This page summarizes Estonian football in 2020. It contains information about the league system, national teams, beach football and futsal. On 13 March 2020, football was suspended in Estonia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meistriliiga was resumed on 19 May and Esiliiga and Esiliiga B were continued a week later.
The 2020 season saw one new team. Maardu Linnameeskond finished last in 2019, and as such, were automatically relegated to the Esiliiga. They were replaced by Tallinna Legion, a team that had been promoted three seasons in a row. Manager Denis Belov said that the club were aiming for a top four position,[4] with the debutant making several high-profile signings (these being Maksim Gussev, Pavel Londak and Andrei Sidorenkov). Additionally, two of the top three teams from the previous season hired a new manager. FCI Levadia hired former national team coach Martin Reim, while Nõmme Kalju's new manager was Marko Kristal. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Estonian FA decided to split the league into 'champion' (top six teams) and 'relegation (bottom four teams) groups after the 27th round.[5] On the 7th of November it was decided that instead of the top six teams playing each other after the 27th round, only the league's four best teams will play with each other once more. The 5th and 6th placed clubs will play a match if the 6th team has a possibility of catching the 5th placed team.[6]
There were four changes of clubs compared to the 2019 season. Esiliiga B's reigning champion Nõmme United were promoted to the second tier for the first time in their history, while Pärnu and Vändra Vaprus were also promoted, returning to the league after twelve and four years respectively in lower divisions. The three clubs replaced Tartu Welco, Tallinna Kalev U21 and Rakvere Tarvas, who were relegated after the 2019 season. Maardu Linnameeskond was relegated from the top division, taking the place of 2019 Esiliiga champion Tallinna Legion. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Estonian FA decided to split the league into 'promotion' (top six teams) and 'relegation (bottom four teams) groups after the 27th round.[8]
The 2020 Esiliiga B season introduced four new clubs to the division: for the first time a team from Lääne County - Läänemaa, and three bottom teams of the 2019 Esiliiga season - Rakvere Tarvas, Tallinna Kalev U21 and Tartu Welco. These clubs replace the worst team of last season - Põhja-Tallinna Volta - and the three best teams - Pärnu JK, Vändra Vaprus and Nõmme United. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Estonian FA decided to split the league into 'promotion' (top four teams) and 'relegation (bottom four teams) groups after the 27th round. The fifth and sixth team will play another match if the sixth team has a possibility of catching the fifth team.[8]
Group A (North & East)
Compared to the 2019 season, there were three changes of teams. FC Tallinn, winner of the III liiga East, and play-off winner Tartu Helios were promoted from the III liiga, replacing Tartu Santos and Tallinna Ararat, who were both relegated. Meanwhile, Põhja-Tallinna Volta were relegated from the Esiliiga B after just one season. They took their reserve team's spot in the league, who were hence relegated to the III liiga. While two clubs (FCI Tallinn and Sillamäe Kalev) would have been promoted to the Esiliiga B from the results of the previous season, both remained in the fourth tier of Estonian football. FCI Tallinn could not be promoted as they were the second reserve team of FCI Levadia and would have been required to compete in the third tier as Tallinna FCI Levadia U19.[10]Sillamäe Kalev, on the other hand, was yet to pay its debts and was forbidden from entering the top three leagues.[11]
The 2020 season ended with Tallinna JK Legion II winning its first title. They were ahead of the second-placed debutant FC Tallinn by only head-to-head points (5:2 and 3:2 to Legion II) and FCI Tallinn, who were the reigning champions, finished third with 57 points, which is the most points for a bronze medalist. Jõgeva Wolves withdrew their last two games (in addition to one in the middle of the season) and was therefore disqualified from the league. The second to last team was Tartu Tammeka III, who was passed by Tartu Helios in the last rounds. The season's most-watched game was held on 29 July, when Narva Trans U21 defeated Tallinna Legion II. The match, which was played on the Narva Kalev-FAMA stadium, had 202 people in attendance.
Group B (South & West)
While in previous years the league had seen many arrivals and departures every season, in 2020, only two clubs joined the league. Two clubs from the Saue Parish were victorious in their respective leagues: Saue, champions of the 2019 III liiga West, made its return to the league after three years, while Harju Laagri made its debut in the fourth tier of Estonian football after winning the III liiga North in 2019. These two clubs will replace Läänemaa, who got promoted to the Esiliiga B (as neither Paide Linnameeskond III nor Tallinna Kalev III could have been promoted[10]), and Kose, who finished the 2019 season in last place and were relegated to the III liiga West.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic previous season's second-best team, Tallinna Kalev III, decided against taking part this season. They got replaced by Kose, who was originally supposed to play in III liiga.
The season was comfortably won by Paide Linnameeskond III, who won its third title in a row. In addition, it is the best result – only one draw and zero losses from 26 games – in the league's history (Pärnu Vaprus also amassed 76 points in 2004 but had two games more). Due to the fact that Paide Linnameeskond III would have to change its name to Paide Linnameeskond U19, the club opted against getting promoted. Therefore, second-placed Harju Laagri got promoted instead. Also, none of the following three teams (Raasiku Joker, Saue and Kuressaare II) wanted to participate in the promotion play-offs and thus II liiga N/E second-placed Tallinn got to play with Esiliiga B's 8th team.[12] The season's relegated teams were Pärnu Poseidon and Kose, who were in the bottom two for most of the year. Põhja-Sakala was third from last and had to compete in the relegation play-offs. In the end they decided against playing and were thus also relegated. The league's top scorer was Kuressaare II's Maarek Suursaar with his 38 goals. The most-viewed game of the 2020 season was held in the second to last round when the champions beat the home team Raplamaa in front of 132 fans.
Stadium: Paide kunstmuruväljak Attendance: 80 Referee: Karl Kena
Relegation play-off:
The play-offs for the last places in the next season's II liiga were held on four separate occasions: first the preliminary rounds on the 8th and 14 November and later the finals on the 18th and 22 November. The preliminary rounds are held between the second-placed teams in the fifth division (the South and West as well as the North and East silver medalists play each other). Due to the fact that the South league's second team Otepää did not wish to get promoted, Rummu Dünamo reached the finals without a game. In addition, their next opponent Põhja-Sakala also forfeited the duel and thus the team playing in Paldiski Arena was promoted to the higher tier. In the North-East side there were more play-off games: while the III liiga North second-placed Tallinna Zenit also opted against promotion, they were replaced by the sixth placed Saku Sporting. In the end the club situated in Saku managed to defeat Paide Linnameeskond IV and reach the finals, where they went against Lasnamäe Ajax, who competed in the Esiliiga B two years before. Saku won their first match at home, but suffered a 0–3 loss in Tallinn.
Group A (North)
Estonian's fifth tier North division, which has mostly clubs from the capital, had three new teams in 2020. Tallinna Ararat, who got relegated from II liiga after last season, joined the league after nine seasons in upper divisions. In addition, IV liiga's champion Nõmme Kalju III and Toompea got promoted and therefore replaced Harju Laagri (promoted), Tallinna Olympic Olybet and Maarjamäe Igiliikur (both relegated). Tallinna Štrommi, who finished last in 2019, got to stay in the division.
The season finished with Lilleküla Retro winning its third title in the III liiga. The team, who was managed by Tarmo Rüütli, only lost three games during the whole season and ended the year with an eleven-point gap to the nearest rival Tallinna Zenit. The league's top scorer was Retro's striker Dmitry Skiperskiy with his 37 goals in 22 games. The two teams who got relegated where Toompea, who lost 13 games in a row, and Rumori Calcio, who got passed by Nõmme Kalju III in the penultimate round. Due to the fact that none of the teams above the sixth-placed Saku Sporting wished to get promoted, the Harjumaa-based team got to participate in the promotion play-offs.
Group B (South)
III liiga South had four changes in comparison to the previous year: both Tartu Helios II and Tartu TRT77 will be debuting in the fifth division, Põlva Lootos returns after a year in the IV liiga and Imavere joins the league after having skipped last season entirely. These teams replace Tartu Helios (promoted), Illi & Jõgeva Noorus-96 ÜM (relegated) as well as EMÜ and Võru Helios II, who will not participate in the league system this year.
The season, which was extremely close-fought, ended with Elva II's winning its first title. They were four points ahead of Otepää, who were the reigning champions of III liiga South. One of the season's best performers were Vastseliina, who managed to be at the top of the table for the first fourteen rounds. Their downfall came in the autumn, when they lost four of their last eight matches. The relegation battle was between three teams - Tartu TRT77, Põlva Lootos and Äksi Wolves. While for most of the season, the trio was extremely close, then in the last few rounds, the Jõgevamaa based team fell behind. Due to the fact that in the 17th round, Tarvastu & Tõrva ÜM withdrew for a second time, they were instantly disqualified from the season. Therefore, them as well as Wolves got relegated. In addition to them, 10th placed Lootos lost to Tallinna Jalgpallihaigla in the relegation play-offs and was also relegated. The season's top scorer was Elva's Karl-Ernst Saal with his 33 goals.
Group C (East)
In this season's East division there are four new members. Kohtla-Järve Järve III (promoted), Rakvere Tarvas II, Tartu Kalev and Jõhvi Phoenix, who all have not participated in any division in the last few years. They replace Tallinna Augur (relegated), Tallinn (promoted), and Kadrina as well as Põhja-Tallinna Volta III. After the COVID-19 outbreak two teams - Sillamäe and Koeru - decided also not to take part in the league this year. Therefore, there are only ten teams competing this year. One remarkable addition was made by Phoenix, who signed Vladimir Aga, former Zimbru Chișinău head coach, as their new manager.[13]
Group D (West)
Western Estonia's III league had, as III liiga East, only ten teams taking part of the season. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Kose and Pärnu Poseidon II, who were both originally supposed to play in III liiga West, were respectively promoted and relegated one league tier. Also, Põhja-Tallinna Volta II, Tabasalu II, Tallinna Legion III and Tallinna Pocarr will compete and therefore replace Saaremaa aameraaS, Pakri Alexela, Kohila Püsivus (all not taking part of the league system), Saue (promoted) and Haapsalu (relegated).
Updated to match(es) played on 25 October. Source: [11]
Women
Naiste Meistriliiga
After the conclusion of the 2019 season, Pärnu JK announced that they will not compete in the 2020 season due to financial difficulties. Therefore, both Nõmme Kalju and Pärnu Vaprus will be promoted to the top division, as
Tallinna Legion, Tallinna Ajax and Kuressaare did not want to join the league. Coincidentally, Nõmme Kalju and Pärnu Vaprus both played in the 2019 Esiliiga relegation play-offs.
Updated to match(es) played on 7 November. Source: [12] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored (C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
For the first time in nine years, Naiste Esiliiga is the lowest tier of women's football in Estonia. This was caused by the fact that only four teams applied for the II liiga spot. Therefore, the Estonian FA decided to merge the second and the third tier of women's football.[14] The 2020 season has 12 competitors: five teams remain from last season, three are promoted from the II liiga, three clubs make their debut (Tabasalu, Rakvere Tarvas and Jõhvi Phoenix) and in addition, Tallinna Ajax merged with Paide Linnanaiskond. During the season's main phase, each team played once with each other. After the 11th round, the league table was split in half and every team played five more games.
The season ended with Tallinna Ajax & Paide Linnanaiskond winning their first Esiliiga title. This ended Pärnu's reserve team's streak of winning six titles in a row. Silvermedalists – Tabasalu – spent most of the season right behind the eventual winners. Their title hopes collapsed in the 13th round, when they lost 0:4 to Tallinna Ajax & Paide Linnanaiskond. In the last three rounds they only got three points. Despite their poor finish, they still qualified for the promotion play-offs, where they will go against Meistriliiga's 7th team Tartu Tammeka. Kohtla-Järve Järve's season was extremely unsuccessful as they received zero points and had 141 goals scored against them.
The season's top scorer was Tallinna Ajax & Paide Linnanaiskond's striker Gerli Israel, who scored 26 goals.
2020 had several team changes in comparison to the previous season. Three clubs changed their names (Tartu Ravens Futsal EMÜ became Tartu Ravens Futsal Ares Security; Sillamäe FC NPM Silmet became Sillamäe FC Molycorp Silmet; Sillamäe JK Dina became Sillamäe Alexela), while relegated Narva Ganza was replaced by Sillamäe Alexela. Additionally, the fourth-placed team of the 2018–19 Esiliiga, Tallinna Augur Enemat, decided against competing in the top tier. Therefore, Tartu Maksimum was spared from relegation and JK Kohila was promoted to the Meistriliiga for the first time.[16]
The main season ended with Viimsi winning firmly and Alexela barely finishing second (fifth-placed Ravens was only a point behind). The other three teams determined the relegated team, which in the end was Molycorp Silmet, who had a worse goal difference than Maksimum. The relegation play-offs were not played between Maksimum and Kadrina because Esiliigas fourth team did not want to get promoted. Also, the final tournament was not finished due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Therefore, Viimsi Smsraha was declared champions. The season's top scorer was Maksimum's Priit Peedo with his 20 goals.
In comparison to the 2019 season, only half of the league's teams remained the same. JK Kohila and Sillamäe Alexela were promoted to the Meistriliiga, while Tallinna Maccabi and reigning champions of the Saali Esiliiga, Tallinna FC Cosmos II, decided not to participate in the top three leagues. This saved the 2019 season's last-placed club Sillamäe from relegation, who instead remained in the league. In addition, the league had new entrants in the form of Narva Ganza (relegated from the Meistriliiga) and Kadrina (promoted from the Teine liiga). The final two clubs to participate were the reserve teams of Viimsi Smsraha and Narva United.
In conclusion, Narva United II won its second Esiliiga title with 33 points and Rummu Dünamo finished for the first time as the best independent team. Therefore, they were given the opportunity to replace Sillamäe NPM Silmet, who finished last this season, in the Coolbet Saaliliiga. As Kadrina were the second-best independent team, they were qualified to play promotion play-offs, which they decided not to participate in. On the other side of the league, Narva Ganza, who were in the highest division in 2018, got relegated. In addition, Sillamäe also gave up the opportunity to play relegation play-offs against Rõuge Saunamaa, who was thereby promoted to Esiliiga.[17]
The lowest tier of the futsal league system had seven participants in 2020, one less than the previous year. Three clubs remained in the league (Rõuge, Rummu II and Äksi), while four other teams competed in their debut seasons: Aruküla, Otepää, EstNor and Võru Helios.
The season ended with Aruküla Unibox winning each game and therefore being crowned the champions. As a result, they were promoted to the second tier. Rõuge Saunamaa, the team which finished the last two seasons in third place, finished the 2020 season in second and qualified for the promotion play-offs. Both teams secured their places multiple rounds before the end of the season. The league's top scorer was Rauno Randjõe from Aruküla, who scored 31 goals in 11 games.
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion, qualification or relegation
1
Aruküla Unibox (C, P)
12
12
0
0
112
26
+86
36
Promotion
2
Rõuge Saunamaa (O, P)
12
8
2
2
132
78
+54
26
Promotion play-offs
3
Äksi Wolves
12
6
0
6
78
98
−20
18
4
Rantipol Võru Helios
12
5
1
6
94
90
+4
16
5
Rummu Dünamo II
12
3
1
8
74
121
−47
10
6
Otepää
12
2
2
8
41
80
−39
8
7
EstNor Kiili
12
1
4
7
55
93
−38
7
Club dissolved
Updated to match(es) played on 10 February. Source: [31] (C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
The second season of the women's futsal championship had five contestants. As there was no second division, the last-placed team did not get relegated and thus all clubs from the competition's debut season (except for FC RaDina) are taking part. One completely new team joined the league, Tallinna FC Ajax. At first, last season's second-placed team Põltsamaa SK Motiiv decided not to compete. However, prior to the start of the season they merged with Tartu SK 10 Premium and took part in the league.[18]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion, qualification or relegation
1
Pae United
11
11
0
0
142
11
+131
33
Champions
2
Põltsamaa Motiiv 10
12
7
1
4
84
23
+61
22
3
Nõmme Kalju
11
5
1
5
51
32
+19
16
4
Tallinna Ajax
11
4
0
7
33
58
−25
12
5
Kuusalu Kalev
11
0
0
11
13
199
−186
0
Updated to match(es) played on 5 March. Source: [32]
Rank
Player
Club
Goals
1
Ljubov Maksimova
Pae United
43
2
Margaria Matjuhhova
32
3
Gerda Johanna Leichter
Põltsamaa Motiiv
21
4
Samanta Uueda
16
5
Anna Kulieva
Pae United
15
As of 26 January 2020.
Beach football
Coolbet RannaLiiga — Meistriliiga
In 2020 the Estonian FA and Latvian FA decided to merge their top beach football seasons. The league consists of five Estonian teams (last year's top four + Türi) and three Latvian teams. While in the beginning it was decided that there will be more than four rounds and a play-off at the end of the season, then due to the COVID-19 pandemic all teams played each other twice and there was not a final tournament. Three stages were hosted by Sportland Beach Pärnu Arena and one round was played in Jurmala. The best Estonian and Latvian team progressed to the 2021 Euro Winners Cup tournament.[19]
The historic season ended with SK Augur Enemat firmly winning its third title (the first two being in 2013 and 2018). Last season's champion Thunder Arvutitark finished second, eleven points behind the champions. The league's third placed team was also from Estonia - Nõmme Olybet managed to reach the top three for the fourth consecutive season. The best Latvian team was BSC LAT, who placed fourth. After the season, the FA decided to award Kristian Marmor as the league's best player, Sander Lepik as the best goalscorer (20 goals) and Markus Lukk as the best keeper. All winning players represented Augur.[20]
Eight teams were originally supposed to take part of the 2020 Beach football Esiliiga season, but Team Viimsi, who did not show up to the first round, were disqualified. While five of the teams remained the same as last year, then Prokon and Tickmill both made their debuts. Last season's silvermedalists BSC Türi decided to participate in the higher division. The first two rounds were won by All-Stars, who were six points ahead of the second-placed JK Fellin. But the leader was unsuccessful in the following two rounds and therefore they were passed by eventual winners Chromotex and Schötlli. Consequently, Chromotex won their second title in a row, while Schötlli were awarded their first medal. The best player of the season was Aleksander Frischer, the best goalkeeper was Kalev Moppel (both Chromotex) and the best goalscorer was Jaagup Luhakooder (Schöttli).
Home teams listed on top of bracket. (AET): At Extra Time
Flora got a bye from the quarterfinals, because Pärnu announced that they will not compete in the 2020 season.
Futsal's Cup
In 2019 both Võru Helios and Tartu Ravens reached the semifinals for the first time. In the final, title holders Viimsi Smsraha defeated Tallinna Cosmos in front of 277 people. The Futsal Cup's top scorer was Rummu Dünamo's Dmitri Sui with 11 goals.
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final
2
Rummu Dünamo
4
1
Viimsi Smsraha
14
1
Viimsi Smsraha
7
3
Rantipol Võru Helios
1
1
Tartu Maksimum
1
3
Rantipol Võru Helios
3
1
Viimsi Smsraha
3
1
Tallinna Cosmos
2
1
Narva United
2
1
Tartu Ravens F.A.S.
4
1
Tartu Ravens F.A.S.
2
1
Tallinna Cosmos
6
1
Sillamäe NPM Silmet
3
1
Tallinna Cosmos
7
Home teams listed on top of bracket. (AET): At Extra Time
The Estonian County Competition is a league-type competition, where teams from all 15 counties (plus a team from the capital Tallinn) compete to win the title. The competition lasts for 30 years, and each year every team plays only one game. This season's games were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[25]
^Matches originally scheduled to be played on 22 September 2020 were rearranged following postponements to other matches due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.
^The first qualifying round match between Nõmme Kalju and Mura, originally scheduled to be played on 27 August 2020, 16:30 CEST, at Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, was postponed, due to one player from Nõmme Kalju and one player from Mura testing positive for SARS-2 coronavirus, after Meistriliiga and Slovenian PrvaLiga matches on 22 August respectively, and both whole teams being put into quarantine by the Estonian authorities.[26]
