Wikipedia
2021 Meistriliiga
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]
| Season | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 13 March – 5 December 2021 |
| Champions | FCI Levadia (10th title) |
| Relegated | Tulevik |
| Champions League | FCI Levadia |
| Europa Conference League | Flora Paide Linnameeskond |
| Matches played | 156 |
| Goals scored | 518 (3.32 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Henri Anier (26 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Flora 9–0 Tammeka (27 October 2021) |
| Biggest away win | Vaprus 1–7 Nõmme Kalju (19 May 2021) |
| Highest scoring | Flora 9–0 Tammeka (27 October 2021) |
| Longest winning run | 9 matches FCI Levadia Flora |
| Longest unbeaten run | 16 matches Flora |
| Longest winless run | 12 matches Tammeka |
| Longest losing run | 9 matches Vaprus |
← 2020 2022 → | |
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 Edit
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 Edit
| 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 Edit
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flora | Jürgen Henn | Konstantin Vassiljev | Nike | Optibet[15] |
| Kuressaare | Roman Kozhukhovskyi | Sander Seeman | Nike | |
| Legion | Denis Belov | Pavel Londak | Uhlsport | |
| FCI Levadia | Marko Savić Vladimir Vassiljev | Brent Lepistu | Adidas | Viimsi Keevitus |
| Narva Trans | Igor Pyvin | Irié | Nike | Sportland |
| Nõmme Kalju | Sergei Frantsev | Aleksandr Kulinitš | Adidas | Rämmar[16] |
| Paide Linnameeskond | Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko | Andre Frolov | Nike | Verston |
| Tammeka | Dmitrijs Kalašņikovs | Karl Johan Pechter | Nike | Metec |
| Tulevik | Sander Post | Kaimar Saag | Joma | Fenix[17] |
| Vaprus | Taavi Midenbritt | Magnus Villota | Nike | Coolbet |
Managerial changes Edit
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulevik | Sander Post | Resigned | 6 December 2020[18] | Pre-season | Jaanus Reitel | 6 December 2020[18] |
| Nõmme Kalju | Marko Kristal | 7 December 2020[19] | Sergei Frantsev | 7 December 2020[19] | ||
| Narva Trans | Oleg Kurotškin | End of contract | 6 December 2020[20] | Igor Pyvin | 3 January 2021[20] | |
| Tammeka | Kaido Koppel | Sacked | 1 September 2021[21] | 10th | Dmitrijs Kalašņikovs | 1 September 2021[21] |
| Tulevik | Jaanus Reitel | Mutual consent | 20 September 2021[22] | 8th | Sander Post | 20 September 2021[22] |
Format changes Edit
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 Edit
| 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 |
| 3 | Paide Linnameeskond | 32 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 66 | 35 | +31 | 62 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round[a] |
| 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:
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:
- ^ Paide Linnameeskond qualified for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round by winning the 2021–22 Estonian Cup.
- ^ On 22 December 2021 Tulevik announced voluntary relegation due to financial difficulties.
Results Edit
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 Edit
Teams play each other twice, once at home and once away.
Rounds 19–27 Edit
Teams play each other once, either home or away.
Top six rounds 28–32 Edit
Teams play each other once, either home or away.
Bottom four rounds 28–30 Edit
Teams play each other once, either home or away.
Relegation play-offs Edit
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 Kalev | 0–0 | Tammeka |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Tammeka | 3–0 | Tallinna Kalev |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Tammeka won 3–0 on aggregate.
Statistics Edit
Top goalscorers Edit
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[25] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henri Anier | Paide Linnameeskond | 26 |
| 2 | Zakaria Beglarishvili | FCI Levadia | 24 |
| 3 | Rauno Sappinen | Flora | 23 |
| 4 | Robert Kirss | FCI Levadia | 17 |
| 5 | Sergei Zenjov | Flora | 14 |
| 6 | Kaimar Saag | Tulevik | 12 |
| 7 | Tristan Koskor | Tammeka | 11 |
| Mattias Männilaan | Kuressaare | ||
| Aleksandr Šapovalov | Legion | ||
| 10 | Aleksandr Zakarlyuka | Narva Trans | 10 |
Hat-tricks Edit
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zakaria Beglarishvili | FCI Levadia | Tulevik | 4–0 (A) | 4 April 2021 |
| Eduard Golovljov | Narva Trans | Tulevik | 6–2 (H) | 11 April 2021 |
| Aleksandr Zakarlyuka | ||||
| Henri Anier | Paide Linnameeskond | Vaprus | 3–1 (A) | 25 April 2021 |
| Aleksandr Šapovalov | Legion | Vaprus | 7–1 (A) | 11 May 2021 |
| Henri Anier | Paide Linnameeskond | Tammeka | 5–2 (A) | 19 September 2021 |
| Rauno Sappinen4 | Flora | Narva Trans | 5–2 (H) | 22 September 2021 |
| Sergei Zenjov | Flora | Tammeka | 9–0 (H) | 27 October 2021 |
| Henri Anier | Paide Linnameeskond | Legion | 4–0 (H) | 30 October 2021 |
| Otto-Robert Lipp | Kuressaare | Vaprus | 4–0 (A) | 6 November 2021 |
Notes
4Player scored four goals
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team
Awards Edit
Monthly awards Edit
| Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Club | Player | Club | |
| March/April[26] | Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko | Paide Linnameeskond | Henri Anier | Paide Linnameeskond |
| May[27] | Jürgen Henn | Flora | Zakaria Beglarishvili | FCI Levadia |
| June/July[28] | Marko Savić Vladimir Vassiljev | FCI Levadia | Robert Kirss | |
| August[29] | Joseph Saliste | Paide Linnameeskond | ||
| September[30] | Roman Kozhukhovsky | Kuressaare | Rauno Alliku | Flora |
| October[31] | Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko | Paide Linnameeskond | Ken Kallaste | |
| November[32] | Jürgen Henn | Flora | Zakaria Beglarishvili | FCI Levadia |
References Edit
- ^ "Kodune tippjalgpall saab peatoetaja" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ "Premium liiga". EFA. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "Premium liiga algus lükkub jälle edasi". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (22 December 2021). "POMM: Viljandi Tulevik loobub Premium liiga kohast". Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Kuressaare võitis ka teise väravaterohke üleminekumängu". Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ a b "A. Le Coq Arena" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ "Kuressaare Linnastaadion". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian).
- ^ a b "Kadrioru staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- ^ "Narva Kreenholmi staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- ^ "Sportland Arena" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ^ "Paide linna staadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
- ^ "Tartu Tamme staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- ^ "Viljandi linnastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- ^ "Pärnu Rannastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- ^ "FC Flora esindusmeeskonna uus peasponsor on Optibet". FC Flora. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Nõmme Kalju alustas koostööd bändiga 5MIINUST" (in Estonian). ERR. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ . Viljandi JK Tulevik. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Viljandi Tulevik leidis Sander Posti asemele uue peatreeneri, kel kogemust nii Hollandist, Soomest kui ka Aafrikast". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Frantsev naaseb Kalju peatreeneri kohale". Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Trans sai uue peatreeneri". Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ a b Voolaid, Rasmus (1 September 2021). "Kindel! Tammeka lõpetas Koppeliga lepingu, appi tuleb Läti saripäästja". Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ a b Ilves, Kris (20 September 2021). "Ametlik: Tulevik lõpetas Reiteliga lepingu". Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ Elissaar, Kasper (27 August 2021). "Mis saab Premium liiga hooajast? Pohlak kinnitas, et tabel lüüakse pooleks". Soccernet.ee - Jalgpall luubi all!. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Eesti 2021.a meistrivõistluste Premium ja Esiliigade juhend" (PDF). jalgpall.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ "Premium liiga Väravalööjate edetabel". soccernet.ee.
- ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimad tulevad Paidest" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 30 April 2021.
- ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimad tulevad Levadiast ja Florast" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimate auhinnad läksid FCI Levadiasse" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 10 August 2021.
- ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimate auhinnad lähevad Paidele ja Levadiale" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 15 September 2021.
- ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimad tulevad Florast ja Kuressaarest" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 2 October 2021.
- ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimad tulevad Paidest ja Florast" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 5 November 2021.
- ^ "Samasugune valik nagu pool aastat tagasi: selgusid Premium liiga novembrikuu parimad" (in Estonian). soccernet.ee. 1 December 2021.
External links Edit
- Official website