2019 Esiliiga

Esiliiga
Season2019
Dates7 March 2019 – 10 November 2019
ChampionsLegion
PromotedLegion
RelegatedTarvas
Tallinna Kalev U21
Welco
Matches played180
Goals scored654 (3.63 per match)
Top goalscorerRejal Alijev (38 goals)
Biggest home winLegion 18–0 Järve
(26 October 2019)
Biggest away winTallinna Kalev U21 1–6 Tarvas
(25 May 2019)
Vaprus 1–6 FCI Levadia U21
(12 September 2019)
Tarvas 0–5 Vaprus
(28 September 2019)
Elva 0–5 Legion
(10 November 2019)
Highest scoringLegion 18–0 Järve
(26 October 2019)
← 2018
2020 →

The 2019 Esiliiga was the 29th season of the Esiliiga, the second tier of Estonian football.

Teams

A total of 10 teams were contesting the league, including six sides from the 2018 season, one relegated from 2018 Meistriliiga and three promoted from the 2018 Esiliiga B.[1] The 2017 Esiliiga and 2018 Esiliiga champions Maardu Linnameeskond were promoted to the highest tier for the first time.[2] Nõmme Kalju U21 was the first team to suffer relegation after just returning to Esiliiga. Keila also immediately returned to Esiliiga B after losing the relegation play-offs to Järve. Tallinna Kalev U21 narrowly avoided relegation in its debut season thanks to Santos' decision to start the new season in the fourth tier II liiga.[3] The other two promoted teams were Legion, who went almost unbeaten in its previous season, and Tammeka U21, who made its debut in the Esiliiga.

Stadiums and locations

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2019 Esiliiga teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Elva Elva Elva linnastaadion 30[4]
FCI Levadia U21 Tallinn Maarjamäe Stadium 30[5]
Flora U21 Lilleküla training ground I 150[6]
Järve Kohtla-Järve Kohtla-Järve Sports Centre Stadium 150[7]
Legion Tallinn Kadriorg Stadium 1,300[8]
Tallinna Kalev U21 Kalev Keskstaadion artificial turf 270[9]
Tammeka U21 Tartu Tartu Sepa Football Centre 754[10]
Tarvas Rakvere Rakvere linnastaadion 1,100[11]
Vaprus Pärnu Pärnu Rannastaadion 1,501[12]
Welco Tartu Tartu Tamme Stadium 1,500[13]

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Elva Estonia Veiko Haan Estonia Jürgen Kuresoo Nike Sportland
FCI Levadia U21 Estonia Vladimir Vassiljev Estonia Moorits Veering Adidas Viimsi Keevitus
Flora U21 Estonia Ats Sillaste Nike Tele2[14]
Järve Estonia Andrei Škaleta Estonia Gleb Pevtsov Adidas
Legion Estonia Denis Belov Uhlsport
Tallinna Kalev U21 Estonia Daniel Meijel Nike
Tammeka U21 Estonia Marti Pähn Nike
Tarvas Estonia Tarmo Rebane Estonia Alari Tovstik Nike Aqva Hotel & Spa
Vaprus Estonia Taavi Midenbritt
Estonia Kalev Pajula 		Estonia Kristen Saarts Nike Coolbet
Welco Estonia Janar Sagim Estonia Mikk Valtna Nike Liisi

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in the table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Vaprus Estonia Indrek Zelinsk[15] Signed by KTP 10 November 2018 Pre-season Estonia Taavi Midenbritt
Estonia Kalev Pajula[16] 		22 November 2018
Welco Germany Yusuf Erdoğan Mutual consent 25 July 2019 10th Estonia Janar Sagim[17] 25 July 2019

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Legion (C, P) 36 29 4 3 127 35 +92 91 Promotion to the Meistriliiga
2 Flora U21[a] 36 22 7 7 85 37 +48 73
3 Vaprus 36 21 4 11 73 48 +25 67 Qualification for promotion play-offs
4 Tammeka U21[a] 36 18 4 14 59 55 +4 58
5 Elva 36 18 2 16 67 63 +4 56
6 FCI Levadia U21[a] 36 16 5 15 80 65 +15 53
7 Järve 36 12 4 20 51 82 −31 40
8 Tarvas (R) 36 8 4 24 35 98 −63 28 Qualification for relegation play-offs
9 Tallinna Kalev U21[a] (R) 36 8 4 24 38 82 −44 28 Relegation to the Esiliiga B
10 Welco (R) 36 6 6 24 39 89 −50 24
Source: [citation needed]
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) Fairplay ranking.[18]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c d Reserve teams are ineligible for promotion.

Results

Matches 1–18

Home \ Away ELV LEV FLO JÄR LEG KAL TAM TAR VAP WEL
Elva — 4–0 1–3 1–0 1–2 1–3 3–2 6–0 3–2 3–0
FCI Levadia U21 1–2 — 1–1 2–2 1–4 1–1 2–1 3–3 0–3 4–1
Flora U21 5–1 3–0 — 0–1 1–2 4–1 0–0 8–0 0–0 3–1
Järve 2–1 4–1 4–3 — 2–3 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–1
Legion 4–1 3–0 3–0 3–0 — 0–0[a] 3–0 9–0 2–0 2–1
Tallinna Kalev U21 0–4 1–5 0–3 3–4 2–5 — 2–1 1–6 4–2 3–0
Tammeka U21 1–0 1–2 1–2 0–1 3–3 1–0 — 2–0 1–0 3–0
Tarvas 2–0 1–0 0–2 3–2 0–3 0–1 0–3 — 1–2 3–1
Vaprus 2–1 3–0 0–0 1–0 1–2 3–1 4–1 5–0 — 5–1
Welco 2–2 2–5 1–5 0–2 2–4 3–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 —
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. ^ The match was awarded to Tallinna Kalev U21 due to Legion fielding an ineligible player.

Matches 19–36

Home \ Away ELV LEV FLO JÄR LEG KAL TAM TAR VAP WEL
Elva — 0–1 3–2 2–0 0–5 2–2 4–1 2–0 2–0 3–1
FCI Levadia U21 5–1 — 0–2 3–2 3–3 6–1 7–1 4–0 1–2 4–0
Flora U21 5–1 2–0 — 5–2 5–3 2–0 5–1 2–0 0–3 1–1
Järve 0–1 0–2 1–2 — 0–2 0–1 2–3 2–3 1–3 2–1
Legion 5–3 2–0 1–2 18–0 — 4–0 4–0 2–0 5–2 6–2
Tallinna Kalev U21 1–2 0–4 0–0 1–1 0–1 — 0–2 0–1 2–3 2–3
Tammeka U21 1–0 4–2 1–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 — 4–1 3–1 0–1
Tarvas 1–4 4–2 0–2 2–2 0–4 1–2 1–4 — 0–5 1–1
Vaprus 0–1 1–6 3–3 5–2 0–2 1–0 2–1 1–0 — 3–0
Welco 2–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–0 1–4 4–0 1–2 —
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Relegation play-offs

Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi3–2Tarvas
 Report Rannamäe 63' (pen.), 87'
Attendance: 70
Referee: Martti Pukk
Tarvas0–4Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi
Report
Attendance: 166
Referee: Kristo Külljastinen

Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi won 7–2 on aggregate.

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals[19]
1 Estonia Rejal Alijev Legion 38
2 Estonia Marek Šatov Legion 26
3 Estonia Kristen Saarts Vaprus 19
4 Estonia Raivo Saar Järve 17
5 Estonia Aleksandr Šapovalov Flora U21 16
Estonia Karl Anton Sõerde Tallinna Kalev U21
Estonia Ronaldo Tiismaa Vaprus
8 Colombia Duván Mosquera Järve 15
9 Estonia Artjom Jermatšenko Flora U21 14
Estonia Erki Mõttus Tammeka U21

Awards

Monthly awards

Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month
Manager Club Player Club
March[20] Estonia Denis Belov Legion Estonia Raivo Saar Järve
April[21] Estonia Andrei Škaleta Järve Estonia Ronaldo Tiismaa Vaprus
May[22] Estonia Taavi Midenbritt
Estonia Kalev Pajula		 Vaprus Estonia Daaniel Maanas Tammeka U21
June[23] Estonia Denis Belov Legion Estonia Martin Thomson Elva
July[24] Estonia Veiko Haan Elva Estonia Ralf-Sander Suvinõmm Flora U21
August[25] Estonia Marti Pähn Tammeka U21 Estonia Hendrik Vainu Vaprus
September[26] Estonia Vladimir Vassiljev FCI Levadia U21 Estonia Marek Šatov Legion
October[27] Estonia Denis Belov Legion Estonia Rejal Alijev

Esiliiga Player of the Year

Denis Vnukov was named Esiliiga Player of the Year.[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Jalgpalliliidu juhatus kinnitas tippliigade koosseisud". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 4 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Gussevi 37. värav kindlustas Maardu tiitli". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Taas ärakukkumine tippjalgpallis: Santos jätkab madalamates liigades". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Elva linna staadion". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Maarjamäe jalgpallikeskus". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  6. ^ "A. Le Coq Arena I ja II muruväljak". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Kohtla-Järve Spordikeskuse staadion". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Kadrioru staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Kalevi Keskstaadion". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Tartu Sepa jalgpallikeskuse kunstmuruväljak" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Rakvere staadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
  12. ^ "Pärnu Rannastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Tartu Tamme staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Flora sai koondisega sama sponsori". Soccernet.ee. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  15. ^ "AMETLIK: Arbeiter lahkub Kalevist, Zelinski Vaprusest ning uuest hooajast asutakse tööle välismaal". soccernet.ee. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Vaprust juhendavad uuest hooajast Pajula ja Midenbritt". soccernet.ee. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Welco vahetas peatreenerit, uueks juhendajaks Sagim". soccernet.ee. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  18. ^ "Esiliiga" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  19. ^ "MÄNGUDE AJALUGU" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  20. ^ "Esiliiga kuu parimate auhinnad läksid Kohtla-Järvele ja Legionisse" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 4 April 2019.
  21. ^ "Esiliiga kuu parimad tulevad Kohtla-Järvelt ja Pärnust" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 30 April 2019.
  22. ^ "Esiliiga kuu parimad tulevad Pärnust ja Tartust" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 4 June 2019.
  23. ^ "Esiliiga kuu parimate auhinnad läksid Legioni ja Elva ridadesse" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 8 July 2019.
  24. ^ "Esiliiga kuu parimate auhinnad läksid Elva ja Flora võistkondadele" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 6 August 2019.
  25. ^ "Selgusid tippliigade kuu parimad" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 16 September 2019.
  26. ^ "Esiliiga parimate auhinnad läksid Levadia U21-le ja Legionile" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 2 October 2019.
  27. ^ "Esiliiga kuu parimate auhinnad läksid Legionile" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 7 November 2019.
  28. ^ "Esiliiga parimaks mängijaks valiti Denis Vnukov" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 15 January 2023.