2018 Meistriliiga

Last updated
Meistriliiga
Season2018
Dates3 March 2018 – 10 November 2018
Champions Nõmme Kalju
2nd title
Relegated Vaprus
Champions League Nõmme Kalju
Europa League FCI Levadia
Flora
Narva Trans
Matches played180
Goals scored685 (3.81 per match)
Top goalscorer Liliu
(31 goals)
2017
2019

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.

Contents

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

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
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

TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
FCI Levadia Flag of Serbia.svg Aleksandar Rogić Flag of Estonia.svg Dmitri Kruglov Adidas Viimsi Keevitus
Flora Flag of Estonia.svg Jürgen Henn Flag of Estonia.svg Gert Kams Nike Tele2 [18]
Kuressaare Flag of Estonia.svg Jan Važinski Flag of Estonia.svg Sander Viira Joma Saaremaa Lihatööstus
Narva Trans Flag of Turkey.svg Cenk Özcan Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Irié NikeSportland
Nõmme Kalju Flag of Russia.svg Sergei Frantsev Flag of Estonia.svg Vitali Teleš Adidashelp.ee
Paide Linnameeskond Flag of Estonia.svg Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko Flag of Estonia.svg Andre Frolov NikeVerston
Tallinna Kalev Flag of Estonia.svg Argo Arbeiter Flag of Japan.svg Hidetoshi Wakui NikeCoolbet
Tammeka Flag of Estonia.svg Kaido Koppel Flag of Estonia.svg Tauno TekkoNikeMetec [19]
Tulevik Flag of Estonia.svg Sander Post Flag of Estonia.svg Indrek Ilves JomaViljandi Aken ja Uks [20]
Vaprus Flag of Estonia.svg Indrek Zelinski Flag of Estonia.svg Joosep Sarapuu NikeCoolbet [21]

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Vaprus Flag of Estonia.svg Marko Lelov Resigned5 November 2017 [22] Pre-season Flag of Estonia.svg Indrek Zelinski 5 November 2017 [23]
FCI Levadia Flag of Estonia.svg Igor Prins End of contract5 November 2017 [24] Flag of Serbia.svg Aleksandar Rogić 6 November 2017 [25]
Tulevik Flag of Estonia.svg Aivar Lillevere Resigned15 November 2017 [26] Flag of Estonia.svg Marko Kristal 30 December 2017 [27]
Tallinna Kalev Flag of Estonia.svg Marko Pärnpuu Sacked16 November 2017 [28] Flag of Estonia.svg Argo Arbeiter 17 November 2017 [29]
Tammeka Flag of Estonia.svg Mario Hansi
Flag of Estonia.svg Kaido Koppel
Mutual consent21 November 2017 [30] Flag of Estonia.svg Kaido Koppel21 November 2017 [30]
Flora Flag of the Netherlands.svg Arno Pijpers Resigned13 December 2017 [31] Flag of Estonia.svg Jürgen Henn 5 January 2018 [32]
Kuressaare Flag of Estonia.svg Sander Viira Mutual consent19 December 2017 Flag of Estonia.svg Jan Važinski 19 December 2017 [33]
Tulevik Flag of Estonia.svg Marko Kristal Mutual consent19 April 2018 [34] 9th Flag of Estonia.svg Sander Post 19 April 2018 [34]
Narva Trans Flag of Russia.svg Adyam Kuzyaev Resigned14 August 2018 [35] 4th Flag of Turkey.svg Cenk Özcan 17 August 2018 [35]

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1 Nõmme Kalju (C)362511011432+8286Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 FCI Levadia 36266410926+8384Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round [lower-alpha 1]
3 Flora 36258311632+8483
4 Narva Trans 36187117657+1961
5 Paide Linnameeskond 361491364741051
6 Tammeka 36147155658249
7 Tulevik 368523371006329
8 Tallinna Kalev 36772254681428
9 Kuressaare (O)366327341158121Qualification for the Relegation play-offs
10 Vaprus (R)362727251239813Relegation 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) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (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 Elva 0–1 Kuressaare Elva
13:00 (UTC+2) Report Laht Soccerball shade.svg50' (p)Stadium: Elva linnastaadion
Attendance: 235
Referee: Siim Rinken
24 November 2018 Kuressaare 1–0 Elva Kuressaare
13:00 (UTC+2) Saar Soccerball shade.svg61' 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

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals [37]
1 Flag of Brazil.svg Liliu Nõmme Kalju31
2 Flag of Georgia.svg Zakaria Beglarishvili Flora30
3 Flag of Ukraine.svg Roman Debelko FCI Levadia28
4 Flag of Estonia.svg Tristan Koskor Tammeka21
5 Flag of Russia.svg Dmitri Barkov Narva Trans17
6 Flag of Estonia.svg Frank Liivak Flora16
7 Flag of Estonia.svg Sander Laht Kuressaare15
8 Flag of Cameroon.svg Marcelin Gando FCI Levadia14
Flag of Estonia.svg Rimo Hunt Nõmme Kalju
10 Flag of Estonia.svg Viktor Plotnikov Narva Trans13
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Muamer Svraka FCI Levadia

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Flag of Estonia.svg Tristan Koskor 4TammekaKuressaare4–0 (A)30 March 2018 [38]
Flag of Ukraine.svg Roman Debelko FCI LevadiaTulevik5–0 (H)5 May 2018 [39]
Flag of Brazil.svg Liliu Nõmme KaljuVaprus6–0 (A)5 May 2018 [40]
Flag of Cameroon.svg Marcelin Gando 4FCI LevadiaVaprus6–1 (H)26 May 2018 [41]
Flag of Brazil.svg Liliu Nõmme KaljuPaide Linnameeskond3–0 (A)18 August 2018 [42]
Flag of Georgia.svg Zakaria Beglarishvili FloraTulevik3–1 (A)3 November 2018 [43]

4 Player scored 4 goals

Awards

Monthly awards

MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the Month
ManagerClubPlayerClub
March [44] Flag of Russia.svg Sergei Frantsev Nõmme Kalju Flag of Ukraine.svg Roman Debelko FCI Levadia
April [45] Flag of Serbia.svg Aleksandar Rogić FCI Levadia Flag of Brazil.svg Liliu Nõmme Kalju
May [46] Flag of Estonia.svg Jürgen Henn Flora Flag of Nigeria.svg Samson Iyede Paide Linnameeskond
June/July [47] Flag of Russia.svg Sergei Frantsev Nõmme Kalju Flag of Estonia.svg Madis Vihmann Flora
August [48] Flag of Estonia.svg Kaido Koppel Tammeka Flag of Estonia.svg Gert Kams
September [49] Flag of Serbia.svg Aleksandar Rogić FCI Levadia Flag of Estonia.svg Viktor Plotnikov Narva Trans
October [50] Flag of Estonia.svg Jürgen Henn Flora Flag of Estonia.svg Herol Riiberg Tulevik

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

Related Research Articles

The 2013 Meistriliiga was the 23rd season of the Meistriliiga, the first level in the Estonian football system. The season began on 2 March 2013 and ended on 9 November 2013. Nõmme Kalju, the defending champions, finished runners-up behind Levadia, who won their 8th title.

The 2013 season of the Esiliiga, the second level in the Estonian football system, is the twenty-third season in the league's history. The season officially began on 3 March 2013 and ended on 10 November 2013. However, on 3 March the Estonian Football Association announced that all matches scheduled for 3 March 2013 would be postponed due to heavy snowfall. The previous league champions Infonet were promoted to Meistriliiga while Pärnu Linnameeskond and Kohtla-Järve Lootus were relegated to Esiliiga B division. For this season those three teams are replaced by Jõhvi Lokomotiv from II Liiga East/North division and Viljandi Tulevik and Vändra Vaprus from II Liiga West/South division.

The 2014 Esiliiga was the 24th season of the Esiliiga. The season started on Sunday 2 March 2014, and concluded on Sunday 9 November 2014. Flora II Tallinn won the Esiliiga, finishing with 78 points.

The 2014 Meistriliiga, also known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga due to sponsorship reasons, was the 24th season of the Meistriliiga, the first level in the Estonian football system. The season ran from 1 March 2014 to 8 November 2014. Levadia successfully defended the title, securing the championship in the last round.

The 2015 Meistriliiga, also known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga for sponsorship reasons, was the 25th season of the Meistriliiga, the first level in the Estonian football system. The season started on 6 March 2015 and the final matchday took place on 7 November. Levadia, the defending champions, finished runner-up behind Flora, who won their tenth title.

The 2015 Esiliiga was the 25th season of the Esiliiga, second-highest Estonian league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. The season started on 8 March 2015 and concluded on 8 November 2015.

The 2016 Meistriliiga was the 26th season of the Meistriliiga, the highest division of Estonian football system. The season began on 4 March 2016 and concluded on 5 November 2016.

The 2016 Esiliiga is the 26th season of the Esiliiga, second-highest Estonian league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. The season began on 25 February 2016 and concluded on 6 November 2016.

The 2017 Meistriliiga was the 27th season of the Meistriliiga, the top Estonian league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. The season began on 3 March 2017 and concluded on 4 November 2017. FCI Tallinn began the season as defending champions of the 2016 season.

The 2017 Esiliiga is the 27th season of the Esiliiga, second-highest Estonian league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. The season began on 2 March 2017.

The 2017 Esiliiga B was the 5th season of the Esiliiga B, third-highest Estonian league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 2013. The season began on 1 March 2017.

The 2017–18 Estonian Cup was the 28th season of the Estonian main domestic football knockout tournament. FCI Levadia won their ninth title after defeating Flora in the final.

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.

The 2019 Meistriliiga was the 29th season of the Meistriliiga, the top Estonian league for association football clubs. The season began on 8 March 2019 and concluded on 9 November 2019. Nõmme Kalju were the defending champions. Flora won their 12th Meistriliiga title.

The 2019 Esiliiga was the 29th season of the Esiliiga, the second tier of Estonian football.

The 2021 Meistriliiga, also known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga for sponsorship reasons, was the 31st season of the Meistriliiga, the top Estonian league for association football clubs. The season was scheduled to begin on 5 March 2021, but was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic until 13 March and concluded on 5 December.

The 2022 Meistriliiga, also known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga due to sponsorship reasons, was the 32nd season of the Meistriliiga, the top Estonian league for association football clubs since its establishment in 1992. The season started on 1 March 2022 and concluded on 12 November 2022.

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.

The 2023 Meistriliiga, also known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga due to sponsorship reasons, was the 33rd season of the Meistriliiga, the top Estonian league for association football clubs since its establishment in 1992. It was the first Meistriliiga season with video assistant referee (VAR).

The 2024 Meistriliiga, also known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga due to sponsorship reasons, is the 34th season of the Meistriliiga, the top Estonian league for association football clubs since its establishment in 1992.

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