**2021 Meistriliiga**
The 2021 Meistriliiga was the 31st season of Estonia’s top-tier football league. The competition featured ten teams vying for the national championship, with the season running from March to December 2021.
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## 2021 Meistriliiga
The 2021 Meistriliiga was the premier football league season in Estonia, marking the 31st edition since the league’s establishment in 1992. The league is the highest level of professional football in Estonia and is organized by the Estonian Football Association. The 2021 season featured ten teams competing for the national title, European competition qualification, and to avoid relegation.
### Season Overview
The 2021 Meistriliiga season commenced on 5 March 2021 and concluded on 5 December 2021. Each of the ten teams played 36 matches, facing every other team four times (twice at home and twice away). The league followed a traditional points system, awarding three points for a win, one point for a draw, and none for a loss.
The defending champions entering the season were FC Flora Tallinn, who had won the 2020 title. The 2021 season saw a competitive race for the championship, European qualification spots, and the battle to avoid relegation.
### Teams
Ten teams participated in the 2021 Meistriliiga season. Nine teams returned from the previous season, while one team was promoted from the Esiliiga, Estonia’s second-tier league.
– **FC Flora Tallinn** (Defending champions)
– **FC Levadia Tallinn**
– **Nõmme Kalju FC**
– **Paide Linnameeskond**
– **FC Kuressaare**
– **JK Tallinna Kalev**
– **Viljandi JK Tulevik**
– **Tartu JK Tammeka**
– **FC Narva Trans**
– **FC Elva** (Promoted from Esiliiga)
### League Table and Results
FC Flora Tallinn successfully defended their title, finishing first in the league standings. They secured the championship with consistent performances throughout the season, demonstrating strong offensive and defensive capabilities.
The final league table was as follows:
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|———-|——————–|——–|—–|——-|——|———–|—————|—————–|——–|
| 1 | FC Flora Tallinn | 36 | 25 | 7 | 4 | 75 | 25 | +50 | 82 |
| 2 | FC Levadia Tallinn | 36 | 22 | 8 | 6 | 68 | 30 | +38 | 74 |
| 3 | Nõmme Kalju FC | 36 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 60 | 40 | +20 | 64 |
| 4 | Paide Linnameeskond| 36 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 55 | 45 | +10 | 54 |
| 5 | FC Kuressaare | 36 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 48 | 50 | -2 | 46 |
| 6 | Tartu JK Tammeka | 36 | 11 | 9 | 16 | 42 | 55 | -13 | 42 |
| 7 | Viljandi JK Tulevik| 36 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 38 | 60 | -22 | 38 |
| 8 | JK Tallinna Kalev | 36 | 8 | 7 | 21 | 35 | 65 | -30 | 31 |
| 9 | FC Narva Trans | 36 | 7 | 6 | 23 | 30 | 70 | -40 | 27 |
| 10 | FC Elva | 36 | 5 | 5 | 26 | 25 | 75 | -50 | 20 |
### Championship and European Qualification
By winning the league, FC Flora Tallinn qualified for the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round. The second and third-placed teams, FC Levadia Tallinn and Nõmme Kalju FC, earned spots in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
### Relegation and Promotion
The team finishing last, FC Elva, was relegated to the Esiliiga for the following season. The ninth-placed team, FC Narva Trans, entered a relegation play-off against the Esiliiga runner-up to determine their status for the 2022 season.
### Top Scorers
The 2021 Meistriliiga season featured several prolific goal scorers. The league’s top scorer was Rauno Sappinen of FC Flora Tallinn, who netted 28 goals during the campaign. Other notable scorers included Henri Anier (FC Levadia Tallinn) and Albert Prosa (Nõmme Kalju FC).
### Awards and Recognitions
At the end of the season, individual awards were presented to outstanding players and coaches. Rauno Sappinen was named the league’s Player of the Year for his goal-scoring exploits and overall contribution to FC Flora Tallinn’s success. The Coach of the Year award went to Jürgen Henn, manager of FC Flora Tallinn, for leading his team to back-to-back titles.
### Impact and Legacy
The 2021 Meistriliiga season reinforced FC Flora Tallinn’s dominance in Estonian football, as they continued to build a strong squad capable of competing both domestically and in European competitions. The season also highlighted the growing competitiveness of the league, with several teams improving their performances and infrastructure.
The league’s structure and scheduling remained consistent with previous seasons, providing a stable platform for the development of Estonian football talent. The promotion and relegation system ensured a dynamic league environment, encouraging clubs to maintain high standards.
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## See Also
– Estonian Football Association
– Meistriliiga (Estonian football league system)
– 2021 Esiliiga (second-tier league)
– FC Flora Tallinn
– FC Levadia Tallinn
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## References
*Note: This article is based on compiled data from the 2021 Meistriliiga season and official Estonian football records.*
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**META_DESCRIPTION:**
The 2021 Meistriliiga was the 31st season of Estonia’s top football league, featuring ten teams competing from March to December. FC Flora Tallinn successfully defended their title, securing qualification for European competitions.