 | ||||
| Full name | Paide Linnameeskond | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2004; 22 years ago (2004) | |||
| Ground | Paide linnastaadion | |||
| Capacity | 500[1] | |||
| President | Veiko Veskimäe | |||
| Manager | Vladimir Vassiljev | |||
| League | Meistriliiga | |||
| 2025 | Meistriliiga, 4th of 10 | |||
| Website | http://www.paidelinnameeskond.ee | |||
Paide Linnameeskond, or simplyPaide, is anEstonian professionalfootball club based inPaide that competes in theMeistriliiga, the top flight ofEstonian football. The club's home ground isPaide linnastaadion.
Founded in 2004, the club has played in the Meistriliiga since 2009 and has never been relegated. Paide Linnameeskond have won oneEstonian Cup in2021–22, and oneEstonian Supercup in 2023.
Paide Linnameeskond was founded in 2004 as a satellite club ofFlora. The team entered the Western division of theIV liiga and saw four consecutive promotions from 2005 to 2008, when they were promoted to theMeistriliiga. Paide Linnameeskond finished theirfirst season in the Estonian top flight in ninth place, but escaped relegation by defeatingWarrior 2–1 on aggregate in the play-offs.[2] In July 2010, former Paide Linnameeskond playerMeelis Rooba was appointed as manager and in 2013, Estonian entrepreneur Veiko Veskimäe became the club's president.
Paide reached the2014–15 Estonian Cup final, but lost toNõmme Kalju 0–2.[2] Rooba resigned as manager after the2016 season and was replaced by another former player,Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko.
Under Zahovaiko, Paide Linnameeskond transitioned into a professional football club and established themselves as one of the top teams in the top flight, finishing 5th in2018 and 4th in2019, earning their first ever European place finish. Paide made their debut in Europe on 27 August 2020 againstŽalgiris, losing 0–2 in theUEFA Europa League first qualifying round. The club earned their first league medals in2020 by finishing the season in 2nd place.[3] Zahovaiko left Paide after leading the club to third in the2021 season, being replaced by former player andEstonian national team coachKarel Voolaid.[4]
In June 2021, Paide Linnameeskond announced its formal affiliation with the Gambian football clubReal de Banjul.[5] Throughout the cooperation between Paide Linnameeskond and Real de Banjul, multiple Gambian footballers have used Paide as a stepping stone, includingAlassana Jatta,Muhammed Sanneh andAbdoulie Ceesay. In July 2021, Paide notably signed ex-Liverpool F.C. defenderRagnar Klavan from Serie A side Cagliari Calcio.[6]
On 21 May 2022, Paide lifted their first-ever trophy after defeatingNõmme Kalju 1–0 in theEstonian Cup final, withSiim Luts scoring the winning goal in the 109th minute.[7] The 2022–23 season saw Paide win their first European ties againstFC Dinamo Tbilisi andFC Ararat-Armenia in theEuropa Conference League first and second qualifying rounds, both on penalties. Paide hosted European matches at both rounds at the 1,500-capacityPärnu Rannastaadion due to their own 500-capacityPaide linnastaadion not meetingUEFA Category 2 Stadium requirements. Their third qualifying round home debut, a 0–2 defeat toR.S.C. Anderlecht of Belgium, was played at the 14,336-capacityLilleküla Stadium.
Paide Linnameeskond started the 2023 season by winning their firstEstonian Supercup in a 3–2 victory againstFlora, but after a poor start to the league season, Voolaid was sacked in May and replaced with Serbian coach Ivan Stojković. Paide reached the2023–24 Estonian Cup final, but lost 2–4 toFCI Levadia. In January 2025, Paide Linnameeskond became the first Estonian club to sell a player directly to a 'Big Five' league, asAbdoulie Ceesay was acquired bySt. Pauli of Bundesliga.[8]
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2015 | Nike | Verston | [9][10] |
| 2016–2017 | Enemat | ||
| 2018–2021 | Verston | ||
| 2021–2023 | Exmet, Verston | ||
| 2024– | Capelli Sport | Verston |
Paide Linnameeskond's home ground is the 500-seatPaide linnastaadion. In 2021, Paide announced their plan to construct a new and modern football stadium, which is aimed to have 4,500 seats.[11][12] In winter and early spring months, Paide Linnameeskond plays their home matches at the 542-seatPaide kunstmuruväljakartificial turf ground.[13] Paide's football complex also includes an indoor football facility named Paide Jalgpallihall, which was opened in December 2024 and cost €3.5 million.[14]
For European fixtures, Paide usesPärnu Rannastaadion as their home ground due to Paide linnastaadion not meetingUEFA Category 2 Stadium requirements. The club has also used larger venuesKadriorg Stadium andA. Le Coq Arena as their home in their European ties.
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.
|
|
For season transfers, seetransfers summer 2024.
Current technical staff[edit]
| Managerial history[edit]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
