2020 in Estonian football

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No arranged fixtures.

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 which had been promoted three seasons in a row. Manager Denis Belov said that the club were aiming for a top four position,[1] 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 'promotion' (top six teams) and 'relegation (bottom four teams) groups after the 27th round.[2]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation 1 Tallinna Flora 8 7 1 0 21 5 +16 22 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round 2 Tallinna Levadia 8 5 1 2 16 10 +6 16 Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round 3 Paide Linnameeskond 8 5 0 3 18 11 +7 15 4 Nõmme Kalju 8 5 0 3 17 5 +12 15 5 Viljandi Tulevik 8 4 0 4 13 15 −2 12 6 Tartu Tammeka 8 3 2 3 7 9 −2 11 7 Kuressaare 8 3 1 4 7 13 −6 10 8 Tallinna Kalev 8 2 1 5 5 22 −17 7 9 Tallinna Legion 8 1 2 5 3 10 −7 5 Qualification for the relegation play-offs 10 Narva Trans 8 0 2 6 6 13 −7 2 Relegation to the Esiliiga Updated to match(es) played on 17 June. Source: UEFA, Estonian FA (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) Fairplay ranking.[3]

Flora / Levadia Kalev / Legion Kalju Paide Tammeka Trans Tulevik Kuressaare Locations of the 2020 Meistriliiga teams

Relegation play-off:

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.[4]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation 1 Maardu Linnameeskond 7 6 0 1 14 7 +7 18 Promotion to the Meistriliiga 2 Nõmme United 7 4 3 0 18 7 +11 15 Qualification for promotion play-offs 3 Tartu Tammeka U21[lower-alpha 1] 7 4 0 3 11 11 0 12 4 Pärnu Vaprus 7 3 2 2 17 8 +9 11 5 Vändra Vaprus 7 3 1 3 13 14 −1 10 6 Elva 6 2 3 1 8 7 +1 9 7 Tallinna Flora U21[lower-alpha 1] 6 2 1 3 7 7 0 7 8 Tallinna Levadia U21[lower-alpha 1] 7 2 1 4 9 13 −4 7 Qualification for relegation play-offs 9 Pärnu 7 1 2 4 7 15 −8 5 Relegation to Esiliiga B 10 Kohtla-Järve Järve 7 0 1 6 1 16 −15 −2[lower-alpha 2] Updated to match(es) played on 21 June. Source: Soccerway (in English), Estonian FA (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) Fairplay ranking.[3] Notes: Reserve teams are ineligible for promotion. Kohtla-Järve Järve were deducted 3 points for financial troubles.[5]

Flora U21 Levadia U21 Nõmme United Tammeka U21 Pärnu Vaprus Pärnu Elva Maardu LM Järve Vändra Vaprus Locations of the 2020 Esiliiga teams

Relegation play-off:

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.[4]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation 1 Tartu Welco 7 5 1 1 21 8 +13 16 Promotion to the Esiliiga 2 Nõmme Kalju U21 7 5 0 2 14 7 +7 15 3 Tallinna Kalev U21 7 4 1 2 14 14 0 13 Qualification for promotion play-offs 4 Viimsi 7 4 0 3 17 9 +8 12 5 Paide Linnameeskond U21 7 4 0 3 19 12 +7 12 6 Võru Helios 7 3 2 2 15 11 +4 11 7 Keila 7 3 0 4 10 18 −8 9 8 Läänemaa 7 2 2 3 14 16 −2 8 Qualification for relegation play-offs 9 Tabasalu 7 2 0 5 10 14 −4 6 Relegation to II Liiga 10 Rakvere Tarvas 7 0 0 7 2 27 −25 0 Updated to match(es) played on 21 June. Source: Soccerway (in English), Estonian FA (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) Fairplay ranking.[3]

Kalju U21 Tabasalu Kalev U21 Tarvas Viimsi Keila Paide U21 Helios Welco Läänemaa Locations of the 2020 Esiliiga B teams

Relegation play-off:

Group A (North & East)
Compared to the 2019 season, there were three changes of teams. 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.[6] Sillamäe Kalev, on the other hand, was yet to pay its debts and was forbidden from entering the top three leagues.[7]

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, champtions 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[6]), 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.

Group A (North & East) Pos Team Pld Pts 1 Tallinna Legion II 5 15 2 Tallinn 6 13 3 Narva Trans U21 6 12 4 Jõgeva Noorus-96 6 11 5 FCI Tallinn 6 9 6 Põhja-Tallinna Volta 6 9 7 Jõgeva Wolves 6 9 8 Sillamäe Kalev 6 7 9 Tartu Welco II 6 7 10 Maardu Linnameeskond II 6 7 11 Kohtla-Järve Järve U21 5 6 12 Tartu Helios 6 6 13 Tartu Tammeka III 6 4 14 Lasnamäe Ajax 6 3 Updated to match(es) played on 21 June. Source:

Group B (South & West) Pos Team Pld Pts 1 Paide Linnameeskond III 6 16 2 Raasiku Joker 6 15 3 Harju Laagri 5 13 4 Raplamaa 6 13 5 Kuressaare II 6 12 6 Viljandi Tulevik II 6 10 7 Tallinna Piraaja 6 7 8 Saue 6 7 9 Viimsi II 6 6 10 Tallinna Flora U19 6 5 11 Põhja-Sakala 6 5 12 Pärnu Vaprus II 5 4 13 Kose 6 4 14 Pärnu Poseidon 6 0 Updated to match(es) played on 21 June. Source:

Maardu II TALLINN Järve II Sil. Kalev Trans II Noorus-96 Wolves Helios / Welco II Tammeka III Locations of the 2020 II N/E liiga teams TALLINN → Ajax, FCI, Legion II, Tallinn, Volta

Viimsi II TALLINN Joker Saue / Harju Raplamaa Paide III Põhja-Sakala Tulevik U21 Poseidon / Vaprus II Kuressaare II Kose Locations of the 2020 II S/W liiga teams TALLINN → Flora U19, Piraaja

Relegation play-off:

Relegation play-off:

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.

Tartu SK 10 Premium will play in the Esiliiga for the first time since 2012.

Play-off:

Main season:

Play-offs:

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.[8]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation 1 Viimsi Smsraha 14 11 1 2 112 38 +74 34 Championship play-off semifinal 2 Sillamäe Alexela 14 9 1 4 71 56 +15 28 3 Narva United 14 9 1 4 76 49 +27 28 Championship play-off quarterfinal 4 Tallinna Cosmos 14 8 3 3 74 48 +26 27 5 Tartu Ravens Futsal Ares Security 14 9 0 5 74 56 +18 27 6 Kohila 14 3 0 11 47 83 −36 9 7 Tartu Maksimum 14 2 0 12 67 119 −52 6 Relegation play-offs 8 Sillamäe Molycorp Silmet (R) 14 2 0 12 45 117 −72 6 Relegation Source: (R) Relegated.

Rank Player Club Goals 1 Priit Peedo Tartu Maksimum 20 2 Pavel Rubel Tallinna Cosmos 17 3 Semen Fedotov Sillamäe Alexela 16 4 Oleksandr Sorokin Viimsi Smsraha 15 5 Temari Nuuma Tartu Ravens 14 6 Segey Šilkov Narva United 13 As of 10 February 2020.

Smsraha Alexela / Silmet Narva Utd Ravens Cosmos Kohila Maksimum Locations of the 2019-20 Coolbet Saaliliiga teams

Play-off:

Relegation play-off:

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.[9]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation 1 Narva United II (C) 14 11 0 3 104 62 +42 33 2 Rummu Dünamo (P) 14 8 0 6 118 73 +45 24 Promotion 3 Sillamäe Alexela II 14 7 1 6 85 83 +2 22 4 Kadrina 14 7 0 7 87 102 −15 21 Promotion play-offs 5 Viimsi Smsraha U19 14 6 0 8 63 106 −43 18 6 Jõgeva Wolves 14 6 0 8 83 98 −15 18 7 Sillamäe (R) 14 5 1 8 65 73 −8 16 Relegation play-offs 8 Narva Ganza (R) 14 5 0 9 90 98 −8 15 Relegation Updated to match(es) played on 10 February. Source: (C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.

Rank Player Club Goals 1 Maxim Naganov Narva Ganza 27 2 Stanislav Hmeljov Rummu Dünamo 19 3 Dmitri Sui 15 Vladimir Ivanuško Daniil Dikopavlenko Sillamäe Alexela II 6 Nikolai Zhukov Sillamäe 14 Karl Sassian Jõgeva Wolves Nikita Filin Viimsi Smsraha U19 As of 10 February 2020.

Smsraha U19 SILLAMÄE NARVA Kadrina Rummu Wolves Locations of the 2019-20 Coolbet Saaliliiga teams

Relegation play-off:

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 (Q) 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 Updated to match(es) played on 10 February. Source: (C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Rank Player Club Goals 1 Rando Randjõe Aruküla Unibox 31 2 Eduard Desjatski Võru Helios 24 3 Kristjan Moks Rõuge Saunamaa 23 Kristo Perli 5 Vladimir Ivanuško Rummu Dünamo II 20 6 Andre Väin Võru Helios 19 7 Rauno Esop Aruküla Unibox 17 As of 10 February 2020.

Women's Saali Meistriliiga

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.[10]

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:

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.

Home teams listed on top of bracket. (AET): At Extra Time

Home teams listed on top of bracket. (AET): At Extra Time

• Flora got a bye from the quartefinals, because Pärnu announced that they will not compete in the 2020 season.

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 infront of 277 people. The Futsal Cup's top scorer was Rummu Dünamo's Dmitri Sui with 11 goals.

Home teams listed on top of bracket. (AET): At Extra Time

• Robert Kirss, 25–26, FW, from Nõmme Kalju to Levadia. 21 November
• Trevor Elhi, 26–27, DF, from SJK to Levadia. 22 November
• Marko Meerits, 27–28, GK, from Narva Trans to Nõmme Kalju. 25 November
• Pavel Londak, 39–40, GK, from Nõmme Kalju to Legion. 5 December
• Joseph Saliste, 24–25, MF, from Flora to Paide Linnameeskond. 6 December
• Pavel Marin, 24–25, MF, from Levadia to Viljandi Tulevik. 10 December
• Sören Kaldma, 23–24, MF, from Paide Linnameeskond to Tallinna Kalev. 17 December
• Sergei Mošnikov, 32–33, MF, from Palanga to Paide Linnameeskond. 13 January
• Brent Lepistu, 26–27, MF, from Lahti to Levadia. 16 January
• Markus Soomets, 19–20, MF, from Rende Calcio to Flora. 17 January
• Maksim Gussev, 25–26, FW, from Flora to Legion. 19 January
• Marek Kaljumäe, 28–29, DF, from Levadia to Tallinna Kalev. 31 January
• Andreas Raudsepp, 26–27, MF, from Tallinna Kalev to Nõmme Kalju. 2 February
• Artjom Artjunin, 29–30, DF, from Etar Veliko Tarnovo to Legion. 8 February
• Andreas Vaikla, 22–23, GK, from Norrköping to Narva Trans. 17 February

• Erik Sorga, 20–21, FW, from Flora to D.C. United. 8 January
• Oliver Jürgens, 16–17, FW, from Hellas Verona Youth to AS Roma Youth. 21 January
• Joonas Tamm, 27–28, DF, from Flora to Desna Chernihiv. 24 January
• Henri Anier, 29–30, FW, from Suwon to Go Ahead Eagles. 1 February
• Henrik Ojamaa, 28–29, FW, from Miedz Legnica to Widzew Lodz. 1 February

• Manucho, 29–30, FW, from Liepaja to Levadia. 9 December
• Edrisa Lubega, 21–22, FW, from Proline to Paide Linnameeskond. 13 December
• Nikita Andreev, 31–32, FW, from Levadia to Intercity. 5 January
• Zurab Ochihava, 24–25, DF, from Vorskla Poltava to Levadia. 14 January
• Eric McWoods, 24–25, FW, from Narva Trans to Zalaegerszegi. 15 January
• Evgeny Osipov, 33–34, DF, from Levadia to Urartu. 16 January
• Markas Beneta, 26–27, DF, from Narva Trans to Zagłębie Sosnowiec. 22 January
• Yann Michael Yao, 22–23, FW, from Paide Linnameeskond to Spartak Trnava. 23 January
• Oleksandr Safronov, 20–21, DF, from Dnipro-1 to Levadia. 28 January
• Ofosu Appiah, 30–31, DF, from Valmieras to Narva Trans. 31 January
• Anselmi Nurmela, 23–24, DF, from Flora to Oulu. 1 February
• Yuriy Kolomoyets, 29–30, FW, from Vorskla Poltava to Levadia. 8 February
• Amir Natkho, 23–24, MF, from Yevpatoriya to Nõmme Kalju. 10 February
• Pedro Victor, 26–27, DF, from PKNP to Nõmme Kalju. 14 February
• Nurlan Novruzov, 26–27, MF, from Dinamo-Auto Tiraspol to Narva Trans. 21 February
• Sadio Tounkara, 27–28, MF, free agent to Narva Trans. 27 February
• Yuriy Tkachuk, 24–25, MF, from Levadia to free agent. 8 May

• Madis Vihmann, 24–25, DF, Flora, unknown.
• Gert Kams, 34–35, DF, Flora, sporting director at Paide Linnameeskond.
• Tarmo Neemelo, 37–38, FW, Paide Linnameeskond, manager at Nõmme Kalju U21.
• Sergei Lepmets, 32–33, GK, Levadia, started playing as an amateur player at Levadia U21.