Season review: Estonia

The Estonian First League went right to the wire, with a potential 'golden match' play-off a possibility entering the final round. In the end, though, it was as you were as FC Levadia Tallinn retained their title.

Champions: FC Levadia Tallinn
JK Nõmme Kalju were the early frontrunners and FC Flora Tallinn were top for longer than any other team over the course of the season, but eventually the Levadia – five points off the pace in August – roared back to clinch their ninth championship, matching Flora's national record. Levadia's win against Kalju on 4 October was significant, Dmitri Kruglov striking twice in the last ten minutes to earn a 3-2 home victory, but they still might have been caught by Flora on the last day to trigger a 'golden match' play-off for the title. As it was, Kalju beat Flora 3-2 to take second spot, with an 8-1 success against JK Trans Narva giving Levadia a six-point winning margin.

Cup final: FC Levadia Tallinn 4-0 Tartu FC Santos
No lower-league side had ever graced the Estonian Cup final, let alone one from the third tier. With a combination of confidence, the leadership of ex-Lithuania head coach Algimantas Liubinskas and luck of the draw, FC Santos rewrote the records. Levadia denied them a fairy-tale ending, with two goals in each half helping the capital club recapture the trophy, but a UEFA Europa League first qualifying round berth provided consolation. Tromsø IL were even less forgiving than Levadia, winning 13-1 on aggregate.

European places*
FC Levadia Tallinn – UEFA Champions League second qualifying round
JK Sillamäe Kalev – UEFA Europa League first qualifying round
FC Flora Tallinn – UEFA Europa League first qualifying round
2014/15 Estonian Cup winners – UEFA Europa League first qualifying round

*subject to final confirmation from UEFA

Igor Subbotin was a huge hit as a forward©Mati Hiis

Player of the year: Igor Subbotin (FC Levadia Tallinn) 
The summer arrival of Kruglov helped lift Levadia in the second half of the campaign, but the likes of Ilja Antonov and Artur Pikk shone all season. Subbotin was the real bright spark, though: his conversion from midfield to attack could barely have gone better. Tall, skilful and pacy, the 24-year-old was given an early run in the team and grabbed it to the tune of 32 goals in 33 games. In May he made his Estonia debut.

One to watch: Karol Mets (FC Flora Tallinn) 
Antonov and Pikk were contenders here too, yet the Flora defender deserves credit. Still only 21, he has developed into a mainstay of the national side, for whom he plays in midfield. National coach Magnus Pehrsson is an avowed supporter. Mets missed just 90 minutes of Flora's 36-match league programme.

Surprise package: JK Sillamäe Kalev
Sillamäe finally repeated their success of 2009, when they finished runners-up in only their second term in the elite league. They looked destined for an indifferent campaign until the appointment of Sergey Frantsev – formerly on the staff at FC Rubin Kazan, FC Lokomotiv Moskva and FC Rostov – as coach. Under his guidance, and with Evgeni Kabaev scoring for fun, the club won 15 out of 16 to rise from fifth to second.

Roman Smishko was a rock for Levadia©Vaidotas Januška

Leading scorer: Evgeni Kabaev, JK Sillamäe Kalev (36)

Relegated: JK Tallinna Kalev, Jõhvi FC Lokomotiv

Promoted: Pärnu Linnameeskond, JK Tulevik Viljandi

Number: 1,288
Levadia captain Roman Smishko went 13 league games without conceding and was just 108 minutes short of former Club Brugge KV keeper Dany Verlinden's European top-flight record of 1,390 unbreached minutes.

Quote
"If you recall where we were at some points of the season, second place is a huge success. We almost got involved in the fight for the title, but time got away from us – the season was over."
Sillamäe coach Sergey Frantsev, who moved to Estonia in July