Rakvere Jalgpalliklubi Tarvas, commonly known as Rakvere Tarvas, or simply as Tarvas, is an Estonian football club based in Rakvere that competes in II liiga, the fourth tier of Estonian football. The club's home ground is Rakvere linnastaadion.
The club was founded in 2004 as Virumaa JK Rakvere. From 2008 until 2010, the club was named Rakvere FC Flora, and since 2011 Rakvere JK Tarvas. The club has competed in the Estonian top division Meistriliiga once, in 2016.
History
The club was founded in 2004 as Virumaa Jalgpalliklubi Rakvere (). From 2008, Rakvere became affiliated with Flora and became Rakvere FC Flora. In 2011, the team name was changed to Tarvas (), which is the symbol of Rakvere and is derived from the historic name of the town, Tarvanpea (Aurochs' head). In 2012, Tarvas was promoted to Esiliiga and finished the 2012 season in third place. The club faced JK Tallinna Kalev in the promotion play-offs, but lost 1–3 on aggregate. Tarvas finished the 2013 Esiliiga season in 4th place but were beaten in the promotion play-offs by Tartu Tammeka 2–6 on aggregate. In July 2014, Valeri Bondarenko was hired as manager.
Rakvere Tarvas finished the 2015 Esiliiga season in 4th place and as the three higher placed teams were reserve teams and thus ineligible for promotion, Tarvas were promoted to the Meistriliiga for the first time in their history. In the process, they became the first club from Lääne-Viru County to play in the Estonian top division. Tarvas earned just 1 point in their first 14 Meistriliiga games and on 4 June 2016, Bondarenko was sacked and replaced as manager by Urmas Kirs. Tarvas earned another two draws and finished the season at the bottom of the table with three points. For the following three seasons, Rakvere Tarvas competed in Esiliiga, before being relegated to Esiliiga B for 2020 and eventually dropping down to the fourth tier in 2021.
Players Squads As of 25 June 2025
On 10 March 2018
Reserves and academy
Personnel
Technical staff PositionNameManager Tarmo RebaneAssistant manager Reijo KuusikPhysiotherapist Hannalore TaalMedic Piret Elm
Managerial history DatesName2004–2005 Jaak Proosa2005–2007 Ain Mets2008 Mati Pari2008 Urmas Kirs2009 Sergei Zamogilnõi2010 Jan Važinski2011–2014 Reijo Kuusik2014–2016 Valeri Bondarenko2016–2017 Urmas Kirs2017– Tarmo Rebane
Internationals
PlayerCaps while at clubPeriod at clubCaps overall Marko Meerits120165 Kristian Marmor020131 Toomas Tohver0200824 Mati Pari0200822 Märten Kuusk0201632
Statistics League and Cup
SeasonDivisionTop goalscorerCupNotes2004V liiga 11413018112 +6939 Alar Petrovits (29) as Rakvere JK2005III liiga32215345628 +2848 Esko Brandt Reijo Kuusik (9) as Virumaa JK Rakvere2006 22215255734 +2347 Alar Petrovits (25)2007II liiga 22616467536 +3952 Alar Petrovits (25)Third round2008Esiliiga836107195382 −2937 Alar Petrovits (17)Second round as Rakvere FC Flora20091036822648105 −5720 Alar Petrovits (11)Second round2010 936103234595 −5021 Alar Petrovits (11)Second round2011II liiga 126222210029 +7168 Joonas Ljaš (27)Third round as Rakvere JK Tarvas2012Esiliiga336215106658 +868 Joonas Ljaš (14)Fourth round2013436168126858 +1056 Henri Hang (11)Third round20148361210146165 −446 Sergei Akimov (21)First round2015 4361211135253 −147 Sergei Akimov (16)Third round2016Meistriliiga1036033315113 −983 Märten Kuusk Siim Rannamäe Juhan Jograf Siim (2)Third round2017Esiliiga336214116657 +967 Joonas Ljaš (22)Third round20185361410125960 −152 Siim Rannamäe (12)Fourth round201983684243598 −6328 Siim Rannamäe (12)Second round2020Esiliiga B103031262696 −7010 Nevil Krimm (7)First round2021II liiga N/E92376103842 −427 Roland Pakaste (8)Second round202222618446020 +4058 Roland Pakaste Mattias Roop (9)Second round202332618449724 +7358 Roland Pakaste Mattias Roop (19)Fourth round202432617457928 +5155 Kennert Liblik (20)
References
External links Official website Team info at Estonian Football Association