Paide Linnameeskond is a professional football club based in Paide, Estonia that competes in the

Meistriliiga Meistriliiga (, known as the A. Le Coq Premium Liiga for sponsorship reasons) is the highest division of the Estonian Football Association annual football (soccer), football championship. The league was founded in 1992, and was initially semi-p ...

, the top flight of Estonian football. The club's home ground is Paide linnastaadion. Founded in 2004, the club has played in the Meistriliiga since 2009 and has never been relegated. Paide Linnameeskond have won the Estonian Cup once, in 2021–22.

History

Paide Linnameeskond was founded in 2004 as a satellite club of

Flora Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous (ecology), indigenous) native plant, native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for f ...

. The team entered the Western division of the IV liiga and saw four consecutive promotions from 2005 to 2008, when they were promoted to the

. Paide Linnameeskond finished their first season in the Estonian top flight in ninth place, but escaped relegation by defeating

Warrior A warrior is a person specializing in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based warrior culture society that recognizes a separate warrior aristocracies, class, or caste. History Warriors seem to have ...

2–1 on aggregate in the play-offs. In July 2010, former Paide Linnameeskond player

Meelis Rooba Meelis Rooba (born 20 April 1977) is an Estonian professional football coach and former player. He also played for the Estonian national team. International career Rooba made his debut for Estonia national football team on 7 July 1996, against ...

was appointed as manager. The club reached the 2014–15 Estonian Cup final, but lost to

Nõmme Kalju Nõmme (Estonian for ''"Heath"'') is one of the 8 administrative districts ( et, linnaosa) of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It has a population of 39,422 () and covers an area of , population density is . The district is largely a middle-cl ...

0–2. Rooba resigned as manager after the 2016 season and was replaced by another former player, Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko. Under Zahovaiko Paide Linnameeskond established itself as one of the top teams in the top flight, finishing 5th in 2018, 4th in

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

, and 2nd in

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in ...

, earning their first ever European place finish. Zahovaiko left Paide after leading the club to third in the 2021 season, being replaced by former player and Estonian national team coach

Karel Voolaid Karel Voolaid (born 4 July 1977) is an Estonian football manager and former player. Managerial career Estonia youth teams Voolaid has managed Estonia's under-15s, under-16s, under-19s, under-21s and under-23s. Estonia On 3 July 2019, the ...

. In June 2021, Paide Linnameeskond announced its formal affiliation with the Gambian football club Real de Banjul. Throughout the cooperation between Paide Linnameeskond and Real de Banjul, multiple Gambian footballers have used Paide as a stepping stone, including

Alassana Jatta Alassane Jatta (born 12 January 1999) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Danish Superliga club Viborg FF. Career Paide Linnameeskond Born in Sukuta, The Gambia, Jatta began playing for Real de Banjul in his home co ...

and

Muhammed Sanneh Muhammed Sanneh (born 19 February 2000) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Baník Ostrava. Career On 2 February 2019, Sanneh left his native Gambia and signed a professional contract with Paide. In December 2020, ...

. The 2022-23 season saw Paide win their first European ties against FC Dinamo Tbilisi and FC Ararat-Armenia in the Europa Conference League first and second qualifying rounds, both on penalties. Paide hosted European matches at both rounds at the 1,500-capacity

Pärnu Rannastaadion Pärnu Rannastaadion ( en, Pärnu Beach Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium in Pärnu, Estonia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Pärnu JK Vaprus and PJK. The stadium was opened after reconstruction in ...

due to their own 500-capacity Paide linnastaadion not meeting UEFA Category 2 Stadium requirements. Their third qualifying round home debut, a 2-0 defeat to R.S.C. Anderlecht of Belgium, was played at the 14,336-capacity Lilleküla Stadium.

Players

Current squad

''For season transfers, see transfers summer 2022 and transfers winter 2022–23.''

Out on loan

Reserves and academy

Club officials

Coaching staff

Managerial history

Honours

* Estonian Cup ** Winners (1): 2021–22 ** Runners-up (1): 2014–15 * Estonian Supercup ** Runners-up (1): 2021

Seasons and statistics

Seasons

Europe

References

External links

*
Paide Linnameeskond
at Estonian Football Association {{use dmy dates, date=February 2022 2004 establishments in Estonia Association football clubs established in 2004 Football clubs in Estonia Meistriliiga clubs Sport in Paide