Led byMart Poom, Nõmme United is renowned for its strong youth system.[1] The club debuted in Meistriliiga in 2024 and will compete in the top flight again from 2026.
The club was founded in 2000 by Enn Loog and was initially named FC Elion, before the name was changed to FC Nõmme United in 2006. From early years on,Mart Poom, who at the time was playing in thePremier League, contributed to the growth of the club.[2] After Poom's retirement,Mart Poomi Jalgpallikool (English: Mart Poom's Football School) was founded which started to act as an academy to Nõmme United.[2] The club quickly established itself as one of the leading youth academies in the country, whilst the first team spent 13 consecutive seasons in the fourth tier from 2005 to 2017. In 2018, goalkeeperKarl Jakob Hein joined the academy ofArsenal F.C. and made his first team debut on 9 November 2022, becoming the second Estonian to feature for the Gunners after club's president Poom.
After finishing first in the Estonian third-tierEsiliiga B in2019, the club was promoted toEsiliiga. After the2022 season,Vladimir Vassiljev became the manager of the club and Nõmme United set their sights on gaining promotion toPremium Liiga within the next three seasons.[3] They did it in one, as the club finished the2023 Esiliiga season in first place with 90 points. After the end of the season, Vassiljev left for abroad and Nõmme United appointedJani Sarajärvi as head coach for their debut in the Estonian top flight, but the Finnishman was dismissed just four games into the season.[4] The team was first led by assistant coaches and then by Martin Klasen for the remainder of the year. Although Nõmme United had the joint-fourth highest budget in the league,[5] the club finished their inaugural Premium Liiga season in last place with 15 points, and were relegated.
Nõmme United won promotion back to top flight at their first attempt as the2025 Esiliiga champions with league record 92 points.
Nõmme United's home ground is Männiku Stadium which is part of their home base Männiku Football Centre, located at Võidu 16,Nõmme,Tallinn. In addition to the natural grass ground, the complex also has an artificial turf football pitch (90 × 60m), upon which an air dome is installed during the winter months.[7]
At winter and early spring months, Nõmme United play their home matches atSportland Arena.
Nõmme United has a local rivalry withNõmme Kalju FC, as both clubs are based in theNõmme district of Tallinn. Their home groundsMänniku Stadium andHiiu Stadium are located approximately 3 km apart. For the first decades, the rivalry only existed in youth football, until Nõmme United’s promotion to the Estonian top division saw the clubs face each other for the first time on 17 March 2024.[8] The second-ever Nõmme Derby saw the second-fastest goal in Meistriliiga history, asPromise David opened the score for Nõmme Kalju after just 7 seconds.[9]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Ivar Sova (12)
Oleksandr Musolitin
