Pärnu Linnameeskond

Pärnu Linnameeskond
Full name Pärnu Linnameeskond
Founded 2010 (2010)
Ground Pärnu Raeküla Stadium, Pärnu
Ground Capacity 550
Chairman Raio Piiroja
Manager Marko Lelov
League Meistriliiga
2015 8th, Meistriliiga
Website Club home page

Pärnu Linnameeskond or simply Pärnu, is a football club, based in Pärnu, Estonia.

Pärnu Linnameeskond was founded in 1922, following the merger of Vaprus, Pärnu and Pärnu Kalev. 2011 Esiliiga season was the team's first season under the new name. The club has played in the Meistriliiga since 2015.

History

FC Pärnu Levadia

FC Pärnu Levadia was established in 2000. The team was formed out of young local players from Tervis Pärnu and was sponsored by Viktor Levada, who was looking to restructure Levadia's farm club system. 2000 and 2001 saw Pärnu Levadia winning two successive promotions, first to Esiliiga and then to Estonian top-flight Mesitriliiga, where the team was strengthened by some players from the Levadia system, who were not getting enough playing time at either Levadia Maardu (now Levadia Tallinn) or Levadia Tallinn (now Levadia's reserve team). Pärnu Levadia finished bottom of the Meistriliiga in their first and only season in the top-flight. Following the unsuccessful 2002 season, Viktor Levada decided to withdraw his sponsorship from Pärnu and Pärnu Levadia's Esiliiga slot was taken over by Vaprus Pärnu. Pärnu Levadia players who had no contract affiliation with Levadia also joined Vaprus for the following Esiliiga season.

Vaprus

Vaprus crest

Vaprus was formed in May 1922, as Sporting Society Vaprus. Founding members included Johann Tamm (Vaprus president 1922–1927), Johan Põntson (ten-time Estonian wrestling champion), weightlifter Arnold Luhaäär (1928 Summer Olympics Silver and 1936 Summer Olympics Bronze) and William Puust (Pärnu Football Club founder). Vaprus competed in the local Pärnu football championships, winning in 1927 and 1934. In 1937 the club merged with several other sporting clubs to form Pärnu Kalev.[1]

The club was re-established in 1999 and competed in the III liiga. Vaprus won the Western Conference in 2000 and earned promotion to II liiga. Following the 2002 Estonian football season, Vaprus took over Pärnu Levadia's Esiliiga slot. The originally re-established Vaprus continued as the club's reserve team, while the first team was predominantly made of former Pärnu Levadia players. The same season, Vaprus suffered relegation from the Esiliiga after the club's license was revoked by the Estonian Football Association halfway through the season. Vaprus won the 2005 Esiliiga season and was promoted to Meistriliiga. The club finished their first Meistriliiga season in 7th place. Vaprus finished the 2008 Meistriliiga season in 10th place, but managed to avoid direct relegation due to disbandment of TVMK. However, the club was still relegated after losing the relegation play-offs against Paide Linnameeskond.[2]

Pärnu Linnameeskond

In 2010, the club merged with Pärnu and Pärnu Kalev, becoming Pärnu Linnameeskond. Pärnu Linnameeskond finished 2014 Esiliiga season in third place and was promoted to Meistriliiga once again.[3]

Honours

Winners (1): 2005
Third place (1): 2014
Runners-up (1): 2013

Players

Current squad

As of 6 March, 2016.[4] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Estonia GK Hendrik Vainu
2 Estonia DF Martin Mägi (on loan from Nõmme Kalju)
4 Estonia DF Magnus Villota
5 Estonia DF Joosep Sarapuu
6 Estonia DF Ronek Saal
7 Estonia MF Envar Lauter
8 Estonia MF Tanel Melts (vice-captain)
9 Estonia FW Kristen Saarts
11 Estonia FW Kristian Lenk
12 Estonia MF Rauno Tutk
14 Estonia MF Toomas Pent
15 Estonia FW Henri Hanson
No. Position Player
16 Estonia MF Greger Könninge
19 Estonia MF Tõnis Vihmoja
20 Estonia MF Martin Mardiste
21 Estonia DF Marco Lukka
23 Estonia FW Taavi Laurits
24 Estonia DF Karl Palatu
28 Estonia MF Risto Pärnat
30 Estonia MF Martin Vunk (captain)
31 Estonia DF Raido Leokin
37 Estonia DF Hevar Aas
41 Estonia MF Rando Leokin
77 Estonia GK Joel Vabrit

Personnel

Current technical staff

Position Name
Manager Estonia Marko Lelov
Assistant manager Estonia Gert Olesk

Managerial history

Manager Career
Estonia Gert Olesk2010
Estonia Kalev Pajula2010–2012
Estonia Gert Olesk2013–2014
Estonia Marko Lelov2014–

Statistics

Vaprus

Esiliiga Meistriliiga Esiliiga II Liiga Esiliiga II Liiga III Liiga

Pärnu Linnameeskond

Meistriliiga Esiliiga Esiliiga B Esiliiga

League and Cup

References

  1. "Ajalugu 20. sajandil" (in Estonian). Vaprus.ee. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  2. "Ajalugu 21. sajandil" (in Estonian). Vaprus.ee. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  3. "Pärnu jalgpalliklubi kerkis meistriliigasse" (in Estonian). Postimees.ee. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  4. "PäRNU LINNAMEESKOND (2015) – Eesti Jalgpalli Liit". Jalgpall.ee. Retrieved 14 November 2015.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, April 23, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.