2021 Esiliiga
Estonian football league season for second division
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2021 Esiliiga was the 31st season of the Esiliiga, the second-highest Estonian league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. The season began on 4 March 2021 and concluded on 21 November 2021. Defending champions Maardu Linnameeskond won their second Esiliiga title.
Season2021
ChampionsMaardu Linnameeskond
(2nd title)
(2nd title)
PromotedTallinna Kalev
RelegatedMaardu Linnameeskond
Tammeka U21
Welco
Tammeka U21
Welco
| Season | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Maardu Linnameeskond (2nd title) |
| Promoted | Tallinna Kalev |
| Relegated | Maardu Linnameeskond Tammeka U21 Welco |
| Matches | 147 |
| Goals | 584 (3.97 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Robi Saarma (28 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Maardu Linnameeskond 7–0 Welco (18 September 2021) |
| Biggest away win | Tammeka U21 0–8 Nõmme United (12 September 2021) |
| Highest scoring | Paide Linnameeskond U21 6–5 Nõmme United (20 November 2021) |
← 2020 2022 → | |
Teams
Stadiums and locations
Locations of the 2021 Esiliiga teams
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elva | Elva | Elva linnastaadion | 600[1] |
| FCI Levadia U21 | Tallinn | Maarjamäe Stadium | 30[2] |
| Flora U21 | Lilleküla training ground | 200[3] | |
| Maardu Linnameeskond | Maardu | Maardu linnastaadion | 500[4] |
| Nõmme United | Tallinn | Männiku Stadium | 50[5] |
| Paide Linnameeskond U21 | Paide | Paide linnastaadion | 268[6] |
| Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi | Pärnu | Pärnu Rannastaadion | 1,501[7] |
| Tallinna Kalev | Tallinn | Kalevi Keskstaadion artificial turf | 270[8] |
| Tammeka U21 | Tartu | Sepa Jalgpallikeskus | 508[9] |
| Welco | Annelinna Stadium | 656[10] |
Personnel and kits
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elva |  Veiko Haan |
Markus Lokk |
Nike | Sportland |
| FCI Levadia U21 | Robert Sadovski |
Andrei Grigorjev |
Adidas | Viimsi Keevitus |
| Flora U21 | Ats Sillaste |
Igor Ustritski |
Nike | Tele2[11] |
| Maardu Linnameeskond |  Algimantas Briaunys |
Ilja Zelentsov |
Adidas | |
| Nõmme United | Martin Klasen |
Sander Alex Liit |
Uhlsport | Apollo |
| Paide Linnameeskond U21 | Erki Kesküla |
Mattias Sapp |
Nike | Verston |
| Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi | Igor Prins |
Veiko Vespere |
Hummel | Savi |
| Tallinna Kalev | Aivar Anniste Daniel Meijel |
Kaspar Laur |
Macron | Coolbet |
| Tammeka U21 | Marti Pähn |
Dominic Laaneots |
Nike | Metec |
| Welco | Meelis Eelmäe |
Mikk Valtna |
Adidas | Holm Bank |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tallinna Kalev |  Dmitrijs Kalašņikovs |
End of caretaker spell | 30 November 2020[12] | Pre-season | Aivar Anniste Daniel Meijel |
1 March 2021[13] |
| Welco | Janar Sagim |
Resigned | 22 January 2021[14] | Meelis Eelmäe |
25 January 2021[15] |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maardu Linnameeskond (C) | 30 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 99 | 30 | +69 | 73 | |
| 2 | Tallinna Kalev | 30 | 21 | 8 | 1 | 78 | 32 | +46 | 71 | Promotion to Meistriliiga[a] |
| 3 | Paide Linnameeskond U21 | 30 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 85 | 56 | +29 | 54 | |
| 4 | Nõmme United | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 79 | 67 | +12 | 41 | |
| 5 | Flora U21 | 27 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 38 | 47 | −9 | 39 | |
| 6 | Elva | 27 | 9 | 2 | 16 | 42 | 54 | −12 | 29 | |
| 7 | FCI Levadia U21 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 52 | 77 | −25 | 35 | |
| 8 | Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 38 | 61 | −23 | 29 | Qualification for relegation play-offs[a] |
| 9 | Tammeka U21 (R) | 30 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 43 | 82 | −39 | 25 | Relegation to Esiliiga B |
| 10 | Welco (R) | 30 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 30 | 78 | −48 | 20 |
Source: Soccerway (in English), Esiliiga (in Estonian)
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) Fair-play points; 10) Draw
(C) Champions; (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) Fair-play points; 10) Draw
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Relegation play-offs
| Alliance | 4–1 | Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi |
|---|---|---|
|
Report | Simanis  38' |
Alliance won 4–1 on aggregate.
Results
Matches 1–18 |
Matches 19–30
|
Season statistics
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[17] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robi Saarma | Nõmme United | 28 |
| 2 | Ats Purje | Tallinna Kalev | 24 |
| 3 | Vitali Gussev | Maardu Linnameeskond | 21 |
| 4 | Vadim Aksjonov | Maardu Linnameeskond | 16 |
| Kristofer Piht | Paide Linnameeskond U21 | ||
| 6 | Roman Sobtšenko | Maardu Linnameeskond | 15 |
| 7 | Ilja Zelentsov | Maardu Linnameeskond | 13 |
| 8 | Lars-Indrek Aigro | Nõmme United | 12 |
| Silard Simanis | Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi | ||
| 10 | Andreas Kiivit | Flora U21 | 11 |
| Ramol Sillamaa | Tallinna Kalev |
Awards
Monthly awards
| Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Club | Player | Club | |
| May[18] | Algimantas Briaunys | Maardu Linnameeskond | Ats Purje | Tallinna Kalev |
| June/July[19] | Aivar Anniste Daniel Meijel | Tallinna Kalev | Kaspar Laur | |
| September[20] | Martin Klasen | Nõmme United | Robi Saarma | Nõmme United |
| October[21] | Algimantas Briaunys | Maardu Linnameeskond | Lars-Indrek Aigro | |
Esiliiga Player of the Year
Ats Purje was named Esiliiga Player of the Year.[22]