Meistriliiga
Season2020
Dates6 March – 8 March
19 May – 6 December
ChampionsFlora
13th title
RelegatedTallinna Kalev
Champions LeagueFlora
Europa Conference LeaguePaide Linnameeskond
Matches played147
Goals scored442 (3.01 per match)
Top goalscorerRauno Sappinen
(26 goals)
Biggest home winTulevik 5–0 Kuressaare
(7 June 2020)
Biggest away winKalev 1–8 Paide
(7 March 2020)
Highest scoringPaide 7–4 Nõmme Kalju
(6 December 2020)
← 2019
2021 →

The 2020 Meistriliiga (known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga for sponsorship reasons[1]) was the 30th season of the Meistriliiga, the top Estonian league for association football clubs. The season began on 6 March 2020,[2] but was suspended after the first round due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] The league continued on 19 May 2020.[4] The season concluded on 6 December, with the last match between Flora and FCI Levadia cancelled due to COVID-19 cases in both teams.[5] The defending champions Flora successfully defended their title, winning second title in a row and their 13th in total.[6]

Teams

Ten teams competed in the league, nine sides from the 2019 season and 2019 Esiliiga champions TJK Legion. Legion made their debut in the top tier after consecutive promotions from fourth tier in three seasons.[7] Maardu Linnameeskond were relegated at the end of the 2019 season after finishing in the bottom of the table. Kuressaare retained their Meistriliiga spot after winning a relegation play-off against Esiliiga runners-up Vaprus.[8]

Venues

2020 Meistriliiga is located in Estonia
Tallinn
Tallinn
Paide
Tammeka
Narva Trans
Tulevik
Kuressaare
Tallinn teams: FCI Levadia Flora TJK Legion Nõmme Kalju Tallinna Kalev
Locations of the 2020 Meistriliiga teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity
FCI Levadia Tallinn A. Le Coq Arena 14,336[9]
Flora
Kuressaare Kuressaare Kuressaare linnastaadion 1,000[10]
TJK Legion Tallinn Kadriorg Stadium 5,000[11]
Narva Trans Narva Narva Kreenholm Stadium 1,065[12]
Nõmme Kalju Tallinn Hiiu Stadium 650[13]
Paide Linnameeskond Paide Paide linnastaadion 268[14]
Tallinna Kalev Tallinn Kadriorg Stadium 5,000[11]
Tammeka Tartu Tartu Tamme Stadium 1,500[15]
Tulevik Viljandi Viljandi linnastaadion 1,084[16]

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
FCI Levadia Estonia Vladimir Vassiljev Estonia Dmitri Kruglov Adidas Viimsi Keevitus
Flora Estonia Jürgen Henn Estonia Konstantin Vassiljev Nike Tele2
Kuressaare Ukraine Roman Kozhukhovskyi Estonia Märten Pajunurm Nike
TJK Legion Estonia Denis Belov Estonia Denis Vnukov Uhlsport
Narva Trans Estonia Oleg Kurotškin Estonia Roman Nesterovski Nike Sportland
Nõmme Kalju Estonia Marko Kristal Estonia Igor Subbotin Adidas Paf[17]
Paide Linnameeskond Estonia Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko Estonia Andre Frolov Nike Verston
Tallinna Kalev Latvia Dmitrijs Kalašņikovs Estonia Marek Kaljumäe Macron Coolbet
Tammeka Estonia Kaido Koppel Estonia Tauno Tekko Nike Metec
Tulevik Estonia Sander Post Estonia Kaimar Saag Joma Espak[18]

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
FCI Levadia Estonia Vladimir Vassiljev Caretaker spell over 11 November 2019[19] Pre-season Estonia Martin Reim 11 November 2019[19]
Narva Trans Estonia Oleg Kurotškin Caretaker spell over 15 November 2019[20] Turkey Cenk Özcan 15 November 2019[20]
Nõmme Kalju Ukraine Roman Kozhukhovskyi End of contract 28 November 2019[21] Estonia Marko Kristal 2 December 2019[22]
Kuressaare Latvia Dmitrijs Kalašņikovs End of contract 16 December 2019[23] Ukraine Roman Kozhukhovskyi 16 December 2019[23]
Tallinna Kalev Estonia Aleksandr Dmitrijev Mutual consent 18 March 2020[24] 10th Estonia Liivo Leetma 18 March 2020[24]
Narva Trans Turkey Cenk Özcan Mutual consent 19 June 2010[25] 10th Estonia Oleg Kurotškin 19 June 2010[25]
Levadia Estonia Martin Reim Resigned 10 July 2020[26] 3rd Estonia Vladimir Vassiljev 10 July 2020[26]
Tallinna Kalev Estonia Liivo Leetma Sacked 31 August 2020[27] 10th Latvia Dmitrijs Kalašnikovs 31 August 2020[27]

Format changes

Due to the long pause, the season was shortened. Instead of the regular format of each team playing each of the other teams four times, the league were to be split after the third playthrough into two sections of top 6 and bottom 4, with each team playing each other in that section.[28]

On 7 November, due to the second wave of COVID-19, the season was shortened even more with the league split into three sections after the 27th round – top 4, 5th & 6th, and bottom 4, with each team playing each other in that section.[29]

On 11 December the season's last match between Flora and FCI Levadia was cancelled.[5]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Flora (C) 29 26 2 1 76 17 +59 80 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Paide Linnameeskond 30 21 1 8 80 43 +37 64 Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round[a]
3 FCI Levadia 29 17 6 6 66 37 +29 57
4 Nõmme Kalju 30 14 7 9 52 31 +21 49
5 Tammeka 28 8 8 12 33 44 −11 32
6 Tulevik 28 9 4 15 30 46 −16 31
7 TJK Legion 30 8 7 15 26 44 −18 31
8 Narva Trans 30 6 7 17 31 49 −18 25
9 Kuressaare (O) 30 5 9 16 28 63 −35 24 Qualification for the Relegation play-offs
10 Tallinna Kalev (R) 30 5 5 20 20 68 −48 20 Relegation to the Esiliiga
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian), UEFA
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.[30]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ FCI Levadia qualified for the Europa Conference League as the other finalist of the 2020–21 Estonian Cup, Flora, has already qualified to the UEFA Champions League

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 2020 Esiliiga, Maardu Linnameeskond, for the spot in 2021 Meistriliiga.

10 December 2020 Maardu Linnameeskond 3–5 Kuressaare Maardu
18:00 (UTC+2) Anton Aristov 23'
Maksim Krivošein 44'
Ilja Zelentsov 47'		 Report Märten Pajunurm 8'
Sander Laht 11'
Sören Kaldma 61'
Michael Schjønning-Larsen 64'
Rasmus Saar 81'		 Stadium: Maardu kunstmuruväljak
Referee: Kristo Külljastinen
13 December 2020 Kuressaare 4–2 Maardu Linnameeskond Kuressaare
13:00 (UTC+2) Sten Penzev 32'
Mattias Männilaan 59', 81'
Sander Laht 78'		 Report Vladislav Ogorodnik 7'
Vadim Aksjonov 86'		 Stadium: Kuressaare kunstmurustaadion
Referee: Karl Koppel
Kuressaare won 9–5 on aggregate and retained their Meistriliiga spot for the 2021 season.

Fixtures and results

A total of four rounds was played. In the first three rounds teams played each other three times. In the fourth round the league was split into 3 groups – top 4, 5th and 6th, and bottom 4, where they played each team in their group one more time.[31]

Rounds 1–18

Home \ Away FLO PAI LEV NÕM TAM TUL LEG TRA KUR KLV
Flora — 3–1 4–0 2–1 0–0 3–0 3–1 3–1 3–0 3–0
Paide Linnameeskond 1–3 — 4–2 1–3 3–0 1–2 2–0 2–1 2–0 4–0
FCI Levadia 1–3 4–1 — 1–1 2–2 5–1 4–0 3–0 1–0 4–0
Nõmme Kalju 1–2 0–1 2–0 — 1–1 0–0 1–2 3–0 1–0 2–0
Tammeka 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–2 — 2–1 1–3 2–2 1–2 0–2
Tulevik 2–1 1–3 1–3 0–6 2–0 — 0–2 0–1 5–0 2–1
TJK Legion 1–3 0–3 0–2 0–6 0–1 0–2 — 0–0 1–1 0–0
Narva Trans 2–3 1–0 4–4 0–1 0–1 0–2 2–0 — 1–0 0–0
Kuressaare 0–4 0–4 2–2 0–2 2–4 3–0 0–0 3–2 — 2–2
Tallinna Kalev 0–3 1–8 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–0 1–1 0–2 —
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Rounds 19–27

Home \ Away FLO PAI LEV NÕM TAM TUL LEG TRA KUR KLV
Flora — 1–0 — 0–0 — 2–1 1–0 — — —
Paide Linnameeskond — — 1–0 — 3–1 — — 4–2 6–2 4–1
FCI Levadia 0–2 — — 2–1 3–2 2–0 — — — 3–0
Nõmme Kalju — 1–3 — — — — 1–1 2–1 — —
Tammeka 0–1 — — 0–0 — — — 0–0 4–2 —
Tulevik — 1–4 — 0–1 0–1 — 0–0 — 1–1 —
TJK Legion — 0–2 1–2 — 3–1 — — 2–1 — 2–0
Narva Trans 1–2 — 1–2 — — 0–1 — — 0–0 —
Kuressaare 0–4 — 1–5 1–1 — — 2–2 — — 0–1
Tallinna Kalev 1–4 — — 1–4 1–2 1–0 — 4–1 — —
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top four rounds 28–30

Home \ Away FLO LEV NÕM PAI
Flora — Cancelled — —
FCI Levadia — — — 2–2
Nõmme Kalju 0–3 0–2 — —
Paide Linnameeskond 1–7 — 7–4 —
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Fifth & sixth round 28

Home \ Away TAM TUL
Tammeka — 3–3
Tulevik — —
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Bottom four rounds 28–30

Home \ Away KUR LEG TRA KLV
Kuressaare — — 0–3 —
TJK Legion 0–1 — — —
Narva Trans — 1–3 — 1–1
Tallinna Kalev 1–1 0–2 — —
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals[32]
1 Estonia Rauno Sappinen Flora 26
2 Uganda Edrisa Lubega Paide Linnameeskond 14
3 Estonia Tristan Koskor Tammeka 12
4 Cameroon Marcelin Gando FCI Levadia 11
5 Estonia Henri Anier Paide Linnameeskond 10
Netherlands Deabeas Owusu Sekyere Paide Linnameeskond
Estonia Konstantin Vassiljev Flora
8 Ukraine Vladyslav Khomutov Nõmme Kalju 9
Ukraine Yuriy Kolomoyets FCI Levadia
Estonia Siim Luts Paide Linnameeskond
Estonia Pavel Marin Tulevik
Estonia Edgar Tur Paide Linnameeskond
Estonia Aleksandr Volkov Nõmme Kalju

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
Estonia Joseph Saliste Paide Linnameeskond Tallinna Kalev 8–1 (A) 7 March 2020[33]
Estonia Kaspar Paur Nõmme Kalju Tulevik 6–0 (A) 31 May 2020[34]
Estonia Edgar Tur Paide Linnameeskond Kuressaare 6–2 (H) 1 November 2020[35]
Estonia Rauno Sappinen Flora Paide Linnameeskond 7–1 (A) 29 November 2020[36]

Awards

Monthly awards

Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month
Manager Club Player Club
May[37] Estonia Martin Reim Levadia Brazil Pedro Victor Nõmme Kalju
June[38] Estonia Jürgen Henn Flora Estonia Pavel Marin Tulevik
July[39] Russia Amir Natkho Nõmme Kalju
August[40] Estonia Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko Paide Linnameeskond Estonia Märten Kuusk Flora
September[41] Estonia Denis Belov Legion Estonia Sergei Mošnikov Paide Linnameeskond
October[42] Estonia Kaido Koppel Tammeka Estonia Brent Lepistu FCI Levadia

Team of the season

Source:[43]

Position Player Club Previous Appearances
GK Estonia Matvei Igonen Flora 2019, 2016
DF Estonia Michael Lilander Flora none
DF Estonia Karl Mööl Paide 2019, 2017
DF Estonia Märten Kuusk Flora 2019
DF The Gambia Muhammed Sanneh Paide none
MF Estonia Sergei Mošnikov Paide 2016, 2014, 2013, 2011
MF Estonia Konstantin Vassiljev Flora 2019, 2006
MF Estonia Vladislav Kreida Flora 2019
MF Estonia Pavel Marin Tulevik none
FW Estonia Rauno Sappinen Flora 2017, 2015
FW Estonia Henri Anier Paide none

Player transfers[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kodune tippjalgpall saab peatoetaja" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Eesti 2020. a jalgpalli meistrivõistluste Premium ja Esiliigade juhend" (PDF) (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Valitsus kuulutas Eestis välja eriolukorra, kõik jalgpallivõistlused tühistatud kuni 1. maini". Estonian Football Association. 13 March 2020.
  4. ^ Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (14 May 2020). "Ametlik kinnitus: Premium liiga võib uuel nädalal alustada (Esimesed mängud teisipäeval!)". soccernet.ee.
  5. ^ a b "Premium liiga hooaeg on läbi, karikatseremoonia toimub eraldi". soccernet.ee. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Luup peale Tehtud! Flora alistas ka Tammeka ja on jälle Eesti meister!". soccernet.ee. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Vägeva lennuga Legion kindlustas hoolimata Kotenko supermängust tõusu Premium liigasse". soccernet.ee. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  8. ^ "VAATA JÄRELE: Kuressaare ei lubanud Vaprus end üllatada ja kindlustas koha järgmise aasta Premium liigas (galerii)". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  9. ^ "A. Le Coq Arena" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Kuressaare Linnastaadion". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian).
  11. ^ a b "Kadrioru Staadion". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian).
  12. ^ "Narva Kreenholmi staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  13. ^ "Hiiu kunstmurustaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  14. ^ "Paide linna staadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
  15. ^ "Tartu Tamme staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  16. ^ "Viljandi linnastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  17. ^ "Uue suurtoetajaga Kalju sai vägeva rahasüsti". soccernet.ee. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  18. ^ "Tuleviku peasponsoriks sai kohalik suurettevõte". soccernet.ee. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Martin Reim: Levadia ja Flora filosoofiates on erinevusi, aga seda põnevam on see minule". soccernet.ee. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  20. ^ a b "Ametlik: Transi uueks juhendajaks saab klubi eelmisel hooajal neljandaks tüürinud türklane". soccernet.ee. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  21. ^ "Ametlik: Kalju kinnitas, et ei pikenda Kožuhhovskiga lepingut". soccernet.ee. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  22. ^ "Marko Kristal: Nõmme Kalju peab väljakul toimuvat dikteerima ja olema seejuures edukas". soccernet.ee. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  23. ^ a b "Kalju kriisist pronksmedalini vedanud Kožuhhovski asub Kuressaare peatreeneriks". soccernet.ee. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  24. ^ a b "Šokkuudis! Tallinna Kalev sai uue peatreeneri". soccernet.ee. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  25. ^ a b "AMETLIK! Özcan läinud, ajutine asendaja taas klubi seest". soccernet.ee. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  26. ^ a b "Reim lahkus Levadia peatreeneri positsioonilt". soccernet.ee. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  27. ^ a b "AMETLIK: Kalev loobus Leetma teenetest". soccernet.ee. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  28. ^ "Premium liiga hooaeg lõpeb liigatabeli poolitamisega". soccernet.ee. 14 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Premium liiga viimane ring muutus lühemaks". EFA. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  30. ^ "Eesti 2017.a meistrivõistluste Meistri- ja Esiliiga juhend" (PDF). jalgpall.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  31. ^ "Premium liiga jätkub teisipäeval uue formaadiga". Estonian Football Association. 14 May 2020.
  32. ^ "MÄNGUDE AJALUGU" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  33. ^ "JK Tallinna Kalev 1 - 8 Paide Linnameeskond" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 7 March 2020.
  34. ^ "Viljandi JK Tulevik 0 - 6 Nõmme Kalju FC" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 31 May 2020.
  35. ^ "Paide Linnameeskond 6-2 FC Kuressaare". Estonian Football Association. 11 December 2020.
  36. ^ "Paide Linnameeskond 1-7 Tallinna FC Flora". Estonian Football Association. 11 December 2020.
  37. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimateks valiti Martin Reim ja Pedro Victor" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 11 June 2020.
  38. ^ "Premium liiga juunikuu parimateks osutusid Henn ja Marin" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 7 July 2020.
  39. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimateks valiti Amir Natkho ja Jürgen Henn" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 10 August 2020.
  40. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimateks valiti Kuusk ja Zahovaiko" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 16 September 2020.
  41. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimate auhinnad teenisid Mošnikov ja Belov" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 23 October 2020.
  42. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimate auhinnad teenisid Lepistu ja Koppel" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 4 November 2020.
  43. ^ "Fännide lemmik 2020 - Rauno Sappinen (milline sai sümboolne koosseis?)". Soccernet.ee. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.

External links[edit]
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