Pärnu JK Vaprus

Pärnu JK Vaprus

Full name	Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi Vaprus
Nickname(s)	Karud (Bears)
Founded	1922; 102 years ago (1922)
Ground	Pärnu Rannastaadion
Capacity	1,501[1]
Chairman	Karl Palatu
Manager	Igor Prins
League	Meistriliiga
2023	Meistriliiga, 6th of 10
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

Pärnu JK Vaprus, commonly known as Pärnu Vaprus, or simply as Vaprus, is an Estonian professional football club based in Pärnu that competes in the Meistriliiga, the top flight of Estonian football. The club's home ground is Pärnu Rannastaadion.

History

Vaprus was formed in May 1922, as Sporting Society Vaprus (English: Sporting Society 'Bravery'). Among other sports, Vaprus competed in the local Pärnu football championships, winning in 1927 and 1934. In 1937, Vaprus merged with several other local sporting clubs to form Pärnu Kalev.^[2]

The club was re-established in 1999 as an amateur team playing in the lower leagues. In 2003, several local clubs merged with Vaprus, including former top league club Pärnu Levadia, forming a working football club.

Vaprus won the 2005 Esiliiga season and was, for the first time in the club's history, promoted to Estonia's top-flight football league Meistriliiga. The club finished their first Meistriliiga season in 7th place. Vaprus finished the 2008 Meistriliiga season in 10th place, but managed to avoid direct relegation due to disbandment of TVMK. However, the club was still relegated after losing the relegation play-offs against Paide Linnameeskond.^[3]

In 2010, Vaprus formed a united team Pärnu Linnameeskond with Pärnu JK and Pärnu Kalev. Vaprus itself continued to only operate in youth football until 2014, when they entered their senior team to Estonian lower leagues. Pärnu Linnameeskond reached Estonian top flight in 2015, but broke up after two seasons with Pärnu Vaprus inheriting their league spot for 2017.^[4]

After an eight-year absence, Vaprus returned to top-flight football and moved to the newly renovated 1,501 seater Pärnu Rannastaadion. The club finished the season in last place, but managed to avoid relegation due to Sillamäe Kalev's bankruptcy. Pärnu Vaprus was relegated in the following 2018 season. Vaprus won Esiliiga in 2020, and returned to Meistriliiga, where they again finished last in the 2021 season. However, the club again avoided relegation due to Viljandi Tulevik leaving top-flight football for financial reasons. Vaprus finished the 2022 season in 10th place, but once again, avoided relegation due to TJK Legion leaving top-flight football for financial difficulties.

Pärnu Vaprus appointed Igor Prins as their manager for the following 2023 season and recorded their most successful season in the club's history, surprisingly occupying 3rd place until matchday 27 and finishing the season in 6th place with 48 points, despite being considered as clear relegation candidates at the start of the year.

Stadium

The club's home ground is the 1,501-seat Pärnu Rannastaadion. First opened in 1929, it was the home of Vaprus until its dissolution in 1937 and again since the early 2000s after the club's re-establishment. The stadium was completely reconstructed in 2015–2016.

Vaprus plays their home matches during winter and early spring months at the Pärnu Rehepapi artificial turf ground and uses the adjacent indoor football facility Pärnu Jalgpallihall, which opened in 2023 and cost over €4.7 million, as training centre during the snowy winter period.^[5]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Players

First-team squad

As of 1 February 2024^[8][9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  EST Hendrik Vainu 4 DF  EST Magnus Villota 5 DF  EST Uku Kõrre 7 DF  EST Martin Käos 9 FW  EST Kristjan Kask 10 MF  EST Enrico Veensalu 11 FW  EST Kevin Kauber 13 GK  EST Ott Nõmm 15 DF  EST Kevin Aloe 17 MF  EST Sander Kapper 18 FW  EST Marten-Chris Paalberg 19 FW  EST Virgo Vallik 20 MF  EST Henri Välja

No. Pos. Nation Player 21 MF  EST Reimo Madissoo 22 FW  EST Markus Miiter 24 MF  EST Mathias Villota 27 DF  EST Ranet Ristikivi 34 DF  EST Aivan Siim 39 MF  EST Robin Limberg 42 MF  EST Matthias Limberg 47 MF  EST Sander Kolvart 66 MF  EST Romet Nigula 70 MF  EST Kristofer Põldme 77 FW  EST Ronaldo Tiismaa 90 MF  EST Joonas Sild

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

Reserves and academy

Personnel

Current technical staff Position Name Manager Igor Prins Assistant manager Henri Rüütli Goalkeeping coach Priit Pikker Management Sporting Director Karl Palatu Board member Jaak Roosson Chief Executive Officer Karin Lipstuhl

Managerial history Dates Name 1995–1996 Ants Kommussaar 2004–2008 Kalev Pajula 2008 Ants Kommussaar 2009 Gert Olesk 2014 Rain Põldme 2015–2016 Taavi Midenbritt 2017 Marko Lelov 2017–2018 Indrek Zelinski 2019 Kalev Pajula 2019–2021 Taavi Midenbritt 2022 Dmitrijs Kalašņikovs 2023– Igor Prins

Honours

• Esiliiga

Winners (1): 2005, 2020

• II Liiga

Winners (1): 2004

• III Liiga

Winners (1): 2000

Seasons and statistics

Season	Level	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Top goalscorer	Cup
1999	III liiga	3	20	9	5	6	54	42	+12	32	Raino Lapp (17)
2000		1	20	14	2	4	60	22	+38	44	Raino Lapp (12)
2001	II liiga	2	20	13	4	3	63	25	+38	43	Mihkel Vorman (11)
2002		5	20	7	2	11	25	39	−14	23
2003	Esiliiga	7	28	5	7	16	42	71	−29	22	Marek Markson (10)
2004	II liiga	1	28	24	4	0	157	21	+136	76	Indrek Joost (28)
2005	Esiliiga	1	36	26	6	4	92	39	+53	94	Verner Uibo (19)
2006	Meistriliiga	7	36	10	4	22	49	86	−37	34	Ranet Lepik (9)
2007		8	36	8	1	27	35	96	−61	25	Mihhail Kazak (7)	Quarter-finals
2008		9	36	5	2	29	41	125	−84	17	Martin Partsioja (7)	Third round
2009	Esiliiga	7	36	11	6	19	64	77	−13	39	Taavi Laurits (9)	Third round
2010		7	36	10	7	19	57	78	−21	37	Taavi Laurits (13)
2014	IV Liiga	9	16	1	2	13	13	46	−33	5	Henri Hansson (3) Kaspar Mitt (3)
2015		2	18	12	3	3	55	21	+34	39	Jaak-Peeter Oja (15)
2016	III Liiga	2[A]	22	19	0	3	69	22	+47	57	Robyn Hallmere (12)
2017	Meistriliiga	10	36	2	2	32	29	146	−117	8	Kristen Saarts (8)
2018		10	36	2	7	27	25	123	−98	13	Tõnis Vihmoja (8)	Second round
2019	Esiliiga	3	36	21	4	11	73	48	+25	67	Kristen Saarts (21)	Third round
2020		1	32	19	8	5	72	30	+42	66	Ronaldo Tiismaa (17)	Second round
2021	Meistriliiga	10	30	5	3	22	24	88	−64	18	Enrico Veensalu (5)	Third round
2022		10	36	3	2	31	32	96	−64	11	Ronaldo Tiismaa (7)	First round
2023		6	36	12	12	12	40	43	−3	48	Kevin Kauber (8)	Second round

References

External links

• Official website (in Estonian)
• Team (2020–) at Estonian Football Association
• Team (2001–2019) at Estonian Football Association