2021 Esiliiga
# 2021 Esiliiga

The 2021 Esiliiga was the 31st season of the Esiliiga, the second-highest Estonian league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. The season began on 4 March 2021 and concluded on 21 November 2021. Defending champions Maardu Linnameeskond won their second Esiliiga title.

## Teams

### Stadiums and locations

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| - | - | - | - |
| Elva | Elva | Elva linnastaadion | 600 |
| FCI Levadia U21 | Tallinn | Maarjamäe Stadium | 30 |
| Flora U21 | Tallinn | Lilleküla training ground | 200 |
| Maardu Linnameeskond | Maardu | Maardu linnastaadion | 500 |
| Nõmme United | Tallinn | Männiku Stadium | 50 |
| Paide Linnameeskond U21 | Paide | Paide linnastaadion | 268 |
| Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi | Pärnu | Pärnu Rannastaadion | 1,501 |
| Tallinna Kalev | Tallinn | Kalev Keskstaadion | 11,500 |
| Tammeka U21 | Tartu | Sepa Football Centre Stadium | 508 |
| Welco | Tartu | Tartu Annelinna Stadium | 1,500 |

### Personnel and kits

| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Elva | Veiko Haan | Markus Lokk | Nike | Sportland |
| FCI Levadia U21 | Robert Sadovski | Andrei Grigorjev | Adidas | Viimsi Keevitus |
| Flora U21 | Ats Sillaste | Igor Ustritski | Nike | Tele2 |
| Maardu Linnameeskond | Algimantas Briaunys | Ilja Zelentsov | Adidas | |
| Nõmme United | Martin Klasen | Sander Alex Liit | Uhlsport | Apollo |
| Paide Linnameeskond U21 | Erki Kesküla | Mattias Sapp | Nike | Verston |
| Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi | Igor Prins | Veiko Vespere | Hummel | Savi |
| Tallinna Kalev | Aivar Anniste Daniel Meijel | Kaspar Laur | Macron | Coolbet |
| Tammeka U21 | Marti Pähn | Dominic Laaneots | Nike | Metec |
| Welco | Meelis Eelmäe | Mikk Valtna | Adidas | Holm Bank |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Tallinna Kalev | Dmitrijs Kalašņikovs | End of caretaker spell | 30 November 2020 | Pre-season | Aivar Anniste Daniel Meijel | 1 March 2021 |
| Welco | Janar Sagim | Resigned | 22 January 2021 | Pre-season | Meelis Eelmäe | 25 January 2021 |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Maardu Linnameeskond (C) | 30 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 99 | 30 | +69 | 73 | |
| 2 | Tallinna Kalev | 30 | 21 | 8 | 1 | 78 | 32 | +46 | 71 | Promotion to Meistriliiga |
| 3 | Paide Linnameeskond U21 | 30 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 85 | 56 | +29 | 54 | |
| 4 | Nõmme United | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 79 | 67 | +12 | 41 | |
| 5 | Flora U21 | 27 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 38 | 47 | −9 | 39 | |
| 6 | Elva | 27 | 9 | 2 | 16 | 42 | 54 | −12 | 29 | |
| 7 | FCI Levadia U21 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 52 | 77 | −25 | 35 | |
| 8 | Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 38 | 61 | −23 | 29 | Qualification for relegation play-offs |
| 9 | Tammeka U21 (R) | 30 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 43 | 82 | −39 | 25 | Relegation to Esiliiga B |
| 10 | Welco (R) | 30 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 30 | 78 | −48 | 20 | Relegation to Esiliiga B |

* 1 2 Despite winning the league, Maardu Linnameeskond declined promotion to Meistriliiga and applied to join II liiga for the following season. Tallinna Kalev was promoted instead and Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi was able to maintain its spot in Esiliiga despite losing the relegation play-offs.

## Relegation play-offs

Alliance won 4–1 on aggregate.

## Season statistics

### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Robi Saarma | Nõmme United | 28 |
| 2 | Ats Purje | Tallinna Kalev | 24 |
| 3 | Vitali Gussev | Maardu Linnameeskond | 21 |
| 4 | Vadim Aksjonov | Maardu Linnameeskond | 16 |
| 4 | Kristofer Piht | Paide Linnameeskond U21 | 16 |
| 6 | Roman Sobtšenko | Maardu Linnameeskond | 15 |
| 7 | Ilja Zelentsov | Maardu Linnameeskond | 13 |
| 8 | Lars-Indrek Aigro | Nõmme United | 12 |
| 8 | Silard Simanis | Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi | 12 |
| 10 | Andreas Kiivit | Flora U21 | 11 |
| 10 | Ramol Sillamaa | Tallinna Kalev | 11 |

## Awards

### Monthly awards

| Month | Manager of the Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Player of the Month |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Month | Manager | Club | Player | Club |
| May | Algimantas Briaunys | Maardu Linnameeskond | Ats Purje | Tallinna Kalev |
| June/July | Aivar Anniste Daniel Meijel | Tallinna Kalev | Kaspar Laur | Tallinna Kalev |
| September | Martin Klasen | Nõmme United | Robi Saarma | Nõmme United |
| October | Algimantas Briaunys | Maardu Linnameeskond | Lars-Indrek Aigro | Nõmme United |

### Esiliiga Player of the Year

Ats Purje was named Esiliiga Player of the Year.

