matches involving clubs of lower leagues are not counted. In 1992 Preliminary Round matches were played in two groups. The results of the matches played between teams in same group were taken to second round, thus counted twice, in this table these results are counted once.

The table is sorted by all-time points.

Pos.
Club
Seasons
Titles
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
PPG
1Flora31139336511611212483747173621142.26
2Levadia12310769554136792066566150017982.33
3Narva Trans3109344241823281699128341614541.55
4Nõmme Kalju1424942941039710824726109851.99
5TVMK2151408225761079664804867511.84
6Tulevik32206551871123567921283-4916731.02
7Sillamäe Kalev13041318365165741681606141.49
8Tammeka1605981661083247291178-4496061.01
9Paide Linnameeskond13045816979210650808-1585861.27
10FCI Tallinn9511809041493432121313111.73
11Kuressaare14046875643293781232-8542890.61
12Lantana621387334312711441272531.83
13Tallinna Kalev903185850210299768-4692240.70
14Tallinna Sadam601326719462711681032201.67
15Eesti Põlevkivi90162504072224276-521901.17
16Norma4278497222231111121541.97
17Merkuur460153412884204404-2001510.99
18Vigri5305431111215164871041.93
19Vaprus602103219159203664-4611150.54
20Nikol204430681073671962.18
21Järve6501482219107104394-290850.57
22Warrior501562118117120425-305810.52
23Levadia II13084201450106211-105740.88
24Lelle408016194572155-83670.84
25Dünamo408916116292277-185590.66
26DAG740681694385199-114570.84
27Viljandi207214144470157-87560.78
28Pärnu Linnameeskond207211105162185-123430.60
29Tervis Pärnu2046115303892-54380.83
30Keemik2031106154172-31361.16
31Ajax301087138860449-389340.31
32Legion20621914297592-17711.14
33Pärnu83038552836120-84200.53
34Lokomotiv1036462635115-80180.50
35Maardu Linnameeskond1036452730118-88170.47
36Pärnu Levadia102815221996-7780.29
37Tarvas1036033315113-9830.09
38Vall10140113944-3510.07
39Maardu109009659-5300
Notes
  • Note 1: 1999–2003 FC Levadia Maardu, 2004– FC Levadia. Not to be confused with FC Levadia Tallinn 2001-2003 a separate team owned by the steel company Levadia. In 2004 the clubs were merged FC Levadia Maardu were moved to Tallinn and became FC Levadia, former FC Levadia Tallinn become their reserves as FC Levadia II.
  • Note 2: 1992 TVMV, 1995–1996 Tevalte-Marlekor, 1996–1997 Marlekor, 1997–2008 TVMK
  • Note 3: 1992 Viljandi JK, 1993– Viljandi Tulevik
  • Note 4: 1992–2005 Merkuur, 2006 Maag
  • Note 5: 1992–1993 Vigri, 1993–1995 Tevalte, 1996–1999 Vigri
  • Note 6: 2000–2003 Kohtla-Järve Lootus, 2004 Alutaguse Lootus, 2005–2012 Kohtla-Järve Lootus, 2013– Kohtla-Järve Järve
  • Note 7: 1992 Tartu Kalev, 1992–1994 EsDAG, 1994– DAG
  • Note 8: 1992 Pärnu JK, 1994–1996 PJK Kalev
  • Note 8: 2011–2016 Infonet, 2017 FCI Tallinn

Records

All as of end of 2022 season if not stated otherwise.

Club records

  • Most seasons in the Meistriliiga: 32 – Flora and Narva Trans (all seasons, 1992–present)
  • Most consecutive seasons in the Meistriliiga: 32 – Flora and Narva Trans (all seasons, 1992–present)
  • Most titles: 13 – Flora
  • Most consecutive titles: 4 – Levadia (2006–2009)
  • Biggest title-winning margin: 21 points – 2009; Levadia (97 points) over Sillamäe Kalev (76 points)[4]
  • Smallest title-winning margin: 0 points – 1993–94; Flora and Norma both finished on 36 points, Flora won the title in a championship play-off match 5–2.
  • Most points in a season: 97 – Levadia (2009)[4]
  • Fewest points in a season: 0 – Maardu (1992)
  • Most wins in a season: 31 – Levadia (2009, 36 games)
  • Fewest wins in a season: 0 – PJK/Kalev (1995–96, 14 games), Vall (1996–97, 14 games), Lelle (1998, 14 games), Ajax (2011, 36 games), Tarvas (2016, 36 games)
  • Most consecutive wins: 17 – Norma (15 May 1992 – 2 October 1993)
  • Most defeats in a season: 33 – Tarvas (2016, 36 games)
  • Most consecutive matches undefeated: 61 – Levadia (10 May 2008 – 7 November 2009)[5]
  • Most goals scored in a season: 138 – TVMK (2005)[4]
  • Most goals per game in a season: 4.636 – Norma (1992–93, 102 goals in 22 games)[4]
  • Fewest goals scored in a season: 11 – Sillamäe Kalev (1993–94, 22 games), Valga (2000, 28 games), Kuressaare (2003, 28 games), Lootus (2004, 28 games), Ajax (2011, 36 games)
  • Fewest goals per game in a season: 0.306 – Ajax (2011, 11 goals in 36 games)
  • Most goals conceded in a season: 192 – Ajax (2011, 36 games)[4]
  • Fewest goals conceded in a season: 16 – Levadia (2010, 36 games)[4]
  • Most clean sheets in one season: 24 – Levadia (2014)[4]
  • Most consecutive clean sheets: 13 – Levadia (2014)[4]
  • Biggest win: Tevalte 24–0 Sillamäe Kalev (27 May 1994)[4]
  • Most hat-tricks in a season: 9 – Norma (1992–93)[4]

Player records

  • Oldest player: Boriss Dugan – 51 years and 153 days (for Ajax v. Tammeka, 5 November 2011)[4]
  • Youngest player: Patrik Kristal – 14 years and 245 days (for FCI Levadia v. Tammeka, 15 July 2022)[8]
  • Oldest goalscorer: Sergei Zamogilnõi – 43 years and 16 days (for Eesti Põlevkivi v. Vall, 15 September 1996)[4]
  • Youngest goalscorer: Martin Vetkal – 15 years and 261 days (for Tallinna Kalev v. Tulevik, 9 November 2019)[9]
  • Most goals in a season: 46 – Aleksandrs Čekulajevs (for Narva Trans, 2011)[4]
  • Most goals in a match: 10 – Anatoli Novožilov (for Tevalte v. Sillamäe Kalev, 27 May 1994)[4]
  • Most consecutive matches scored in: 15 – Tor Henning Hamre (for Flora, 2003)[4]
  • Most hat-tricks: 22 – Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko[4]
  • Most goals from the penalty spot: 55 – Konstantin Nahk[4]
  • Fastest goal: 12 seconds – Aleksander Saharov (for Flora v. Lootus, 29 August 2004)[10][11][12]
  • Fastest own goal: 5 seconds – Jaanis Kriska (for Levadia v. Kuressaare, 12 September 2009)[4]
  • Fastest hat-trick: 5 minutes – Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko (for Flora v. Lootus, 18 October 2004)[13][14]
  • Most clean sheets in one season: 24 – Roman Smishko (for Levadia, 2014)[4]
  • Longest consecutive run without conceding a goal: 13 games (1,281 minutes) – Roman Smishko (for Levadia, 5 April 2014 – 25 July 2014)[15]

Estonian champions

  • 1921 · Sport Tallinn
  • 1922 · Sport Tallinn
  • 1923 · Kalev Tallinn
  • 1924 · Sport Tallinn
  • 1925 · Sport Tallinn
  • 1926 · Jalgpalliklubi Tallinn
  • 1927 · Sport Tallinn
  • 1928 · Jalgpalliklubi Tallinn
  • 1929 · Sport Tallinn
  • 1930 · Kalev Tallinn
  • 1931 · Sport Tallinn
  • 1932 · Sport Tallinn
  • 1933 · Sport Tallinn
  • 1934 · Estonia Tallinn
  • 1935 · Estonia Tallinn
  • 1936 · Estonia Tallinn
  • 1937–38 · Estonia Tallinn
  • 1938–39 · Estonia Tallinn
  • 1939–40 · Olümpia Tartu
  • 1941 · Not finished
  • 1942 · PSR Tartu (unofficial)
  • 1943 · Estonia Tallinn (unofficial)
  • 1944 · Not finished

Bold indicates club's first championship victory.

Estonian SSR champions

  • 1945 · Dünamo Tallinn
  • 1946 · Balti Laevastik Tallinn
  • 1947 · Dünamo Tallinn
  • 1948 · Balti Laevastik Tallinn
  • 1949 · Dünamo Tallinn
  • 1950 · Dünamo Tallinn
  • 1951 · Balti Laevastik Tallinn
  • 1952 · Balti Laevastik Tallinn
  • 1953 · Dünamo Tallinn
  • 1954 · Dünamo Tallinn
  • 1955 · Kalev Tallinn
  • 1956 · Balti Laevastik Tallinn
  • 1957 · Kalev Ülemiste
  • 1958 · Kalev Ülemiste
  • 1959 · Kalev Ülemiste
  • 1960 · Balti Laevastik Tallinn
  • 1961 · Kalev Kopli
  • 1962 · Kalev Ülemiste
  • 1963 · Tempo Tallinn
  • 1964 · Norma Tallinn
  • 1965 · Balti Laevastik Tallinn
  • 1966 · Balti Laevastik Tallinn
  • 1967 · Norma Tallinn
  • 1968 · Balti Laevastik Tallinn
  • 1969 · Dvigatel Tallinn
  • 1970 · Norma Tallinn
  • 1971 · Tempo Tallinn
  • 1972 · Balti Laevastik Tallinn
  • 1973 · Kreenholm Narva
  • 1974 · Baltika Narva
  • 1975 · Baltika Narva
  • 1976 · Dvigatel Tallinn
  • 1977 · Baltika Narva
  • 1978 · Dünamo Tallinn
  • 1979 · Norma Tallinn
  • 1980 · Dünamo Tallinn
  • 1981 · Dünamo Tallinn
  • 1982 · Tempo Tallinn
  • 1983 · Dünamo Tallinn
  • 1984 · Estonia Jõhvi
  • 1985 · Kalakombinaat/MEK Pärnu
  • 1986 · Zvezda Tallinn
  • 1987 · Tempo Tallinn
  • 1988 · Norma Tallinn
  • 1989 · Zvezda Tallinn
  • 1990 · TVMK Tallinn
  • 1991 · TVMK Tallinn
  • Balti Laevastik means Baltic Fleet
  • Zvezda Tallinn was a Tallinn garrison club
  • Dvigatel means Motor/Engine

References

  1. "Eesti jalgpalli meistriliiga jätkub teisipäeval uue formaadiga" (in Estonian). Postimees Sport. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  2. "Kodune tippjalgpall saab peatoetaja" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  3. "Premium liiga võtab kasutusele VAR-i". ERR. 3 October 2022.
  4. "SPORT-EKSTRA: Statistikapomm! Millised rekordeid omavad FC Norma, Raio Piiroja ja hooaeg 1997-98?". Õhtuleht. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  5. "Levadia üritab kaotuseta Transist mööda tõusta". Estonian Football Association. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  6. "Premium liigas kõige rohkem mänginute ja väravaküttide TOP 100". Estonian Football Association. 24 November 2019.
  7. "Premium liiga TOP". jalgpall.ee. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  8. "Eesti jalgpallilegendi 14-aastane poeg tegi meistriliiga ajalugu". Delfi Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  9. "Viimases voorus purustati meistriliiga ajaloo noorima väravalööja rekord". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  10. "Saharovi nimele liigaajaloo kiireim värav". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 10 September 2004. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014.
  11. "Eile sündis Meistriliiga ajaloo kiireim värav". Soccernet.ee. 13 September 2009.
  12. "VIDEO: Vladislav Ivanov lõi Transile värava juba 14. sekundil". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  13. "Kalju, Flora ja Levadia ei jätnud vastasele võimalust". Postimees. 12 May 2012.
  14. "Laupäeval võib selguda Eesti meister". Soccernet.ee. 22 October 2004.
  15. "Infonet üllatas põnevusmängus Levadiat, Smiško võimas rekordseeria sai lõpu". Postimees. 25 July 2014.
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