JK Tabasalu

JK Tabasalu is a football club based in Tabasalu, Estonia.^[2] The club competes in Esiliiga, the second tier of Estonian football. Tabasalu's home ground is Tabasalu Arena.

JK Tabasalu

Full name	Jalgpalliklubi Tabasalu^[1]
Founded	23 November 2012
Ground	Tabasalu Arena, Tabasalu
Capacity	1,630
Manager	Risto Sarapik
League	Esiliiga
2023	Esiliiga B, 5th
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

History

The football club was created on 23 November 2012 and its first seasons in the Estonian league system were quite successful: they finished second in their debut seasons in IV liiga and III liiga. Even in the fourth division they finished constantly in the upper part of the table. In 2018, they hired former FCI Levadia coach Marko Kristal^[3] and quickly became II liiga's title contenders.

The year ended with them finishing third, but due to Paide Linnameeskond III not wanting to get promoted, they were given the opportunity to take part in promotion play-offs. They got through to the final thanks to FCI Tallinn using an unavailable player.^[4] In the final round they played against Lasnamäe Ajax, who they managed to beat 3:0 and 4:1 and were therefore promoted to the top three leagues.^[5]

In their debut season in Esiliiga B, they were last-placed after 17 rounds, but they managed to start gaining points and at the end of the year they were seventh and nine points ahead of relegation places. After the season, Marko Kristal joined Nõmme Kalju.^[6] The following year was went even better as in the Estonian Cup they reached the quarter-finals and in the league they finished fourth. They were again given the option to play in the promotion play-offs, but this time they lost 1:3 and 1:5 to Pärnu JK.

Tabasalu JK is well known for their large fanbase and great youth teams. In 2018, when they were still in II liiga, they had an average attendance of 321 people, which was Estonia's fourth largest home average. Their youth players have had trials in Bologna,^[7] Chievo Verona^[8] and Padova.^[9]

Tabasalu finished the 2022 Esiliiga B season in 2nd place, narrowly losing the title in the last second of the final matchday against FC Tallinn.^[10] On 19 October 2022, Tabasalu notably knocked out Estonian top-flight club Nõmme Kalju FC from the Estonian Cup by winning 1–0.

Players

Current squad

As of 25 September 2023.^[11]

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 Rihard Kristjan Kristel 2 MF   EST Valeri Makarov 3 DF   EST Kristjan Stüff 4 DF   EST Joel Kokla 6 MF   EST Tomi Linde 7 FW   EST Joosep Poder 8 MF   EST Alan Nahk 9 FW   EST Peeter Klein 11 FW   EST Jaagup Luts 12 DF   EST Sigvard Suppi

No. Pos. Nation Player 13 DF   EST Märten Subka 14 FW   EST Markus Vaherna 17 DF   EST Raoul Riigov 19 MF   EST Kaspar Veeväli 23 MF   EST Edwin Stüf 26 DF   EST Hans Oliver Vuks 32 FW   EST Art Anepaio 42 GK   EST Kaarel Rumberg 44 DF   EST Frank Annion 67 FW   EST Mikk Meresmaa

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 10 FW   EST Tristan Pajo (at Flora U21)

League and Cup history

Season	Division	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Top Goalscorer	Estonian Cup	Notes
2013	IV liiga N	2	20	15	3	2	78	27	+51	48	Kersten Lõppe (19)	-	as Tallinna JK Charma Mööbel
2014	III liiga N	2	22	15	3	4	64	29	+35	48	Tanel Tammemägi (13)	Third round	as Tallinna JK Charma
2015	II liiga N/E	6	26	10	7	9	57	67	−10	37	Martin Tšegodajev (7)	First round	as Tabasalu JK Charma
2016		5	26	12	7	7	56	48	+8	43	Edwin Stüf (9)	-
2017	II liiga S/W	3	26	15	3	8	77	52	+25	48	Andrus Mitt (17)	-	as JK Tabasalu
2018		3	26	17	3	6	68	40	+28	54	Edwin Stüf (19)	Quarter-final
2019	Esiliiga B	7	36	13	4	19	77	79	–2	43	Kersten Lõppe (13)	Fourth round
2020		4	30	16	3	11	58	46	+12	51	Sten Jakob Viidas (14)	–
2021		6	32	12	5	15	60	64	–4	41	Tristan Pajo (16)	Quarter-final
2022		2	36	25	4	7	120	50	+70	79	Tristan Pajo (30)	ongoing

References

1. "Jalgpalliklubi Tabasalu - ESR". spordiregister.ee. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
2. "Klubi üldinfo". Tabasalu JK. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
3. "Kristal sai Tabasalu peatreeneriks" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
4. "FCI ämber aitas Tabasalu edasi, Esiliiga B-st lahutab kaks mängu" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
5. "Kohtla-Järve tõrjus Keila üritused ja tõusis Esiliigasse" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
6. "AMETLIK: Nõmme Kalju määras ametisse kaks uut peatreenerit" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
7. "VÄGEV! Talendikas noormängija siirdub Itaalia kõrgliigaklubi noorteakadeemiasse" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
8. "Itaalia tippklubi testis 15-aastast Tabasalu noormängijat" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
9. "Järjekordsed Tabasalu noormängijad käisid Itaalias testimisel" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
10. Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (13 November 2022). "Kalju duubel pudenes II liigasse, Esiliiga B võitis dramaatiliselt FC Tallinn (video!)". Soccernet.ee - Jalgpall luubi all!. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
11. "JK Tabasalu (2019)". Eesti Jalgpalli Liit. Retrieved 21 May 2023.