| Season | 2019 | 
|---|---|
| Dates | 7 March 2019 – 10 November 2019 | 
| Champions | Legion | 
| Promoted | Legion | 
| Relegated | Tarvas Tallinna Kalev U21 Welco | 
| Matches played | 180 | 
| Goals scored | 654 (3.63 per match) | 
| Top goalscorer | Rejal Alijev (38 goals) | 
| Biggest home win | Legion 18–0 Järve (26 October 2019) | 
| Biggest away win | Tallinna Kalev U21 1–6 Tarvas (25 May 2019) Vaprus 1–6 FCI Levadia U21 (12 September 2019) Tarvas 0–5 Vaprus (28 September 2019) Elva 0–5 Legion (10 November 2019) | 
| Highest scoring | Legion 18–0 Järve (26 October 2019) | 
| ← 2018  2020 →  | |
The 2019 Esiliiga was the 29th season of the Esiliiga, the second tier of Estonian football.
Teams
A total of 10 teams were contesting the league, including six sides from the 2018 season, one relegated from 2018 Meistriliiga and three promoted from the 2018 Esiliiga B.[1] The 2017 Esiliiga and 2018 Esiliiga champions Maardu Linnameeskond were promoted to the highest tier for the first time.[2] Nõmme Kalju U21 was the first team to suffer relegation after just returning to Esiliiga. Keila also immediately returned to Esiliiga B after losing the relegation play-offs to Järve. Tallinna Kalev U21 narrowly avoided relegation in its debut season thanks to Santos' decision to start the new season in the fourth tier II liiga.[3] The other two promoted teams were Legion, who went almost unbeaten in its previous season, and Tammeka U21, who made its debut in the Esiliiga.
Stadiums and locations
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Elva | Elva | Elva linnastaadion | 30[4] | 
| FCI Levadia U21 | Tallinn | Maarjamäe Stadium | 30[5] | 
| Flora U21 | Lilleküla training ground I | 150[6] | |
| Järve | Kohtla-Järve | Kohtla-Järve Sports Centre Stadium | 150[7] | 
| Legion | Tallinn | Kadriorg Stadium | 1,300[8] | 
| Tallinna Kalev U21 | Kalev Keskstaadion artificial turf | 270[9] | |
| Tammeka U21 | Tartu | Tartu Sepa Football Centre | 754[10] | 
| Tarvas | Rakvere | Rakvere linnastaadion | 1,100[11] | 
| Vaprus | Pärnu | Pärnu Rannastaadion | 1,501[12] | 
| Welco | Tartu | Tartu Tamme Stadium | 1,500[13] | 
Personnel and kits
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elva |  Veiko Haan |  Jürgen Kuresoo | Nike | Sportland | 
| FCI Levadia U21 |  Vladimir Vassiljev |  Moorits Veering | Adidas | Viimsi Keevitus | 
| Flora U21 |  Ats Sillaste | Nike | Tele2[14] | |
| Järve |  Andrei Škaleta |  Gleb Pevtsov | Adidas | |
| Legion |  Denis Belov | Uhlsport | ||
| Tallinna Kalev U21 |  Daniel Meijel | Nike | ||
| Tammeka U21 |  Marti Pähn | Nike | ||
| Tarvas |  Tarmo Rebane |  Alari Tovstik | Nike | Aqva Hotel & Spa | 
| Vaprus |  Taavi Midenbritt  Kalev Pajula |  Kristen Saarts | Nike | Coolbet | 
| Welco |  Janar Sagim |  Mikk Valtna | Nike | Liisi | 
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in the table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaprus |  Indrek Zelinsk[15] | Signed by KTP | 10 November 2018 | Pre-season |  Taavi Midenbritt  Kalev Pajula[16] | 22 November 2018 | 
| Welco |  Yusuf Erdoğan | Mutual consent | 25 July 2019 | 10th |  Janar Sagim[17] | 25 July 2019 | 
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legion (C, P) | 36 | 29 | 4 | 3 | 127 | 35 | +92 | 91 | Promotion to the Meistriliiga | 
| 2 | Flora U21[lower-alpha 1] | 36 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 85 | 37 | +48 | 73 | |
| 3 | Vaprus | 36 | 21 | 4 | 11 | 73 | 48 | +25 | 67 | Qualification for promotion play-offs | 
| 4 | Tammeka U21[lower-alpha 1] | 36 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 59 | 55 | +4 | 58 | |
| 5 | Elva | 36 | 18 | 2 | 16 | 67 | 63 | +4 | 56 | |
| 6 | FCI Levadia U21[lower-alpha 1] | 36 | 16 | 5 | 15 | 80 | 65 | +15 | 53 | |
| 7 | Järve | 36 | 12 | 4 | 20 | 51 | 82 | −31 | 40 | |
| 8 | Tarvas (R) | 36 | 8 | 4 | 24 | 35 | 98 | −63 | 28 | Qualification for relegation play-offs | 
| 9 | Tallinna Kalev U21[lower-alpha 1] (R) | 36 | 8 | 4 | 24 | 38 | 82 | −44 | 28 | Relegation to the Esiliiga B | 
| 10 | Welco (R) | 36 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 39 | 89 | −50 | 24 | 
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.[18]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Results
Matches 1–18
Matches 19–36
Relegation play-offs
| Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi | 3–2 | Tarvas | 
|---|---|---|
| 
 | Report | Rannamäe  63' (pen.), 87' | 
| Tarvas | 0–4 | Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi | 
|---|---|---|
| Report | 
 | 
Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi won 7–2 on aggregate.
Season statistics
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[19] | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Rejal Alijev | Legion | 38 | 
| 2 |  Marek Šatov | Legion | 26 | 
| 3 |  Kristen Saarts | Vaprus | 19 | 
| 4 |  Raivo Saar | Järve | 17 | 
| 5 |  Aleksandr Šapovalov | Flora U21 | 16 | 
|  Karl Anton Sõerde | Tallinna Kalev U21 | ||
|  Ronaldo Tiismaa | Vaprus | ||
| 8 |  Duván Mosquera | Järve | 15 | 
| 9 |  Artjom Jermatšenko | Flora U21 | 14 | 
|  Erki Mõttus | Tammeka U21 | 
Awards
Monthly awards
| Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Club | Player | Club | |
| March[20] |  Denis Belov | Legion |  Raivo Saar | Järve | 
| April[21] |  Andrei Škaleta | Järve |  Ronaldo Tiismaa | Vaprus | 
| May[22] |  Taavi Midenbritt  Kalev Pajula | Vaprus |  Daaniel Maanas | Tammeka U21 | 
| June[23] |  Denis Belov | Legion |  Martin Thomson | Elva | 
| July[24] |  Veiko Haan | Elva |  Ralf-Sander Suvinõmm | Flora U21 | 
| August[25] |  Marti Pähn | Tammeka U21 |  Hendrik Vainu | Vaprus | 
| September[26] |  Vladimir Vassiljev | FCI Levadia U21 |  Marek Šatov | Legion | 
| October[27] |  Denis Belov | Legion |  Rejal Alijev | |
Esiliiga Player of the Year
Denis Vnukov was named Esiliiga Player of the Year.[28]
See also
References
- ↑ "Jalgpalliliidu juhatus kinnitas tippliigade koosseisud". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 4 January 2018.
- ↑ "Gussevi 37. värav kindlustas Maardu tiitli". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ↑ "Taas ärakukkumine tippjalgpallis: Santos jätkab madalamates liigades". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
- ↑ "Elva linna staadion". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ↑ "Maarjamäe jalgpallikeskus". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ↑ "A. Le Coq Arena I ja II muruväljak". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ↑ "Kohtla-Järve Spordikeskuse staadion". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ↑ "Kadrioru staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ↑ "Kalevi Keskstaadion". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ↑ "Tartu Sepa jalgpallikeskuse kunstmuruväljak" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ↑ "Rakvere staadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
- ↑ "Pärnu Rannastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ↑ "Tartu Tamme staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ↑ "Flora sai koondisega sama sponsori". Soccernet.ee. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ↑ "AMETLIK: Arbeiter lahkub Kalevist, Zelinski Vaprusest ning uuest hooajast asutakse tööle välismaal". soccernet.ee. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ↑ "Vaprust juhendavad uuest hooajast Pajula ja Midenbritt". soccernet.ee. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ↑ "Welco vahetas peatreenerit, uueks juhendajaks Sagim". soccernet.ee. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ↑ "Esiliiga" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
- ↑ "MÄNGUDE AJALUGU" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- ↑ "Esiliiga kuu parimate auhinnad läksid Kohtla-Järvele ja Legionisse" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 4 April 2019.
- ↑ "Esiliiga kuu parimad tulevad Kohtla-Järvelt ja Pärnust" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 30 April 2019.
- ↑ "Esiliiga kuu parimad tulevad Pärnust ja Tartust" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "Esiliiga kuu parimate auhinnad läksid Legioni ja Elva ridadesse" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 8 July 2019.
- ↑ "Esiliiga kuu parimate auhinnad läksid Elva ja Flora võistkondadele" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 6 August 2019.
- ↑ "Selgusid tippliigade kuu parimad" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 16 September 2019.
- ↑ "Esiliiga parimate auhinnad läksid Levadia U21-le ja Legionile" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 2 October 2019.
- ↑ "Esiliiga kuu parimate auhinnad läksid Legionile" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 7 November 2019.
- ↑ "Esiliiga parimaks mängijaks valiti Denis Vnukov" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 15 January 2023.

