2021 Meistriliiga

Meistriliiga
Season2021
Dates13 March – 5 December 2021
ChampionsFCI Levadia (10th title)
RelegatedTulevik
Champions LeagueFCI Levadia
Europa Conference LeagueFlora
Paide Linnameeskond
Matches played156
Goals scored518 (3.32 per match)
Top goalscorerHenri Anier (26 goals)
Biggest home winFlora 9–0 Tammeka
(27 October 2021)
Biggest away winVaprus 1–7 Nõmme Kalju
(19 May 2021)
Highest scoringFlora 9–0 Tammeka
(27 October 2021)
Longest winning run9 matches
FCI Levadia
Flora
Longest unbeaten run16 matches
Flora
Longest winless run12 matches
Tammeka
Longest losing run9 matches
Vaprus
← 2020
2022 →

The 2021 Meistriliiga, also known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga for sponsorship reasons,[1] was the 31st season of the Meistriliiga, the top Estonian league for association football clubs. The season was scheduled to begin on 5 March 2021, but was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic until 13 March and concluded on 5 December.[2][3]

Flora were the defending champions. The title was decided in the last round match between Flora and FCI Levadia. FCI Levadia drew the game, holding on to their one point lead over Flora and winning their 10th Meistriliiga title, their first since 2014.

Teams

Ten teams were competing in the league, nine clubs from the 2020 season and 2020 Esiliiga champions Vaprus who had earned a promotion after a two-year absence. Vaprus were to be relegated at the end of the 2021 season after finishing in the bottom of the table, however 8th Tulevik chose voluntary relegation to due financial difficulties.[4] Tammeka retained their Meistriliiga spot after winning a relegation playoff against Esiliiga runners-up Tallinna Kalev.[5]

Venues

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2021 Meistriliiga teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Flora Tallinn A. Le Coq Arena 14,336[6]
Kuressaare Kuressaare Kuressaare linnastaadion 1,000[7]
Legion Tallinn Kadrioru staadion 4,750[8]
FCI Levadia Tallinn A. Le Coq Arena 14,336[6]
Narva Trans Narva Narva Kreenholm Stadium 1,065[9]
Nõmme Kalju Tallinn Kadrioru staadion 4,750[8]
Sportland Arena 1,161[10]
Paide Linnameeskond Paide Paide linnastaadion 1,000[11]
Tammeka Tartu Tartu Tamme Stadium 1,500[12]
Tulevik Viljandi Viljandi linnastaadion 1,084[13]
Vaprus Pärnu Pärnu Rannastaadion 1,501[14]

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Flora Estonia Jürgen Henn Estonia Konstantin Vassiljev Nike Optibet[15]
Kuressaare Ukraine Roman Kozhukhovskyi Estonia Sander Seeman Nike
Legion Estonia Denis Belov Estonia Pavel Londak Uhlsport
FCI Levadia Serbia Marko Savić
Estonia Vladimir Vassiljev 		Estonia Brent Lepistu Adidas Viimsi Keevitus
Narva Trans Russia Igor Pyvin Ivory Coast Irié Nike Sportland
Nõmme Kalju Russia Sergei Frantsev Estonia Aleksandr Kulinitš Adidas Rämmar[16]
Paide Linnameeskond Estonia Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko Estonia Andre Frolov Nike Verston
Tammeka Latvia Dmitrijs Kalašņikovs Estonia Karl Johan Pechter Nike Metec
Tulevik Estonia Sander Post Estonia Kaimar Saag Joma Fenix[17]
Vaprus Estonia Taavi Midenbritt Estonia Magnus Villota Nike Coolbet

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Tulevik Estonia Sander Post Resigned 6 December 2020[18] Pre-season Estonia Jaanus Reitel 6 December 2020[18]
Nõmme Kalju Estonia Marko Kristal 7 December 2020[19] Russia Sergei Frantsev 7 December 2020[19]
Narva Trans Estonia Oleg Kurotškin End of contract 6 December 2020[20] Russia Igor Pyvin 3 January 2021[20]
Tammeka Estonia Kaido Koppel Sacked 1 September 2021[21] 10th Latvia Dmitrijs Kalašņikovs 1 September 2021[21]
Tulevik Estonia Jaanus Reitel Mutual consent 20 September 2021[22] 8th Estonia Sander Post 20 September 2021[22]

Format changes

Due to delayed season opening and many postponed matches, the season was shortened. Instead of the regular format of each team playing each of the other teams four times, the league table will be split after the third playthrough (27th match) into two sections of top 6 and bottom 4, with each team playing each other in that section.[23]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 FCI Levadia (C) 32 25 3 4 84 38 +46 78 Qualification for the Champions League preliminary round
2 Flora 32 23 8 1 90 23 +67 77 Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round[a]
3 Paide Linnameeskond 32 18 8 6 66 35 +31 62
4 Nõmme Kalju 32 13 6 13 57 44 +13 45
5 Legion 32 11 7 14 49 48 +1 40
6 Narva Trans 32 9 6 17 36 61 −25 33
7 Kuressaare 30 10 4 16 39 47 −8 34
8 Tulevik (R) 30 9 3 18 39 62 −23 30 Relegation to Esiliiga[b]
9 Tammeka (O) 30 7 4 19 34 72 −38 25 Qualification for relegation play-offs
10 Vaprus 30 5 3 22 24 88 −64 18
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian), UEFA
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.[24]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Paide Linnameeskond qualified for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round by winning the 2021–22 Estonian Cup.
  2. ^ On 22 December 2021 Tulevik announced voluntary relegation due to financial difficulties.

Results

A total of four rounds will be played. In the first three rounds teams play each other three times. In the fourth round the league was split into 2 groups – top 6, and bottom 4, where they play each team in their group one more time.

Rounds 1–18

Teams play each other twice, once at home and once away.

Home \ Away FLO KUR LEG LEV NAR NÕM PAI TAM TUL VAP
Flora 2–2 2–1 0–0 5–0 1–0 3–3 9–0 3–0 2–0
Kuressaare 0–4 1–1 2–3 1–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 2–3 2–1
Legion 1–2 1–0 2–3 0–0 0–1 1–1 3–1 2–1 7–1
FCI Levadia 2–4 3–0 4–3 3–2 4–1 0–4 2–1 4–1 5–0
Narva Trans 0–2 2–0 0–0 1–4 1–2 0–1 2–1 6–2 1–1
Nõmme Kalju 1–2 0–3 3–1 0–1 0–1 0–0 4–1 5–1 0–1
Paide 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 5–1 2–1 1–1 0–1 2–1
Tammeka 0–3 0–1 0–1 1–2 3–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 2–2
Tulevik 3–3 1–2 1–0 0–4 0–1 1–3 0–1 5–3 3–1
Vaprus 0–4 2–1 1–4 0–4 2–1 1–7 1–3 1–2 AWD[a]
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. ^ Win awarded to Vaprus due to Tulevik fielding a unregistered player. The original match had ended in a 0–1 defeat.

Rounds 19–27

Teams play each other once, either home or away.

Home \ Away FLO KUR LEG LEV NAR NÕM PAI TAM TUL VAP
Flora 5–1 5–2 2–0 3–0
Kuressaare 1–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–0 6–0
Legion 1–2 1–2 3–1 2–1
FCI Levadia 1–5 3–0 3–0 2–1 4–0 5–0
Narva Trans 2–2 0–3 1–0 3–0
Nõmme Kalju 2–2 1–1 3–2 3–1
Paide 1–1 4–1 0–3 4–0 3–1
Tammeka 0–2 2–1 0–3 2–5
Tulevik 2–2 3–2 4–1 1–0
Vaprus 0–6 1–4 1–1 1–2
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top six rounds 28–32

Teams play each other once, either home or away.

Home \ Away FLO LEG LEV NAR NÕM PAI
Flora 2–2 3–0
Legion 0–2 0–2 2–2
FCI Levadia 2–2 1–0
Narva Trans 0–2 0–2 0–0 1–5
Nõmme Kalju 0–1 1–2
Paide 4–0 5–3
Updated to match(es) played on 4 December 2021. Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Bottom four rounds 28–30

Teams play each other once, either home or away.

Home \ Away KUR TAM TUL VAP
Kuressaare
Tammeka 1–0 2–0 2–3
Tulevik 0–2
Vaprus 0–4 1–2
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Relegation play-offs

At season's end Tammeka, the ninth place club, participated in a two-legged play-off with the runners-up (of independent teams) of the 2021 Esiliiga, for the spot in 2022 Meistriliiga.

Tallinna Kalev0–0Tammeka
Report
Kalev Keskstaadion artificial turf, Tallinn
Attendance: 125
Referee: Joonas Jaanovits
Tammeka3–0Tallinna Kalev
 Report
Sepa Football Centre artificial turf, Tartu
Attendance: 211
Referee: Juri Frischer

Tammeka won 3–0 on aggregate.

Statistics

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Club Goals[25]
1 Estonia Henri Anier Paide Linnameeskond 26
2 Georgia (country) Zakaria Beglarishvili FCI Levadia 24
3 Estonia Rauno Sappinen Flora 23
4 Estonia Robert Kirss FCI Levadia 17
5 Estonia Sergei Zenjov Flora 14
6 Estonia Kaimar Saag Tulevik 12
7 Estonia Tristan Koskor Tammeka 11
Estonia Mattias Männilaan Kuressaare
Estonia Aleksandr Šapovalov Legion
10 Russia Aleksandr Zakarlyuka Narva Trans 10

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
Georgia (country) Zakaria Beglarishvili FCI Levadia Tulevik 4–0 (A) 4 April 2021
Estonia Eduard Golovljov Narva Trans Tulevik 6–2 (H) 11 April 2021
Russia Aleksandr Zakarlyuka
Estonia Henri Anier Paide Linnameeskond Vaprus 3–1 (A) 25 April 2021
Estonia Aleksandr Šapovalov Legion Vaprus 7–1 (A) 11 May 2021
Estonia Henri Anier Paide Linnameeskond Tammeka 5–2 (A) 19 September 2021
Estonia Rauno Sappinen4 Flora Narva Trans 5–2 (H) 22 September 2021
Estonia Sergei Zenjov Flora Tammeka 9–0 (H) 27 October 2021
Estonia Henri Anier Paide Linnameeskond Legion 4–0 (H) 30 October 2021
Estonia Otto-Robert Lipp Kuressaare Vaprus 4–0 (A) 6 November 2021

Notes
4Player scored four goals
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Average attendance

Most of the season was played under audience restrictions du to the pandemic. Different teams played a different amount of games in front of spectators.

Club Average attendance[26]
Pärnu JK Vaprus 495
Tallinna FC Flora 472
FCI Levadia 305
Viljandi JK Tulevik 296
Paide Linnameeskond 233
Tartu JK Tammeka 226
Nõmme Kalju FC 192
FC Kuressaare 139
JK Narva Trans 122
Tallinna JK Legion 91
League average 273


Awards

Monthly awards

Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month
Manager Club Player Club
March/April[27] Estonia Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko Paide Linnameeskond Estonia Henri Anier Paide Linnameeskond
May[28] Estonia Jürgen Henn Flora Georgia (country) Zakaria Beglarishvili FCI Levadia
June/July[29] Serbia Marko Savić
Estonia Vladimir Vassiljev 		FCI Levadia Estonia Robert Kirss
August[30] Estonia Joseph Saliste Paide Linnameeskond
September[31] Ukraine Roman Kozhukhovsky Kuressaare Estonia Rauno Alliku Flora
October[32] Estonia Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko Paide Linnameeskond Estonia Ken Kallaste
November[33] Estonia Jürgen Henn Flora Georgia (country) Zakaria Beglarishvili FCI Levadia

References

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