Capital: Tallinn
Population: 1.4 million
Currency: Kroon
Official Language: Estonian
Borders: Russia (East) and Latvia (South)
GNP per Capita: $3,360 (66th in world)
Main Airport: Ulemiste - Tallinn

Traditionally the most western-orientated of the Baltic States, Estonia is still bordered by Russia to the east although it is miles away from its previous Soviet rule.  It is a world leaer in IT and is the home to Skype.  Beautiful, long sunny days in the summer, and crisp and cold winters - the Baltic even freezes sometimes.

The Meistriliiga is the highest division of the Estonian Football Association annual football championship. The league was founded in 1991 and 2007 is the league's 17th season. It is not fully professional, only 5 teams are professionals and the other 5 teams are semi-professional.

For a more detailed view on football in Estonia then go to Footiemap.com to access their Estonian Football map page.

As in most countries with low temperatures in winter time, the season starts around March and ends in late November. The championships top division consists of ten clubs, all teams play each other four times. After each season the bottom team is relegated, with the winner of Esiliiga being promoted (unless it is a reserve team for a Meistriliiga team, in which case the next team receives automatic promotion) and the 2nd last team from Meistriliiga and the 2nd team from Esiliiga play a two-legged playoff to get into/stay in the Meistriliiga. The team that finishes as champions of the Meistriliiga qualifies for the 1st Qualifying Round of the UEFA Champions League, the 2nd team will play in the 1st Qualifying Round of the UEFA Cup along with the winner of the Estonian Cup. Depending on the cup winner, a fourth team will enter the 1st round of the Intertoto Cup.

Previous Champions

1992 Norma Tallinn
1993 Norma Tallinn
1994 Flora Tallinn
1995 Flora Tallinn
1996 LMN Tallinn
1997 LMN Tallinn
1998 Flora Tallinn
1999 Levadia Tallinn
2000 Levadia Tallinn
2001 Flora Tallinn
2002 Flora Tallinn
2003 Flora Tallinn
2004 Levadia Tallinn
2005 TVMK Tallinn
2006 Levadia Tallinn
2007 Levadia Tallinn
2008 Levadia Tallinn

Whilst Levadia won the title for the third consecutive time they were pushed close by Flora with each of them only losing one game all season (and both scoring over 100 goals in their 36 games).  The big story though was the enforced relegation of TMVK due to financial problems.

The cup was won in May 2009 by Flora who beat Nomme Kalju 4-3 on penalties.

Meistriliiga clubs 2009

Flora Tallinn - 2008 Cup winners, beating Maag Tammeka Tartu 3-1 in the final.  They are based in Tallinn who play at the national stadium - the Le Coq Arena which seats 9,300.  Click here for details of the stadium.

Kalju Nomme -  based in Nomme and play at the Hiiu Staadion in Tallinn which holds 500 people.

Kalev Sillmae - based in Sillamae.  Play at the 2,000 seater Sillamae Kalevi Staadion.

Kalev Tallinn - based in Tallinn. They play at the Kalevi Keskstaadion which holds 12,000.  Click here for details of the stadium.

Levadia Tallinn - based in Tallinn. They play at the Kadrioru Staadion which holds 4,750. Click here for details of the stadium.

Maad Tammeka Tartu - New team based in 2nd city Tartu.  They play at the Tamme Stadion which holds 2,000 people.

Trans Narva - Small team based in Narva.  They play in the 3,000 seater Narva Kreenholmi Staadion.

TVMK Tallinn - based in Tallinn. They play at the Kadrioru Staadion which holds 4,750. Click here for details of the stadium.

Tulevik Viljandi - Small club who play in the town of Viljandi.  Their home stadium is the 2,500 capacity Linnastaadion.

Vaprus Parnu - Finished 8th in their first ever top flight season.  They are based in the small town of Parnu and play their home games at the Parnu Kalevi Staadion which holds 3,000 people.

For more information on Estonian football go to About a Ball.