Viljandi JK Tulevik

Viljandi JK Tulevik, commonly known as Viljandi Tulevik, or simply as Tulevik, is a football club based in Viljandi, Estonia, that competes in the Meistriliiga, the top flight of Estonian football. The club's home ground is Viljandi linnastaadion.

Tulevik
Full nameViljandi JK Tulevik
Founded23 September 1912 (1912-09-23)
GroundViljandi linnastaadion
Capacity1,084[1]
PresidentRaiko Mutle
ManagerSander Post
LeagueMeistriliiga
2019Meistriliiga, 7th
WebsiteClub website

Founded on 1912 as Sports Association Tulevik (Future), the club was disbanded in 1940 and re-established in 1992 as one of the founding members of the Meistriliiga.

History

Founded in 1912 as Sports Association Tulevik (Future), in part, by Heinrich Aviksoo, they began playing football in 1913 on a field by Lake Viljandi, where Viljandi linnastaadion was built in 1928. Interrupted by World War I and the Estonian War of Independence, Tulevik didn't resume playing football until 1927. In 1937, they won the Central division of the regional B klass. Following the Soviet occupation of Estonia in 1940, Tulevik was disbanded.[2]

In 1977, Viljandi Linnameeskond was formed. The team was promoted to the Estonian Championship in 1981 and spent the next decade within the top two tiers of Estonian football.[2]

In 1992, Viljandi Linnameeskond was first renamed JK Viljandi, and then JK Tulevik, and became a founding member of the Meistriliiga. After two seasons, the club was relegated to the Esiliiga. In 1997, Tulevik became a part of the Flora system and returned to the Meistriliiga, while Sergei Ratnikov was appointed as manager. In June 1998, Ratnikov was replaced by Tarmo Rüütli. The club made their European debut in the 1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup, losing to St. Gallen 3–9 on aggregate in the first round. Under Rüütli, Tulevik reached the 1998–99 Estonian Cup final, losing to Levadia 2–3, and finished the 1999 season as runners-up. In November 1999, Rüütli left the club to manage Flora and the Estonia national team, and was replaced by his assistant Aivar Lillevere. Tulevik reached the Estonian Cup final again in the following season, but were defeated by Levadia again 0–2.[2]

In 2011, Tulevik ended their affiliation with Flora. As a result, the newly formed FC Viljandi took their place in the Meistriliiga and Tulevik were relegated to the II liiga. In January 2013, Aivar Lillevere returned to the club as manager. Tulevik finished the 2014 Esiliiga in fifth place and defeated Lokomotiv 1–1 on aggregate on away goal in the promotion play-offs, thus earning promotion to the Meistriliiga.[2] The team's stay in the top division proved short-lived as the club finished the 2015 season in last place and were relegated. Tulevik won the 2016 Esiliiga and were once again promoted to the Meistriliiga. Lillevere resigned in November 2017 and was replaced by Marko Kristal in the following month. In April 2018, Kristal's contract was terminated after disappointing results in the league, with Sander Post taking over as manager.[3]

Stadium
Main article: Viljandi linnastaadion

Tulevik initially played on a field by Lake Viljandi. In 1928, a stadium was built on the same site. Renovated in 2010, Viljandi linnastaadion (Viljandi City Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium with a capacity of 1,084. The stadium is located at Ranna 1, Viljandi.[1][4]

Players

Current squad
As of 8 March 2020.[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 GK Karl-Romet Nõmm
4 DF Gerdo Juhkam
5 DF Marco Budic
6 DF Alex Roosalu
8 FW Herol Riiberg
9 FW Kristjan Kask
10 MF Nikita Komissarov
11 FW Kaimar Saag (captain)
14 MF Herbert Velleste
14 DF Mark Edur
No. Position Player
15 MF Tanel Lang
16 DF Gustav-Hendrik Seeder
17 MF Sander Kapper
18 DF Martin Allik
27 MF Jude Barrow
30 FW Jonas Tossou
62 DF Jeremiah Dabrowski
79 MF Pavel Marin
95 MF Galaye Gueye
99 GK Matheas Madik

For season transfers, see List of Estonian football transfers summer 2019 and List of Estonian football transfers winter 2019–20.

Reserves and academy

Club officials

Honours

League

Cups

Seasons and statistics

Seasons

Europe

References
  1. "Viljandi linnastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  2. Loog, Alvar (May 2015). "Viljandimaa jalgpalli ajalugu ja hetkeseis" [History and current state of football in Viljandi County]. Jalka (in Estonian). Tallinn: Estonian Football Association. pp. 43–45.
  3. "Marko Kristal lahkub Viljandi Tuleviku peatreeneri kohalt" [Marko Kristal leaves Viljandi Tulevik head coach position] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 20 April 2018.
  4. "Viljandi linnastaadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
  5. "Viljandi JK Tulevik". Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 11 June 2019.

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