Meistriliiga Explained

Pixels:160
Country: Estonia
Confed:UEFA
Teams:10
Relegation:Esiliiga
Levels:1
Domest Cup:Estonian Cup
Estonian Supercup
Confed Cup:UEFA Champions League
UEFA Conference League
Champions:Flora (16th title)
Season:2025
Most Successful Club:Flora
(16 titles)
Most Appearances:Andre Frolov (521)
Top Goalscorer:Maksim Gruznov (304)
Tv:ETV2, ETV+, soccernet.ee
Current:2026 Meistriliiga

Meistriliiga (pronounced as /et/), officially known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga for sponsorship reasons, and commonly known as the Premium Liiga, is the highest division of the Estonian Football Association annual football championship. The league was founded in 1992, and was initially semi-professional with amateur clubs allowed to compete. With the help of solidarity mechanisms, the league is fully professional since the 2020 season.[1]

As in most countries with low temperatures in winter, the season starts in March and ends in November. Meistriliiga consists of ten clubs, all teams play each other four times.

After each season, the bottom team is relegated to the Esiliiga, the Estonian second division league. The second last team plays a two-legged play-off with the second team in the Esiliiga for a place in the Meistriliiga.

History

Origins

The first Estonian Football Championship title was played out in 1921 and was won by Sport, who later went on to lift nine league titles and was the most successful Estonian football club during the country's first period of independence. The championship was initially played as a knock-out tournament, before league format was adapted in 1929.[2] During the last 1939–40 season, Tartu Olümpia became the first club outside of capital city Tallinn to be crowned the Estonian champions, and have remained to be the only non-Tallinn club to do so until present day.[3]

Estonia lost its independence through Soviet occupation in World War II, after which former clubs were forced to dissolve and Estonian SSR Championship was established. During the occupation, native Estonians started to desist from practicing football and the local championships were mostly played by teams consisting of local Russians.[4] [5]

Meistriliiga

Estonia restored its independence in 1991 and in the following year, Meistriliiga was established. After 52 years, Estonian clubs could once again play for the Estonian Football Championship title. The number of teams participating in the league varied from 8 to 14 until 2005, since then the league has been played with 10 teams.[6] First live TV broadcasts began in 2008, and in 2020, first league matches were broadcast on foreign TV channels.[7]

In February 2013, A. Le Coq, an Estonian brewery company, signed a five-year cooperation agreement with the Estonian Football Association, which included Meistriliiga naming rights.[8] Since then, the league has been known as the Premium Liiga.

In 2020, the league became fully professional as the Estonian Football Association began financially supporting clubs that do not qualify for European spots.[9]

Premium Liiga started using video assistant referee (VAR) from 2023.[10]

2026 season

The following 10 clubs will compete in the 2026 Meistriliiga.

Club Position
in 2025
First season
in Meistriliiga
Seasons in
Meistriliiga
First season of
current spell
Number of
seasons of
current spell
TitlesLast title
FCI Levadiac2nd199928199928112024
Floraa, b, c1st199236199236162025
Harju7th20233202520–
Kuressaare9th200019201890–
Narva Transa, b, c5th1992361992360–
Nõmme Kaljuc3rd20081920081922018
Nõmme United1st (EL)20242202610–
Paide Linnameeskondc4th2009182009180–
Tammekac8th2005222005220–
Vaprus6th200611202160–
a = Founding member of the Meistriliiga
b = Played in every Meistriliiga season
c = Never been relegated from the Meistriliiga

Champions

Seasonwidth=125pxChampionswidth=125pxRunners-upwidth=125pxThird placeTop goalscorerGoals
1992NormaEesti PõlevkiviTVMVSergei Bragin (Norma)18
1992–93Norma FloraNikolSergei Bragin (Norma)27
1993–94FloraNormaNikolMaksim Gruznov (Narva Trans/Tevalte)21
1994–95Flora Lantana-MarlekorNarva TransSerhiy Morozov (Lantana-Marlekor)25
1995–96LantanaFloraTevalte-MarlekorLembit Rajala (Flora)16
1996–97Lantana FloraTallinna SadamSergei Bragin (Lantana)18
1997–98Flora Tallinna SadamLantanaKonstantin Kolbassenko (Tallinna Sadam)18
1998Flora Tallinna SadamLantanaKonstantin Kolbassenko (Tallinna Sadam)13
1999LevadiaTulevikFloraToomas Krõm (Levadia)19
2000Levadia FloraTVMKEgidijus Juška (TVMK)
Toomas Krõm (Levadia)
24
2001Flora TVMKLevadiaMaksim Gruznov (Narva Trans)37
2002Flora LevadiaTVMKAndrei Krõlov (TVMK)37
2003Flora TVMKLevadiaTor Henning Hamre (Flora)39
2004Levadia TVMKFloraVjatšeslav Zahovaiko (Flora)28
2005TVMKLevadiaNarva TransTarmo Neemelo (TVMK)41
2006Levadia Narva TransFloraMaksim Gruznov (Narva Trans)31
2007Levadia FloraTVMKDmitri Lipartov (Narva Trans)30
2008Levadia FloraNarva TransIngemar Teever (Nõmme Kalju)23
2009Levadia Sillamäe KalevNarva TransVitali Gussev (Levadia)26
2010Flora LevadiaNarva TransSander Post (Flora)24
2011Flora Nõmme KaljuNarva TransAleksandrs Čekulajevs (Narva Trans)46
2012Nõmme KaljuLevadiaFloraVladislav Ivanov (Sillamäe Kalev/Narva Trans)23
2013Levadia Nõmme KaljuSillamäe KalevVladimir Voskoboinikov (Nõmme Kalju)23
2014Levadia Sillamäe KalevFloraYevgeni Kabaev (Sillamäe Kalev)36
2015Flora LevadiaNõmme KaljuIngemar Teever (Levadia)24
2016InfonetLevadiaNõmme KaljuYevgeni Kabaev (Sillamäe Kalev)25
2017Flora LevadiaNõmme KaljuAlbert Prosa (FCI Tallinn)
Rauno Sappinen (Flora)
27
2018Nõmme Kalju FCI LevadiaLiliu (Nõmme Kalju)31
2019Flora FCI LevadiaNõmme KaljuErik Sorga (Flora)31
2020Flora Paide LinnameeskondFCI LevadiaRauno Sappinen (Flora)26
2021FCI Levadia FloraPaide LinnameeskondHenri Anier (Paide Linnameeskond)26
2022Flora FCI LevadiaPaide LinnameeskondZakaria Beglarishvili (FCI Levadia)21
2023Flora FCI LevadiaTallinna KalevTristan Koskor (Narva Trans)16
2024FCI Levadia Nõmme KaljuPaide LinnameeskondAlex Matthias Tamm (Nõmme Kalju)28
2025Flora FCI LevadiaNõmme KaljuRauno Sappinen (Flora)21

Total titles won

ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning seasons
Flora1671993–94, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025
FCI Levadia11121999, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2021, 2024
Nõmme Kalju232012, 2018
Norma211992, 1992–93
Lantana211995–96, 1996–97
TVMK132005
FCI Tallinn102016

All-time Meistriliiga table

The table is a cumulative record of all match results, points and goals of every team that has played in the Meistriliiga since its inception in 1992. The table that follows is accurate as of the end of the 2022 season. Teams in bold play in the Meistriliiga 2023 season. Numbers in bold are the record (highest) numbers in each column.

In this ranking 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 for a draw, and 0 for a loss, although Meistriliiga awarded 2 points for a win until the 1994–95 season. Championship matches, relegation matches and relegation tournament matches involving clubs of lower leagues are not counted. In 1992 Preliminary Round matches were played in two groups. The results of the matches played between teams in same group were taken to second round, thus counted twice, in this table these results are counted once.

The table is sorted by all-time points.

Notes
Note 1: 1999–2003 FC Levadia Maardu, 2004– FC Levadia. Not to be confused with FC Levadia Tallinn 2001–2003 a separate team owned by the steel company Levadia. In 2004 the clubs were merged FC Levadia Maardu were moved to Tallinn and became FC Levadia, former FC Levadia Tallinn became their reserves as FC Levadia II. Note 2: 1992 TVMV, 1992-1994 Nikol, 1995–1996 Tevalte-Marlekor, 1996–1997 Marlekor, 1997–2008 TVMK Note 3: 1992 Viljandi JK, 1993– Viljandi Tulevik Note 4: 1992–2005 Merkuur, 2006 Maag Note 5: 1993–1994 Tevalte, 1995–1999 Lantana Note 6: 2000–2003 Kohtla-Järve Lootus, 2004 Alutaguse Lootus, 2005–2012 Kohtla-Järve Lootus, then merged and became Kohtla-Järve JK Järve Note 7: 1992 Tartu Kalev, 1992–1994 EsDAG, 1994– DAG Note 8: 1992 Pärnu JK, 1994–1996 PJK Kalev Note 9: 2011–2016 Infonet, 2017 FCI Tallinn

Records

All as of end of 2025 season if not stated otherwise.

Club records

Player records

As of 9 November 2025. Active players in bold.[13]

+ Most appearances
RankPlayerGamesGoals
1Andre Frolov52170
2Andrei Kalimullin51722
3Stanislav Kitto51555
4Sander Sinilaid49739
5Maksim Gruznov494304
6Konstantin Nahk481153
7Markus Jürgenson47263
8Rauno Alliku470126
9Tarmo Neemelo450196
10Maksim Podholjuzin44914
+ Most goals
RankPlayerGoalsGamesAverage
1Maksim Gruznov304494
2Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko211309
3Tarmo Neemelo196450
4Andrei Krõlov162287
Vitali Leitan162418
6Ingemar Teever157296
7Dmitri Lipartov153333
Konstantin Nahk153481
9Indrek Zelinski146276
Zakaria Beglarishvili146343

Estonian champions 1921–1940

The Estonian Football Championship was first established in 1921 and the title for the Estonian champion was played out on 19 occasions, before Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. The league was named A-klass from 1921 to 1923, I klass from 1924 to 1926 and Liiduklass from 1927 until 1940.

Bold indicates club's first championship victory.

Total titles won

ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning seasons
Sport941921, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1933
JS Estonia521934, 1935, 1936, 1937–38, 1938–39
Kalev241923, 1930
TJK241926, 1928
Tartu Olümpia101939–40

Estonian SSR champions

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eesti jalgpalli meistriliiga jätkub teisipäeval uue formaadiga. et. 14 May 2020. 20 May 2021. Postimees Sport.
  2. Book: Schwede, Indrek . Eesti jalgpalli ajalugu II osa . Eesti Jalgpalli Liit . 2024 .
  3. Web site: Avi . Siim . March 2017 . On see võimalik: Eesti meister väljastpoolt Harjumaad? . Is it possible: Estonian champion outside of Harjumaa? . Jalka.
  4. Schwede . Indrek . 2021 . Jalgpalli positsioonist Eestis ja selle marginaliseerumise põhjustest Nõukogude anneksiooni perioodil . Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus.
  5. Web site: 28 May 2021 . Kuidas sai jalgpallist Eestis kommunismi ohver . How football became a victim of communism in Estonia . Delfi Sport . et.
  6. Web site: A. Le Coq Premium liiga tutvustus . 2025-01-11 . jalgpall.ee . et.
  7. Web site: 2020-05-25 . Estonian football league match broadcast internationally for first time . ERR .
  8. Web site: 26 February 2013 . Kodune tippjalgpall saab peatoetaja . 11 December 2013 . Estonian Football Association . et.
  9. Web site: Kalvet . Madis . 25 February 2024 . Raha Premium liigas. Eurosarjast välja jäävad klubid saavad alaliidult 150 000 eurot . Money in Premium Liiga. The clubs that are left out of the European spots will receive 150,000 euros from the FA . Delfi Sport . et.
  10. Web site: 2022-10-04 . Estonia to use VAR in top-flight football matches from next season . ERR .
  11. Web site: SPORT-EKSTRA: Statistikapomm! Millised rekordeid omavad FC Norma, Raio Piiroja ja hooaeg 1997-98?. 6 March 2017. Õhtuleht. 6 March 2017.
  12. Web site: Levadia üritab kaotuseta Transist mööda tõusta . 15 April 2011. Estonian Football Association. 28 October 2017.
  13. Web site: Premium liiga TOP . 11 November 2024 . jalgpall.ee.
  14. Web site: Eesti jalgpallilegendi 14-aastane poeg tegi meistriliiga ajalugu. Delfi Sport. 16 July 2022.
  15. Web site: Viimases voorus purustati meistriliiga ajaloo noorima väravalööja rekord . 9 November 2019 . soccernet.ee . 9 November 2019.
  16. Web site: Vaprus alistas võõrsil kindlalt Tammeka, Paalberg tõusis liiga noorimaks kübaratriki lööjaks. 16 September 2025. Estonian Football Association. 16 September 2025. et.
  17. Web site: 28 May 2024 . VIDEO ⟩ Eesti jalgpalli kõrgliigas sai näha ajaloo üht kiiremat väravat . Postimees Sport . et.
  18. Web site: Kalju, Flora ja Levadia ei jätnud vastasele võimalust. Postimees. 12 May 2012.
  19. Web site: Laupäeval võib selguda Eesti meister. Soccernet.ee. 22 October 2004.
  20. Web site: Infonet üllatas põnevusmängus Levadiat, Smiško võimas rekordseeria sai lõpu. Postimees. 25 July 2014.