2018 Esiliiga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Season2018
ChampionsMaardu Linnameeskond
(2nd title)
(2nd title)
PromotedMaardu Linnameeskond
RelegatedKeila
Nõmme Kalju U21
Nõmme Kalju U21
| Season | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Maardu Linnameeskond (2nd title) |
| Promoted | Maardu Linnameeskond |
| Relegated | Keila Nõmme Kalju U21 |
| Matches played | 180 |
| Goals scored | 624 (3.47 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Vitali Gussev (43 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Flora U21 11–0 Welco (30 August 2018) |
| Biggest away win | Keila 0–9 Flora U21 (10 March 2018) |
| Highest scoring | Flora U21 10–1 Keila (24 March 2018) Maardu Linnameeskond 10–1 Nõmme Kalju U21 (14 July 2018) Flora U21 11–0 Welco (30 August 2018) |
| Longest winning run | 7 matches Maardu Linnameeskond |
| Longest unbeaten run | 11 matches Flora U21 |
| Longest winless run | 16 matches Nõmme Kalju U21 |
| Longest losing run | 11 matches Nõmme Kalju U21 |
← 2017 2019 → | |
The 2018 Esiliiga was the 28th season of the Esiliiga, the second-highest Estonian league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. The season began on 1 March 2018 and concluded on 11 November 2018. Defending champions Maardu Linnameeskond won their second Esiliiga title.
Stadiums and locations
Ten teams competed in the league – the seven teams from the previous season and the three teams promoted from the Esiliiga B. The promoted teams were Nõmme Kalju U21 (returning to the Esiliiga after a one-year absence), Tallinna Kalev U21 and Keila (both teams playing in the Esiliiga for the first time ever). They replaced Tallinna Kalev, Kuressaare (both teams promoted to the Meistriliiga) and FCI Tallinn U21 (merged with Levadia U21).[1]
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elva | Elva | Elva linnastaadion | 600[2] |
| FCI Levadia U21 | Tallinn | Maarjamäe Stadium | 30[3] |
| Flora U21 | Tallinn | Sportland Arena | 540[4] |
| Keila | Keila | Keila Stadium | 500[5] |
| Maardu Linnameeskond | Maardu | Maardu linnastaadion | 500[6] |
| Nõmme Kalju U21 | Tallinn | Hiiu Stadium | 650[7] |
| Santos | Tartu | Tartu Tamme Stadium | 1,500[8] |
| Tallinna Kalev U21 | Tallinn | Kalev Keskstaadion's artificial turf | 570[9] |
| Tarvas | Rakvere | Rakvere linnastaadion | 1,829[10] |
| Welco | Tartu | Tartu Tamme Stadium | 1,500[8] |
Personnel and kits
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elva |  Veiko Haan |
Jürgen Kuresoo |
Nike | Sportland |
| FCI Levadia U21 | Vladimir Vassiljev |
Moorits Veering |
Adidas | Viimsi Keevitus |
| Flora U21 | Ats Sillaste |
Markkus Seppik |
Nike | Tele2[11] |
| Keila |  Richard Barnwell |
Kermo Kiiler |
Adidas | Hole In One |
| Maardu Linnameeskond | Andrei Borissov |
Ilja Zelentsov |
Adidas | |
| Nõmme Kalju U21 | Kristen Viikmäe |
Marcus Suurväli |
Adidas | help.ee |
| Santos | Janar Sagim |
Joonas Kartsep |
Adidas | |
| Tallinna Kalev U21 | Daniel Meijel |
Andi Kivirand |
Nike | Coolbet |
| Tarvas | Tarmo Rebane |
Kaarel Saar |
Nike | Aqva Hotel & Spa |
| Welco |  Yusuf Erdoğan |
Mikk Valtna |
Nike | Liisi |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welco | Siim Valtna |
Mutual consent | 7 November 2017[12] | Pre-season | Yusuf Erdoğan |
8 December 2017[13] |
| Flora U21 | Joel Indermitte |
10 November 2017[14] | Ats Sillaste |
10 November 2017 | ||
| Tarvas | Urmas Kirs |
30 November 2017[15] | Tarmo Rebane |
30 November 2017 | ||
| Nõmme Kalju U21 | Erko Saviauk |
31 December 2017 | Valeri Bondarenko |
1 January 2018 | ||
| Keila | Tiit Tikenberg |
6 January 2018[16] | Richard Barnwell |
6 January 2018 | ||
| Nõmme Kalju U21 | Valeri Bondarenko |
7 August 2018[17] | 10th | Frank Bernhardt |
7 August 2018 | |
| Nõmme Kalju U21 | Frank Bernhardt |
Resigned | September 2018[18] | 10th | Kristen Viikmäe |
September 2018 |
League table
Play-offs
Promotion play-offs
First leg
| Elva | 0–1 | Kuressaare |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Laht  50' (pen.) |
Second leg
| Kuressaare | 1–0 | Elva |
|---|---|---|
| Saar 61' |
Report |
- Kuressaare won 2–0 on aggregate and retained their place in the 2019 Meistriliiga.
Relegation play-offs
First leg
Second leg
Järve won 3–2 on aggregate and were promoted to the 2019 Esiliiga.
Results
First half of the season |
Second half of the season
|
Season statistics
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[21] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vitali Gussev | Maardu Linnameeskond | 43 |
| 2 | Ilja Zelentsov | Maardu Linnameeskond | 22 |
| 3 | Erik Utgof | FCI Levadia U21 | 20 |
| 4 | Nikita Brõlin | Maardu Linnameeskond | 19 |
| 5 | Aleksandr Šapovalov | Flora U21 | 16 |
| Erik Sorga | Flora U21 | ||
| 7 | Jürgen Kuresoo | Elva | 13 |
| Otto-Robert Lipp | Flora U21 | ||
| 9 | Vladislav Ogorodnik | Maardu Linnameeskond | 12 |
| Karl Rudolf Õigus | Santos | ||
| Siim Rannamäe | Tarvas | ||
| Vlasiy Sinyavskiy | Nõmme Kalju U21 | ||
| Mikk Valtna | Welco |