2018 Meistriliiga

The 2018 Meistriliiga (known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga for sponsorship reasons[1]) was the 28th season of the Meistriliiga, the highest division of Estonian football system. The season was scheduled to begin on 25 February 2018, but was postponed due to a cold wave. On 3 March, the season began with four out of five second round matches held in indoor arena. This marked the first time Estonian league football was played indoor.[2] The season concluded on 10 November 2018.[3] Flora were the defending champions. Nõmme Kalju won their 2nd Meistriliiga title completing an entire season undefeated.

Meistriliiga
Season2018
Dates3 March 2018 – 10 November 2018
ChampionsNõmme Kalju
2nd title
RelegatedVaprus
Champions LeagueNõmme Kalju
Europa LeagueFCI Levadia
Flora
Narva Trans
Matches played180
Goals scored685 (3.81 per match)
Top goalscorerLiliu
(31 goals)
← 2017
2019 →

Teams

10 teams competed in the league. Sillamäe Kalev lost their Meistriliiga license due to a failure to meet their financial obligations and were relegated to the II liiga.[4] On 4 November 2017, it was announced that FCI Tallinn would merge with Levadia.[5]

The two clubs were replaced by 2017 Esiliiga champions Maardu Linnameeskond and runners-up Tallinna Kalev.[6] On 18 December 2017, Kuressaare replaced Maardu Linnameeskond after the latter withdrew from the league due to financial reasons.[7]

Venues
Locations of the 2018 Meistriliiga teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity
FCI Levadia Tallinn Kadriorg Stadium 5,000[8]
Flora Tallinn A. Le Coq Arena 14,405[9]
Kuressaare Kuressaare Kuressaare linnastaadion 1,000[10]
Narva Trans Narva Narva Kreenholmi Stadium 1,065[11]
Nõmme Kalju Tallinn Hiiu Stadium 650[12]
Paide Linnameeskond Paide Paide linnastaadion 268[13]
Tallinna Kalev Tallinn Kalevi Keskstaadion 11,500[14]
Tammeka Tartu Tartu Tamme Stadium 1,500[15]
Tulevik Viljandi Viljandi linnastaadion 1,084[16]
Vaprus Pärnu Pärnu Rannastaadion 1,501[17]

Personnel and kits
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
FCI Levadia Aleksandar Rogić Dmitri Kruglov Adidas Viimsi Keevitus
Flora Jürgen Henn Gert Kams Nike Tele2[18]
Kuressaare Jan Važinski Sander Viira Joma Saaremaa Lihatööstus
Narva Trans Cenk Özcan Elysée Nike Sportland
Nõmme Kalju Sergei Frantsev Vitali Teleš Adidas help.ee
Paide Linnameeskond Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko Andre Frolov Nike Verston
Tallinna Kalev Argo Arbeiter Hidetoshi Wakui Nike Coolbet
Tammeka Kaido Koppel Tauno Tekko Nike Metec[19]
Tulevik Sander Post Indrek Ilves Joma Viljandi Aken ja Uks[20]
Vaprus Indrek Zelinski Joosep Sarapuu Nike Coolbet[21]

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Vaprus Marko Lelov Resigned 5 November 2017[22] Pre-season Indrek Zelinski 5 November 2017[23]
FCI Levadia Igor Prins End of contract 5 November 2017[24] Aleksandar Rogić 6 November 2017[25]
Tulevik Aivar Lillevere Resigned 15 November 2017[26] Marko Kristal 30 December 2017[27]
Tallinna Kalev Marko Pärnpuu Sacked 16 November 2017[28] Argo Arbeiter 17 November 2017[29]
Tammeka Mario Hansi
Kaido Koppel		 Mutual consent 21 November 2017[30] Kaido Koppel 21 November 2017[30]
Flora Arno Pijpers Resigned 13 December 2017[31] Jürgen Henn 5 January 2018[32]
Kuressaare Sander Viira Mutual consent 19 December 2017 Jan Važinski 19 December 2017[33]
Tulevik Marko Kristal Mutual consent 19 April 2018[34] 9th Sander Post 19 April 2018[34]
Narva Trans Adyam Kuzyaev Resigned 14 August 2018[35] 4th Cenk Özcan 17 August 2018[35]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Nõmme Kalju (C) 36 25 11 0 114 32 +82 86 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 FCI Levadia 36 26 6 4 109 26 +83 84 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[lower-alpha 1]
3 Flora 36 25 8 3 116 32 +84 83
4 Narva Trans 36 18 7 11 76 57 +19 61
5 Paide Linnameeskond 36 14 9 13 64 74 −10 51
6 Tammeka 36 14 7 15 56 58 −2 49
7 Tulevik 36 8 5 23 37 100 −63 29
8 Tallinna Kalev 36 7 7 22 54 68 −14 28
9 Kuressaare (O) 36 6 3 27 34 115 −81 21 Qualification for the Relegation play-offs
10 Vaprus (R) 36 2 7 27 25 123 −98 13 Relegation to the Esiliiga
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian), UEFA, Soccerway
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) Fairplay ranking.[36]
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Narva Trans qualified for the Europa League since they won 2018–19 Estonian Cup.

Relegation play-offs

At season's end Kuressaare, the ninth place club, participated in a two-legged play-off with the runners-up (of independent teams) of the 2018 Esiliiga, Elva, for the spot in 2019 Meistriliiga.

17 November 2018 Elva0–1 Kuressaare Elva
13:00 (UTC+2) Report Laht 50' (p) Stadium: Elva linnastaadion
Attendance: 235
Referee: Siim Rinken
24 November 2018 Kuressaare 1–0ElvaKuressaare
13:00 (UTC+2) Saar 61' Report Stadium: Kuressaare linnastaadion
Attendance: 152
Referee: Kristo Tohver
Kuressaare won 2–0 on aggregate and retained their Meistriliiga spot for the 2019 season.

Results

Each team played every opponent four times, twice at home and twice away. A total of 180 matches has been played, with 36 matches played by each team.

Season statistics

Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Tristan Koskor4TammekaKuressaare4–0 (A)30 March 2018[38]
Roman DebelkoFCI LevadiaTulevik5–0 (H)5 May 2018[39]
LiliuNõmme KaljuVaprus6–0 (A)5 May 2018[40]
Marcelin Gando4FCI LevadiaVaprus6–1 (H)26 May 2018[41]
LiliuNõmme KaljuPaide Linnameeskond3–0 (A)18 August 2018[42]
Zakaria BeglarishviliFloraTulevik3–1 (A)3 November 2018[43]

4 Player scored 4 goals

Awards

Monthly awards
Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month
ManagerClub PlayerClub
March[44] Sergei FrantsevNõmme Kalju Roman DebelkoFCI Levadia
April[45] Aleksandar RogićFCI Levadia LiliuNõmme Kalju
May[46] Jürgen HennFlora Samson IyedePaide Linnameeskond
June/July[47] Sergei FrantsevNõmme Kalju Madis VihmannFlora
August[48] Kaido KoppelTammeka Gert Kams
September[49] Aleksandar RogićFCI Levadia Viktor PlotnikovNarva Trans
October[50] Jürgen HennFlora Herol RiibergTulevik

Meistriliiga Player of the Year

Zakaria Beglarishvili was named Meistriliiga Player of the Year.[51]

Goal of the Year

Tõnis Vihmoja's goal against Paide Linnameeskond was chosen Goal of the Year.[52]

Player transfers

See also

References
  1. "Kodune tippjalgpall saab peatoetaja" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  2. "Jalgpalliliigad alustavad sisehallis". Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  3. "Asi klaar! Selgus Premium liiga kalender, avavoorus suured omavahel vastamisi ei lähe". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  4. "JK Sillamäe Kalev jäi litsentsist ilma" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 4 November 2017.
  5. "Jalgpallipomm: FC Levadia ja FC Infonet kavatsevad ühineda". Postimees. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  6. "Jalgpalliliit kinnitas Premium liiga 2018. aasta koosseisu" [Football Association confirm 2018 Premium liiga teams] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 6 November 2017.
  7. "FC Kuressaare asendab Premium liigas Maardu Linnameeskonda" [FC Kuressaare will replace Maardu Linnameeskonda in the Premium liiga] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 18 December 2017.
  8. "Kadrioru Staadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
  9. "A. Le Coq Arena" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  10. "Kuressaare Linnastaadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
  11. "Narva Kreenholmi staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  12. "Hiiu kunstmurustaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  13. "Paide linna staadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
  14. "Kalevi Keskstaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  15. "Tartu Tamme staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  16. "Viljandi linnastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  17. "Pärnu Rannastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  18. "Flora sai koondisega sama sponsori". Soccernet.ee. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  19. "Intensiivsem Tammeka lubab vastaste eksimusi karmilt karistada". Postimees. 3 March 2017.
  20. "Klubi suurtoetaja soovib olla teistele eeskujuks". Postimees. 19 March 2016.
  21. "Pärnu Vapruse peatoetajaks sai Coolbet". Pärnu JK Vaprus. 2 February 2017.
  22. "Eesti jalgpalli kõrgliigaklubi peatreener teatas, et paneb ameti maha" (in Estonian). Postimees. 22 October 2017.
  23. "Indrek Zelinski alustab tööd Pärnu Vapruse peatreenerina" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 23 October 2017.
  24. "Igor Prins ei jätka Levadia ja Infoneti ühisprojektis" (in Estonian). ERR. 5 November 2017.
  25. "Ühinevate FCI ja Levadia eesmärgiks on pääs eurosarja alagrupiturniirile" (in Estonian). ERR. 6 November 2017.
  26. "Aivar Lillevere pani Viljandi Tuleviku peatreeneriameti maha". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  27. "Asi paigas! Tulevik leidis omale lõpuks peatreeneri". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  28. "Tallinna Kalev lõpetas Marko Pärnpuuga koostöö". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  29. "Ametlik: Kalevi peatreeneriks saab Arbeiter". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  30. "Tammeka jätkab ühe peatreeneriga". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  31. "AMETLIK: võidukas Pijpers ei jätka Flora peatreenerina". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  32. "AMETLIK: Flora peatreeneriks sai Pijpersi abitreener". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  33. "Važinski: tahaks näha mehi, kes on motiveeritud sellisel tasemel mängima". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  34. "Kaotus Flora noortele sai saatuslikuks: Tulevik lõpetas Kristaliga lepingu, asendus tuleb mängijate seast". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  35. "Üllatus: Trans leidis Kuzjajevile juba Türgist asenduse". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  36. "Eesti 2017.a meistrivõistluste Meistri- ja Esiliiga juhend" (PDF). jalgpall.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  37. "MÄNGUDE AJALUGU" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  38. "FC Kuressaare 0 - 4 Tartu JK Tammeka". Estonian Football Association. 30 March 2018.
  39. "Tallinna FCI Levadia 5 - 0 Viljandi JK Tulevik". Estonian Football Association. 5 May 2018.
  40. "Pärnu JK Vaprus 0 - 6 Nõmme Kalju FC". Estonian Football Association. 5 May 2018.
  41. "Tallinna FCI Levadia 6 - Pärnu JK Vaprus". Estonian Football Association. 26 May 2018.
  42. "Paide Linnameeskond 0 - 3 Nõmme Kalju FC". Estonian Football Association. 5 May 2018.
  43. "Viljandi JK Tulevik 1 - 3 Tallinna FC Flora". Estonian Football Association. 3 November 2018.
  44. "Premium liiga kuu parimad on Frantcev ja Debelko" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 6 April 2018.
  45. "Premium liiga kuu parimad Kaljust ja Levadiast" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 10 May 2018.
  46. "Premium liiga kuu parimateks Henn ja Iyede" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 11 June 2018.
  47. "Premium liiga kuu parimad tulevad Kaljust ja Florast" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 9 August 2018.
  48. "Premium liiga kuu parimateks valiti Koppel ja Kams" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 10 September 2018.
  49. "Premium liiga septembrikuu parimad: Rogic ja Plotnikov" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 5 October 2018.
  50. "Premium liiga kuu parimad olid Henn ja Riiberg" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 7 November 2018.
  51. "Premium liiga parim mängija oli Zakaria Beglarishvili" [Premium liiga's best player was Zakaria Beglarishvili] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 9 December 2018.
  52. "VIDEO: Premium liiga aasta värava lõi Tõnis Vihmoja" [VIDEO: Premium liiga's Goal of the Year was scored by Tõnis Vihmoja] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 9 December 2018.
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