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. The 2017 Esiliiga and 2018 Esiliiga champions Maardu Linnameeskond were promoted to the highest tier for the first time. 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. 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 FCI Levadia U21 Tallinn Maarjamäe Stadium Flora U21 Lilleküla training ground I Järve Kohtla-Järve Kohtla-Järve Sports Centre Stadium LegionTallinn Kadriorg Stadium Tallinna Kalev U21 Kalev Keskstaadion artificial turf Tammeka U21 Tartu Tartu Sepa Football Centre TarvasRakvereRakvere linnastaadion Vaprus Pärnu Pärnu Rannastaadion WelcoTartuTartu Tamme Stadium
Personnel and kits Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorElva Veiko Haan Jürgen KuresooNikeSportlandFCI Levadia U21 Vladimir Vassiljev Moorits VeeringAdidasViimsi KeevitusFlora U21 Ats SillasteNikeTele2Järve Andrei Škaleta Gleb PevtsovAdidasLegion Denis BelovUhlsportTallinna Kalev U21 Daniel MeijelNikeTammeka U21 Marti PähnNikeTarvas Tarmo Rebane Alari TovstikNikeAqva Hotel & SpaVaprus Taavi Midenbritt Kalev Pajula Kristen SaartsNikeCoolbetWelco Janar Sagim Mikk ValtnaNikeLiisi
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in the table Incoming manager Date of appointmentVaprus Indrek ZelinskSigned by KTP10 November 2018Pre-season Taavi Midenbritt Kalev Pajula22 November 2018Welco Yusuf ErdoğanMutual consent25 July 201910th Janar Sagim25 July 2019
League table
Results Matches 1–18
Matches 19–36
Relegation play-offs
Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi won 7–2 on aggregate.
Season statistics Top scorers Rank Player Club Goals 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 MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the MonthManagerClubPlayerClubMarch Denis BelovLegion Raivo SaarJärveApril Andrei ŠkaletaJärve Ronaldo TiismaaVaprusMay Taavi Midenbritt Kalev PajulaVaprus Daaniel MaanasTammeka U21June Denis BelovLegion Martin ThomsonElvaJuly Veiko HaanElva Ralf-Sander SuvinõmmFlora U21 August Marti PähnTammeka U21 Hendrik VainuVaprusSeptember Vladimir VassiljevFCI Levadia U21 Marek ŠatovLegionOctober Denis BelovLegion Rejal Alijev
Esiliiga Player of the Year Denis Vnukov was named Esiliiga Player of the Year.
See also 2018–19 Estonian Cup 2019–20 Estonian Cup 2019 Meistriliiga 2019 Esiliiga B
References