Esiliiga

The Esiliiga is the second division in the Estonian football league system. The Esiliiga is ranked below the Meistriliiga and above the Esiliiga B.

Esiliiga
Founded1992 (1992)
Country Estonia
ConfederationUEFA
DivisionsEsiliiga
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toMeistriliiga
Relegation toEsiliiga B
Domestic cup(s)Estonian Cup
Current championsHarju JK (1st title)
(2022)
Most championshipsLevadia II Tallinn
(7 titles)
WebsiteOfficial website
Current: 2023 Esiliiga

As in most countries with low temperatures in winter time, the season starts in March and ends in November. The league features several reserve teams of Meistriliiga clubs. According to the rules set by the Estonian Football Association, reserve teams are ineligible for promotion to the Meistriliiga, but can play in the Estonian Cup.

Competition format

During the season, the teams play each of the other four times, twice at home and twice away. This makes for a total of 36 games played each season. The teams gain three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a defeat. Promotion and relegation between divisions is a central feature of the league. At the end of the season, clubs at the top of their division win promotion to the next higher division, while those at the bottom will be relegated to the next lower one. At the end of a season, the top Esiliiga club gains promotion to the Meistriliiga. This is providing that the Esiliiga club meets the licensing criteria of the Meistriliiga. Reserve teams in Estonia play in the same league system as the senior team, however, they must play at least one level below their main side, and are thus ineligible for promotion to the Meistriliiga. Two bottom end clubs of Esiliiga are relegated to the Esiliiga B, and two top clubs of Esiliiga B are promoted to the Esiliiga. The two-legged play-offs for the Meistriliiga spot are contested between the ninth placed (second bottom) club in the Meistriliiga and the second in the Esiliiga, and the two-legged play-offs for the Esiliiga spot are contested between the eighth placed (third bottom) club in the Esiliiga and the third in the Esiliiga B.[1]

Clubs

Current clubs

The following clubs are competing in the Esiliiga during the 2023 season.

Club Position
in 2022		 Seasons in
Esiliiga		 First season of
current spell		 Titles Last title
Elvab 3rd 11 2017 0 —
FC Tallinna,b 1st in the Esiliiga B 0 2023 0 —
Flora U21 Tallinnb,c 5th 17 2006 2 2015
JK Tabasalua,b 2nd in the Esiliiga B 0 2023 0 —
Levadia U21 Tallinna,b,c 2nd 19 2004 7 2013
Viimsi JKa,b 4th 1 2022 0 —
Ida-Virumaa FC Alliance 8th 4 2022 0 —
TJK Legion 9th in the Meistriliiga 4 2023 1 2019
Nõmme Uniteda,b 6th 3 2020 0 —
Paide Linnameeskond U21b,c 7th 6 2021 0 —

a – never been relegated from Esiliiga
b – never played in Meistriliiga
c – ineligible for promotion to Meistriliiga

Champions
Season Champions Runners-up Third place Top goalscorer Goals
1992 Kreenholm Narva Tempo Tallinn Lokomotiiv Valga
1992–93 Tervis Pärnu Tallinna Sadam Kreenholm Narva
1993–94 Kalev Pärnu Vall Tallinn Pena Jõhvi Estonia Vadim Dolinin (Kalev Pärnu)21
1994–95 Dünamo Tallinn[A] Tallinna Jalgpallikool Pena Jõhvi
Lelle[B] Tervis Pärnu Tulevik Viljandi
1995–96 Norma Tallinn Vall Tallinn Tallinna Jalgpallikool
1996–97 Dünamo Tallinn (2) Tallinna Jalgpallikool Pärnu Estonia Igor Bratšuk (Olümp Maardu)8
1997–98 Vall Tallinn Olümpia Maardu Dokker Tallinn Estonia Andrei Afanassov (Vall Tallinn)
Estonia Aleksei Titov (Vall Tallinn)		13
1998 Levadia Maardu Vigri Tallinn Lootus Kohtla-Järve Estonia Igor Bratšuk (Levadia Maardu)9
1999 Kuressaare Lootus Kohtla-Järve Vigri Tartu Lithuania Svajūnas Raučkis (Kuressaare)27
2000 Maardu Tervis Pärnu Viljandi Estonia Vladimir Tšelnokov (Maardu)26
2001 Levadia Pärnu Valga S.C. Real Maardu Estonia Andrei Afanassov (S.C. Real Maardu)26
2002 Valga Kuressaare Maardu Estonia Andrei Afanassov (Maardu)25
2003 Lootus Kohtla-Järve Tervis Pärnu M.C. Tallinn Estonia Aleksei Titov (Ajax Lasnamäe)29
2004 Tammeka Tartu Levadia II Tallinn Tervis Pärnu Estonia Oliver Konsa (Tammeka Tartu)25
2005 Vaprus Pärnu Levadia II Tallinn Ajax Lasnamäe Russia Nikita Andreev (Ajax Lasnamäe)29
2006 Levadia II Tallinn (2) Kuressaare Tallinna Kalev Estonia Kaimar Saag (Levadia II Tallinn)37
2007 Levadia II Tallinn (3) Flora II Tallinn Sillamäe Kalev Estonia Andrus Mitt (Nõmme Kalju)24
2008 Levadia II Tallinn (4) Kuressaare Flora II Tallinn Estonia Sergei Jegorov (TVMK II Tallinn)20
2009 Levadia II Tallinn (5) Lootus Kohtla-Järve Warrior Valga Estonia Tõnis Starkopf (Kiviõli Tamme Auto/Levadia II Tallinn)32
2010 Levadia II Tallinn (6) Flora II Tallinn Ajax Lasnamäe Estonia Tõnis Starkopf (Kiviõli Tamme Auto)28
2011 Tallinna Kalev Infonet Tallinn Kiviõli Tamme Auto Estonia Maksim Rõtškov (Infonet Tallinn)40
2012 Infonet Tallinn Flora II Tallinn Tarvas Rakvere Ivory Coast Manucho (Infonet Tallinn)31
2013 Levadia II Tallinn (7) Lokomotiv Jõhvi Flora II Tallinn Estonia Tõnis Starkopf (Irbis Kiviõli)28
2014 Flora II Tallinn Levadia II Tallinn Pärnu Linnameeskond Estonia Kristen Saarts (Pärnu Linnameeskond/Levadia II Tallinn)31
2015 Flora II Tallinn (2) Levadia II Tallinn Infonet II Tallinn Estonia Eduard Golovljov (Infonet II Tallinn)41
2016 Tulevik Viljandi Flora U21 Tallinn Infonet II Tallinn Estonia Eduard Golovljov (Infonet II Tallinn)39
2017 Maardu Linnameeskond Tallinna Kalev Tarvas Rakvere Estonia Vitali Gussev (Maardu Linnameeskond)38
2018 Maardu Linnameeskond (2) Flora U21 Tallinn Levadia U21 Tallinn Estonia Vitali Gussev (Maardu Linnameeskond)43
2019 TJK Legion Flora U21 Tallinn Pärnu Vaprus Estonia Rejal Alijev (Legion Tallinn)38
2020 Pärnu Vaprus (2) Maardu Linnameeskond Nõmme United Estonia Kevin Mätas (Nõmme United)22
2021 Maardu Linnameeskond (3) Tallinna Kalev Paide Linnameeskond U21 Estonia Robi Saarma (Nõmme United)28
2022 Harju JK Laagri Levadia U21 Tallinn Elva Estonia Egert Õunapuu (Nõmme United)36
  1. ^
    East/North champion
  2. ^
    South/West champion

Total titles won
Club 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Winning seasons
Levadia U21 Tallinn 7 5 1 2000, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013
Maardu Linnameeskond 3 1 0 2017, 2018, 2021
Flora U21 Tallinn 2 6 2 2014, 2015
Dünamo Tallinn 2 0 0 1994–95[A], 1996–97
Vaprus Pärnu 2 0 1 2005, 2020
Tervis Pärnu 1 3 1 1992–93
Kuressaare 1 3 0 1999
Järve Kohtla-Järve 1 2 1 2003
Tallinna Kalev 1 2 1 2011
Vall Tallinn 1 2 0 1997–98
Warrior Valga 1 1 1 2002
Infonet Tallinn 1 1 0 2012
Kreenholm Narva 1 0 1 1992
Pärnu 1 0 1 1993–94
Tulevik Viljandi 1 0 1 2016
Lelle 1 0 0 1994–95[B]
Norma Tallinn 1 0 0 1995–96
Levadia Tallinn 1 0 0 1998
Levadia Pärnu 1 0 0 2001
Tammeka Tartu 1 0 0 2004
TJK Legion 1 0 0 2019
Harju JK 1 0 0 2022
Tallinna Jalgpallikool 0 2 1
Vigri Tartu 0 1 1
Tempo Tallinn 0 1 0
Tallinna Sadam 0 1 0
Olümpia Maardu 0 1 0
Lokomotiv Jõhvi 0 1 0
Pena Jõhvi 0 0 2
Maardu 0 0 2
Ajax Lasnamäe 0 0 2
Infonet II Tallinn 0 0 2
Tarvas Rakvere 0 0 2
Lokomotiiv Valga 0 0 1
Dokker Tallinn 0 0 1
Viljandi 0 0 1
M.C. Tallinn 0 0 1
Sillamäe Kalev 0 0 1
Irbis Kiviõli 0 0 1
Pärnu Linnameeskond 0 0 1
Nõmme United 0 0 1
Paide Linnameeskond U21 0 0 1
Elva 0 0 1
  1. ^
    East/North champion
  2. ^
    South/West champion

All-time Esiliiga table

The table is a cumulative record of all match results, points and goals of every team that has played in the Esiliiga since its inception in 1992. The table that follows is accurate as of the end of the 2021 season. Teams in bold played in the Esiliiga 2021 season. Numbers in bold are the record (highest) numbers in each column.

In this ranking 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 for a draw, and 0 for a loss. Promotion matches and relegation matches involving clubs of higher or lower leagues are not counted.

The table is sorted by all-time points.

Pos.
Club
Seasons
Titles
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
PPG
1FCI Levadia U212076883861201821722885+83712781.86
2FC Flora U211325633021011601195706+48910071.79
3JK Tallinna Kalev812821475481614431+1834951.76
4Rakvere JK Tarvas10036013264164556731-1754601.28
5FC Kuressaare912781364199568482+864491.62
6Kiviõli FC Irbis8028811051124556542+143811.32
7Maardu Linnameeskond531701122038468235+2333562.09
8FC Elva1003319945187437706-2693421.03
9Kohtla-Järve FC Lootus71214972790411400+113181.49
10Lasnamäe FC Ajax60200933770449311+1383161.58
11Pärnu JK Vaprus62204923874400343+573141.54
12Tartu JK Tammeka U21702428649107385447-623071.27
13Viljandi JK Tulevik71166903056320250+703001.81
14Pärnu KEK81188862377416370+462811.49
15FC Valga81164791461304276+282511.53
16Tallinna FC TVMK II50172632386302363-612121.23
17Valga FC Warrior602006129110285438-1532121.06
18Tartu FC Santos50216592794290388-982040.94
19Tallinna JK Legion41144602163291296-52011.40
20Tallinna JK Dünamo72144581967276319-431931.34
21JK Sillamäe Kalev70162562474232303-711921.19
22Vändra JK Vaprus50174523092259375-1161861.07
23FCI Tallinn U2130108511245266214+521651.53
24Tartu JK Merkuur60122491855199238-391651.35
25Nõmme Kalju FC U2140144482175218293-751651.15
26Pärnu JK61122442149224227-31531.25
27FCI Tallinn217245161119580+1151512.10
28FC Puuma40144372879208372-1641390.97
29Pärnu Linnameeskond30108372349207213-61341.24
30Tallinna Jalgpalliklubi40120342264164300-1361241.03
31FC M.C. Tallinn3084341733167189-221191.42
32Tallinna JK Vall41583671517180+911151.98
33Maardu FK Olümpia5178331629158152+61151.47
34Tartu SK 102072321228123125-21081.50
35Viljandi JK Tulevik U2130108282456139215-761081.00
36Nõmme Kalju FC2072311427145149-41071.49
37Tartu JK Tammeka3184291837165199-341051.25
38Tartu JK Welco40138272487143345-2021050.76
39Tallinna Jalgpallikool5072311031117141-241031.43
40FC Nõmme United2062281222155110+44961.55
41Maardu S.C. Real2056271316144102+42941.68
42Jõhvi FC Lokomotiiv2072261333115121-6911.26
43Tartu KSK Vigri204226979840+58872.07
44Narva Kreenholm4158251023120125-5851.47
45Kiviõli JK Irbis40582382799117-18771.33
46Kohtla-Järve JK Järve30102211368106270-164760.75
47Kohtla-Järve JK Pena3046227179585+10731.59
48JK Tallinna Kalev U21207218134175134-59670.93
49Paide Linnameeskond U211030173108556+29541.80
50Paide Linnameeskond10361412105844+14541.50
51Pärnu FC Levadia112815766739+28521.86
52Tallinna FC Norma2128152117744+33471.68
53Viimsi JK1028124124350-7401.43
54FC Viljandi1028124123146-15401.43
55JK Tallinna Sadam101612225214+38382.38
56Paide KEK2028106125664-8361.29
57Keila JK1036105214188-47350.97
58Lelle SK10361112449100-51340.94
59FC Kuressaare II102883173579-44270.96
60Kehra JK Paber102073103347-14241.20
61Kallaste JK Peipsi Kalur202873183675-39240.86
62Tallinna JK Metallist10127053025+5211.75
63Tallinna JK Dokker10146353026+4211.50
64Tallinna JK Tempo10126152926+3191.58
65Tallinna FC Arsenal10145092631-5151.07
66Tartu JK Merkuur-Juunior103635282797-70140.39
67Põltsamaa JK Sport1010109627-2130.30
68Tartu FC DAG10140131267-5510.07

See also

References
  1. "Esiliiga tutvustus" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
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