The 2017 Meistriliiga (known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga for sponsorship reasons[1]) 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.[2] FCI Tallinn began the season as defending champions of the 2016 season.

Meistriliiga
Season2017
Dates3 March 2017 – 4 November 2017
ChampionsFlora
11th title
RelegatedSillamäe Kalev
Champions LeagueFlora
Europa LeagueLevadia
Nõmme Kalju
Narva Trans
Matches played180
Goals scored658 (3.66 per match)
Top goalscorerAlbert Prosa
Rauno Sappinen
(27 goals)
Best goalkeeperSergei Lepmets
(21 clean sheets)
Biggest home winFCI Tallinn 11–1 Vaprus
(22 May 2017)
Biggest away winVaprus 0–10 Flora
(16 June 2017)
Highest scoringFCI Tallinn 11–1 Vaprus
(22 May 2017)
Longest winning run15 matches
Flora
Longest unbeaten run26 matches
Flora
Longest winless run21 matches
Vaprus
Longest losing run17 matches
Vaprus
2016
2018

Flora won their 11th Meistriliiga title following a 2–0 home win over Tammeka on 28 October 2017.

Teams

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A total of 10 teams contested the league, including 8 teams from the 2016 season. Tarvas were relegated after a winless season. Their spot was taken by Esiliiga champions Tulevik, making an immediate return after their 2015 relegation.

In the relegation play-off Pärnu Linnameeskond successfully defended their league spot by defeating challengers Maardu Linnameeskond, but on 11 January 2017 Pärnu Linnameeskond, a union of football clubs from Pärnu, broke up. Vaprus, one of the three clubs that had formed Linnameeskond, took over the league spot.[3]

Defending champions Infonet underwent a name change due to the UEFA restrictions regarding sponsorship names and became FCI Tallinn.[4]

Venues

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Locations of the 2017 Meistriliiga teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity
FCI Tallinn Tallinn Infonet Lasnamäe Stadium 500[5]
Flora Tallinn A. Le Coq Arena 10,340[6]
Levadia Tallinn Kadriorg Stadium 5,000[7]
Narva Trans Narva Narva Kreenholm Stadium 1,065[8]
Nõmme Kalju Tallinn Hiiu Stadium 650[9]
Paide Linnameeskond Paide Paide linnastaadion 268[10]
Sillamäe Kalev Sillamäe Sillamäe Kalev Stadium 800[11]
Tammeka Tartu Tartu Tamme Stadium 1,500[12]
Tulevik Viljandi Viljandi linnastaadion 1,084[13]
Vaprus Pärnu Pärnu Rannastaadion 1,501[14]

Personnel and kits

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Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
FCI Tallinn   Aleksandar Rogić   Andrei Kalimullin Joma Infonet
Flora   Arno Pijpers   Brent Lepistu Nike Tele2[15]
Levadia   Igor Prins   Rimo Hunt Adidas Viimsi Keevitus
Narva Trans   Adyam Kuzyaev   Irié Nike Sportland
Nõmme Kalju   Sergei Frantsev   Vitali Teleš Adidas help.ee
Paide Linnameeskond   Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko   Andre Frolov Nike Enemat
Sillamäe Kalev   Irfan Ametov   Mihhail Starodubtsev Uhlsport Alexela
Tammeka   Mario Hansi
  Kaido Koppel
  Kaarel Kiidron Nike Metec[16]
Tulevik   Aivar Lillevere   Indrek Ilves Joma Viljandi Aken ja Uks[17]
Vaprus   Marko Lelov   Karl Palatu Nike Coolbet[18]

Managerial changes

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Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Paide Linnameeskond   Meelis Rooba Mutual consent 5 November 2016[19] Pre-season   Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko 7 November 2016[19]
Flora   Argo Arbeiter Sacked 10 November 2016[20]   Arno Pijpers 2 January 2017[21]
Tammeka   Indrek Koser Mutual consent 29 November 2016[22]   Mario Hansi
  Kaido Koppel
29 November 2016[22]
Sillamäe Kalev   Algimantas Briaunys Resigned 11 April 2017[23] 8th   Vadym Dobizha (caretaker) 11 April 2017[23]
FCI Tallinn   Aleksandr Puštov Mutual consent 30 June 2017[24] 4th   Sergei Bragin (caretaker) 30 June 2017[24]
FCI Tallinn   Sergei Bragin End of caretaker spell 29 July 2017[25] 4th   Aleksandar Rogić 29 July 2017
Sillamäe Kalev   Vadym Dobizha Resigned due to ill health 12 September 2017 7th   Irfan Ametov (caretaker) 12 September 2017[26]

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Flora (C) 36 28 6 2 100 28 72 90 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Levadia 36 25 9 2 106 20 86 84 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[a]
3 Nõmme Kalju 36 24 6 6 101 32 69 78
4 FCI Tallinn 36 20 5 11 103 47 56 65
5 Narva Trans 36 13 6 17 46 63 −17 45 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[a]
6 Paide Linnameeskond 36 10 8 18 47 88 −41 38
7 Tammeka 36 9 10 17 40 63 −23 37
8 Tulevik 36 8 4 24 34 95 −61 28
9 Vaprus[b] 36 2 2 32 29 146 −117 8 Qualification for the Relegation play-offs
10 Sillamäe Kalev[c] (R) 36 10 6 20 52 76 −24 36 Relegation 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.[28]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Narva Trans qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round since the 2017–18 Estonian Cup winners FCI Levadia had already qualified for the competition based on their league position and FCI Tallinn merged with Levadia after the 2018 season.
  2. ^ Relegation play-offs were not held as a league spot was vacated by the merger of FCI Tallinn and Levadia.[27]
  3. ^ Sillamäe Kalev were stripped of their Meistriliiga license due to financial troubles.[27]

Results

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Each team plays every opponent four times, twice at home and twice away. A total of 180 matches will be played, with 36 matches played by each team.

Season statistics

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals[29]
1   Albert Prosa FCI Tallinn 27
  Rauno Sappinen Flora
3   Rimo Hunt Levadia 20
4   Aleksandr Volkov Sillamäe Kalev 18
5   Zakaria Beglarishvili Flora 16
  Yevgeni Kharin FCI Tallinn
  Liliu Nõmme Kalju
  João Morelli Levadia
9   Yevgeni Kobzar Levadia 12
10   Nikita Andreev Levadia 11
  Artjom Dmitrijev Nõmme Kalju

Hat-tricks

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Player For Against Result Date
  Dzmitry Kowb Narva Trans Paide Linnameeskond 5–1 (A) 4 March 2017[30]
  Rimo Hunt Levadia Paide Linnameeskond 7–0 (H) 18 March 2017[31]
  Yevgeni Kharin FCI Tallinn Vaprus 6–0 (A) 15 April 2017[32]
  Yevgeni Kobzar Levadia Vaprus 8–0 (H) 28 April 2017[33]
  Albert Prosa6 FCI Tallinn Vaprus 11–1 (H) 22 May 2017[34]
  Rauno Sappinen Flora Vaprus 10–0 (A) 16 June 2017[35]
  João Morelli Levadia Paide Linnameeskond 8–0 (H) 5 August 2017[36]
  Aleksandr Volkov Sillamäe Kalev Vaprus 9–0 (H) 12 August 2017[37]
  Karl Mööl Nõmme Kalju Vaprus 6–1 (A) 15 August 2017[38]
  Liliu Nõmme Kalju Vaprus 6–0 (H) 23 September 2017[39]
  Aleksandr Volkov Sillamäe Kalev Vaprus 7–2 (A) 30 September 2017[40]
  Rauno Sappinen4 Flora Narva Trans 7–0 (A) 20 October 2017[41]

4 Player scored 4 goals; 6 Player scored 6 goals; (H) – Home ; (A) – Away

Awards

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Monthly awards

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Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month Goal of the Month
Manager Club Player Club Player Club
March[42]   Igor Prins Levadia   Igor Dudarev Levadia   Viktor Plotnikov Narva Trans
April[43]   Arno Pijpers Flora   Rimo Hunt   Magnar Vainumäe Paide Linnameeskond
May[44]   Artur Kotenko Narva Trans   Brent Lepistu Flora
June[45]   Mario Hansi
  Kaido Koppel
Tammeka   Rauno Sappinen Flora   Mark Oliver Roosnupp Levadia
July[46]   Sergei Frantsev Nõmme Kalju   Aleksandr Volkov Sillamäe Kalev   Robert Kirss Nõmme Kalju
August[47]   Aleksandar Rogić FCI Tallinn   Yevgeni Kobzar Levadia   Oleksandr Sukharov Sillamäe Kalev
September[48]   Igor Prins Levadia   Josip Krznarić   Geovane Nõmme Kalju
October[49]   Arno Pijpers Flora   Brent Lepistu Flora   João Morelli Levadia

Player of the Round

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Round Player of the Round
Player Club
1[50]   Rimo Hunt Levadia
2[51]   Zakaria Beglarishvili Flora
3[52]   João Morelli Levadia
4[53]   Rauno Sappinen Flora

Annual awards

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Award Winner Club
Player of the Year[54]   Rauno Sappinen Flora
Goal of the Year[55]   Viktor Plotnikov Narva Trans

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kodune tippjalgpall saab peatoetaja" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  2. ^ "MÄNGUDE KALENDER (2017)". Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Premium liigas esindab Pärnut jalgpalliklubi Vaprus". Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  4. ^ "FC Infonetist saab FCI Tallinn". Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Infoneti Lasnamäe staadion". Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  6. ^ "A. Le Coq Arena staadion ja tribüünihoone" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
  7. ^ "Kadrioru Staadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
  8. ^ "Narva Kreenholmi staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  9. ^ "Hiiu kunstmurustaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  10. ^ "Paide linna staadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
  11. ^ "Spordikompleks "Kalev" staadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
  12. ^ "Tartu Tamme staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  13. ^ "Viljandi linnastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  14. ^ "Pärnu Rannastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  15. ^ "Flora sai koondisega sama sponsori". Soccernet.ee. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  16. ^ "Intensiivsem Tammeka lubab vastaste eksimusi karmilt karistada". Postimees. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  17. ^ "Klubi suurtoetaja soovib olla teistele eeskujuks". Sakala. 19 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Pärnu Vapruse peatoetajaks sai Coolbet". Vaprus. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  19. ^ a b "Pommuudis! Meelis Rooba ei jätka enam Paide peatreenerina (Uus peatreener Zahovaiko!)" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  20. ^ "Arbeiter Flora peatreenerina ei jätka" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  21. ^ "Ametlik: Arno Pijpersist sai taaskord Flora peatreener". soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  22. ^ a b "Tammeka esindusmeeskonda juhendavad uuel hooajal Mario Hansi ja Kaido Koppel" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Starodubtsev: Briaunys tahtis ise lahkuda". Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  24. ^ a b "Ametlik: Infoneti ja Puštovi teed läksid lahku". Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  25. ^ "Infoneti uueks peatreeneriks sai serblane". Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  26. ^ "Sillamäel jagab juhtnööre uus mees". Soccernet.ee. 13 September 2017.
  27. ^ a b "Jalgpalliliit kinnitas Premium liiga 2018. aasta koosseisu". Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  28. ^ "Eesti 2017.a meistrivõistluste Meistri- ja Esiliiga juhend" (PDF). jalgpall.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  29. ^ "ML Väravalööjate Edetabel (2017)" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  30. ^ "Paide Linnameeskond - JK Narva Trans 1:5". Estonian Football Association. 4 March 2017.
  31. ^ "Tallinna FC Levadia - Paide Linnameeskond 7:0". Estonian Football Association. 18 March 2017.
  32. ^ "Pärnu JK Vaprus - FCI Tallinn 0:6". Estonian Football Association. 15 April 2017.
  33. ^ "Tallinna FC Levadia - Pärnu JK Vaprus 8:0". Estonian Football Association. 28 April 2017.
  34. ^ "FCI Tallinn - Pärnu JK Vaprus 11 - 1". Estonian Football Association. 22 May 2017.
  35. ^ "Pärnu JK Vaprus 0 - 10 Tallinna FC Flora". Estonian Football Association. 16 June 2017.
  36. ^ "Tallinna FC Levadia 8 - 0 Paide Linnameeskond". Estonian Football Association. 5 August 2017.
  37. ^ "JK Sillamäe Kalev 9 - 0 Pärnu JK Vaprus". Estonian Football Association. 12 August 2017.
  38. ^ "Pärnu JK Vaprus 1 - 6 Nõmme Kalju FC". Estonian Football Association. 15 August 2017.
  39. ^ "Nõmme Kalju FC 6 - 0 Pärnu JK Vaprus". Estonian Football Association. 23 September 2017.
  40. ^ "JK Sillamäe Kalev 6 - 0 Pärnu JK Vaprus". Estonian Football Association. 30 September 2017.
  41. ^ "JK Narva Trans 0 - 7 Tallinna FC Flora". Estonian Football Association. 20 October 2017.
  42. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimate auhinnad lähevad FC Levadiale" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 7 April 2017.
  43. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimad on Pijpers ja Hunt" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 5 May 2017.
  44. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimad on Pijpers ja Kotenko" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 8 June 2017.
  45. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimad on Koppel, Hansi ja Sappinen" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 6 July 2017.
  46. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimateks valiti Frantcev ja Volkov" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 3 August 2017.
  47. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimateks valiti Rogic ja Kobzar" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 7 September 2017.
  48. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimad tulevad FC Levadiast" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 12 October 2017.
  49. ^ "Premium liiga kuu parimad tulevad FC Florast" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 3 November 2017.
  50. ^ "Premium liiga avaringi parimaks mängijaks valiti Rimo Hunt" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 12 May 2017.
  51. ^ "Premium liiga teise ringi parimaks valiti Zakaria Beglarishvili" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 13 July 2017.
  52. ^ "Premium liiga kolmanda ringi parimaks mängijaks valiti Joao Morelli" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 8 September 2017.
  53. ^ "Premium liiga neljanda ringi parimaks valiti Rauno Sappinen" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 13 July 2017.
  54. ^ "Premium liiga parimaks mängijaks valiti Rauno Sappinen" [Rauno Sappinen voted best player of the Premium liiga] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 10 December 2017.
  55. ^ "Premium liiga ilusaimaks väravaks valiti Plotnikovi karistuslöök" [Viktor Plotnikov's free kick voted Premium liiga's goal of the year] (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 10 December 2017.
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