| Season | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 3 March 2018 – 10 November 2018 |
| Champions | Nõmme Kalju 2nd title |
| Relegated | Vaprus |
| Champions League | Nõmme Kalju |
| Europa League | FCI Levadia Flora Narva Trans |
| Matches | 180 |
| Goals | 685 (3.81 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Liliu (31 goals) |
←2017 2019 → | |
The2018 Meistriliiga (known asA. Le Coq Premium Liiga for sponsorship reasons[1]) was the 28th season of theMeistriliiga, the highest division ofEstonianfootball system. The season was scheduled to begin on 25 February 2018, but was postponed due to acold wave. On 3 March, the season began with four out of five second round matches held in indoor arena. This marked the first time Estonian league football was played indoor.[2] The season concluded on 10 November 2018.[3]Flora were the defending champions.Nõmme Kalju won their 2nd Meistriliiga title completing an entire season undefeated.
10 teams competed in the league.Sillamäe Kalev lost their Meistriliiga license due to a failure to meet their financial obligations and were relegated to theII liiga.[4] On 4 November 2017, it was announced thatFCI Tallinn would merge withLevadia.[5]
The two clubs were replaced by2017 Esiliiga championsMaardu Linnameeskond and runners-upTallinna Kalev.[6] On 18 December 2017,Kuressaare replaced Maardu Linnameeskond after the latter withdrew from the league due to financial reasons.[7]
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCI Levadia | Adidas | Viimsi Keevitus | ||
| Flora | Nike | Tele2[18] | ||
| Kuressaare | Joma | Saaremaa Lihatööstus | ||
| Narva Trans | Nike | Sportland | ||
| Nõmme Kalju | Adidas | help.ee | ||
| Paide Linnameeskond | Nike | Verston | ||
| Tallinna Kalev | Nike | Coolbet | ||
| Tammeka | Nike | Metec[19] | ||
| Tulevik | Joma | Viljandi Aken ja Uks[20] | ||
| Vaprus | Nike | Coolbet[21] |
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaprus | Resigned | 5 November 2017[22] | Pre-season | 5 November 2017[23] | ||
| FCI Levadia | End of contract | 5 November 2017[24] | 6 November 2017[25] | |||
| Tulevik | Resigned | 15 November 2017[26] | 30 December 2017[27] | |||
| Tallinna Kalev | Sacked | 16 November 2017[28] | 17 November 2017[29] | |||
| Tammeka | Mutual consent | 21 November 2017[30] | 21 November 2017[30] | |||
| Flora | Resigned | 13 December 2017[31] | 5 January 2018[32] | |||
| Kuressaare | Mutual consent | 19 December 2017 | 19 December 2017[33] | |||
| Tulevik | Mutual consent | 19 April 2018[34] | 9th | 19 April 2018[34] | ||
| Narva Trans | Resigned | 14 August 2018[35] | 4th | 17 August 2018[35] |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nõmme Kalju(C) | 36 | 25 | 11 | 0 | 114 | 32 | +82 | 86 | Qualification for theChampions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | FCI Levadia | 36 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 109 | 26 | +83 | 84 | Qualification for theEuropa League first qualifying round[a] |
| 3 | Flora | 36 | 25 | 8 | 3 | 116 | 32 | +84 | 83 | |
| 4 | Narva Trans | 36 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 76 | 57 | +19 | 61 | |
| 5 | Paide Linnameeskond | 36 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 64 | 74 | −10 | 51 | |
| 6 | Tammeka | 36 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 56 | 58 | −2 | 49 | |
| 7 | Tulevik | 36 | 8 | 5 | 23 | 37 | 100 | −63 | 29 | |
| 8 | Tallinna Kalev | 36 | 7 | 7 | 22 | 54 | 68 | −14 | 28 | |
| 9 | Kuressaare(O) | 36 | 6 | 3 | 27 | 34 | 115 | −81 | 21 | Qualification for theRelegation play-offs |
| 10 | Vaprus(R) | 36 | 2 | 7 | 27 | 25 | 123 | −98 | 13 | Relegation to theEsiliiga |
At season's end Kuressaare, the ninth place club, participated in a two-legged play-off with the runners-up (of independent teams) of the2018 Esiliiga,Elva, for the spot in 2019 Meistriliiga.
| 17 November 2018 | Elva | 0–1 | Kuressaare | Elva |
| 13:00 (UTC+2) | Report | Laht | Stadium:Elva linnastaadion Attendance: 235 Referee: Siim Rinken |
| 24 November 2018 | Kuressaare | 1–0 | Elva | Kuressaare |
| 13:00 (UTC+2) | Saar | Report | Stadium:Kuressaare linnastaadion Attendance: 152 Referee:Kristo Tohver |
Each team played every opponent four times, twice at home and twice away. A total of 180 matches has been played, with 36 matches played by each team.
First half of season[edit]
Source:Estonian Football Association(in Estonian) Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. | Second half of season[edit]
Source:Estonian Football Association(in Estonian) Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
|
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[37] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nõmme Kalju | 31 | |
| 2 | Flora | 30 | |
| 3 | FCI Levadia | 28 | |
| 4 | Tammeka | 21 | |
| 5 | Narva Trans | 17 | |
| 6 | Flora | 16 | |
| 7 | Kuressaare | 15 | |
| 8 | FCI Levadia | 14 | |
| Nõmme Kalju | |||
| 10 | Narva Trans | 13 | |
| FCI Levadia |
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tammeka | Kuressaare | 4–0 (A) | 30 March 2018[38] | |
| FCI Levadia | Tulevik | 5–0 (H) | 5 May 2018[39] | |
| Nõmme Kalju | Vaprus | 6–0 (A) | 5 May 2018[40] | |
| FCI Levadia | Vaprus | 6–1 (H) | 26 May 2018[41] | |
| Nõmme Kalju | Paide Linnameeskond | 3–0 (A) | 18 August 2018[42] | |
| Flora | Tulevik | 3–1 (A) | 3 November 2018[43] |
4 Player scored 4 goals
| Club | Average attendance[44] |
|---|---|
| Tallinna FC Flora | 559 |
| Tartu JK Tammeka | 444 |
| Nõmme Kalju FC | 404 |
| Viljandi JK Tulevik | 278 |
| FCI Levadia | 262 |
| Pärnu JK Vaprus | 260 |
| JK Narva Trans | 250 |
| JK Tallinna Kalev | 199 |
| Paide Linnameeskond | 187 |
| FC Kuressaare | 113 |
| League average | 296 |
| Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Club | Player | Club | |
| March[45] | Nõmme Kalju | FCI Levadia | ||
| April[46] | FCI Levadia | Nõmme Kalju | ||
| May[47] | Flora | Paide Linnameeskond | ||
| June/July[48] | Nõmme Kalju | Flora | ||
| August[49] | Tammeka | |||
| September[50] | FCI Levadia | Narva Trans | ||
| October[51] | Flora | Tulevik | ||
Zakaria Beglarishvili was namedMeistriliiga Player of the Year.[52]
Tõnis Vihmoja's goal againstPaide Linnameeskond was chosen Goal of the Year.[53]