Paide Linnameeskond
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| Full name | Paide Linnameeskond | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 | |||
| Ground | Paide kunstmuruväljak | |||
| Capacity | 542[1] | |||
| President | Veiko Veskimäe | |||
| Manager | Tarmo Kink | |||
| League | Meistriliiga | |||
| 2025 | Meistriliiga, 4th of 10 | |||
| Website | www | |||
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Paide Linnameeskond, or simply Paide, is an Estonian professional football club based in Paide that competes in the Meistriliiga, the top flight of Estonian football. The club's home ground is Paide kunstmuruväljak.
Founded in 2004, the club has played in the Meistriliiga since 2009 and has never been relegated. Paide Linnameeskond have won one Estonian Cup in 2021–22, and one Estonian Supercup in 2023.
History
[edit]Early history (2004–2016)
[edit]Paide Linnameeskond was founded in 2004 as a satellite club of Flora. 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 Meistriliiga. Paide Linnameeskond finished their first season in the Estonian top flight in ninth place, but escaped relegation by defeating Warrior 2–1 on aggregate in the play-offs.[2] In July 2010, former Paide Linnameeskond player Meelis Rooba was appointed as manager and in 2013, Estonian entrepreneur Veiko Veskimäe became the club's president.
Paide reached the 2014–15 Estonian Cup final, but lost to Nõmme Kalju 0–2.[2] Rooba resigned as manager after the 2016 season and was replaced by another former player, Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko.
Professionalism, Europe and first trophies (2017–present)
[edit]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 in 2018 and 4th in 2019, earning their first ever European place finish. Paide made their debut in Europe on 27 August 2020 against Žalgiris, losing 0–2 in the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round. The club earned their first league medals in 2020 by finishing the season in 2nd place.[3] 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.[4]
In June 2021, Paide Linnameeskond announced its formal affiliation with the Gambian football club Real de Banjul.[5] Throughout the cooperation between Paide Linnameeskond and Real de Banjul, multiple Gambian footballers have used Paide as a stepping stone, including Alassana Jatta, Muhammed Sanneh and Abdoulie Ceesay. In July 2021, Paide notably signed ex-Liverpool F.C. defender Ragnar Klavan from Serie A side Cagliari Calcio.[6]
On 21 May 2022, Paide lifted their first-ever trophy after defeating Nõmme Kalju 1–0 in the Estonian Cup final, with Siim Luts scoring the winning goal in the 109th minute.[7] 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 due to their own 500-capacity Paide linnastaadion not meeting UEFA Category 2 Stadium requirements. Their third qualifying round home debut, a 0–2 defeat to R.S.C. Anderlecht of Belgium, was played at the 14,336-capacity Lilleküla Stadium.
Paide Linnameeskond started the 2023 season by winning their first Estonian Supercup in a 3–2 victory against Flora, but after a poor start to the league season, Voolaid was sacked in May and replaced with Serbian coach Ivan Stojković. Paide reached the 2023–24 Estonian Cup final, but lost 2–4 to FCI Levadia. In January 2025, Paide Linnameeskond became the first Estonian club to sell a player directly to a 'Big Five' league, as Abdoulie Ceesay was acquired by St. Pauli of Bundesliga.[8]
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
[edit]| 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 |
Stadium
[edit]
Paide Linnameeskond's first home ground was the 500-seat Paide linnastaadion, which hosted the club's matches from 2004 to 2025. In 2026, Paide moved their home matches to the adjacent 542-seat artificial turf ground Paide kunstmuruväljak, which they had previously been using as a home venue during winter and early spring months.
Paide Linnameeskond expects to begin construction of the first stand of their new 4,500-seat stadium in early 2027.[11][12] The first phase of the project will include a 1,200-seat stand with hostel and sports medicine facilities, at an estimated construction cost of €3.4 million.[11] The complete project is expected to cost between €15 million and €20 million.[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 uses Pärnu Rannastaadion as their home ground due to their stadium not meeting UEFA Category 2 Stadium requirements. The club has also used larger venues Kadriorg Stadium and A. Le Coq Arena as their home in their European ties.
Players
[edit]First-team squad
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Under-21s and Academy
[edit]Club officials
[edit]
Current technical staff[edit]
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Managerial history[edit]
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Honours
[edit]- Estonian Cup
- Estonian Supercup
- Winners (1): 2023
- Runners-up (1): 2021
Seasons and statistics
[edit]Seasons
[edit]
Europe
[edit]| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Agg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round |  Žalgiris |
N/a | 0–2 | N/a |
| 2021–22 | UEFA Europa Conference League | First qualifying round |  Śląsk Wrocław |
1–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 |
| 2022–23 | UEFA Europa Conference League | First qualifying round |  Dinamo Tbilisi |
1–2 (a.e.t.) | 3–2 | 4–4 (6–5 p) |
| Second qualifying round |  Ararat-Armenia |
0−0 (a.e.t.) | 0–0 | 0–0 (5–3 p) | ||
| Third qualifying round |  Anderlecht |
0–2 | 0–3 | 0–5 | ||
| 2023–24 | UEFA Europa Conference League | First qualifying round |  B36 Tórshavn |
0–2 (a.e.t.) | 0–0 | 0–2 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | First qualifying round |  Bala Town |
1−1 (a.e.t.) | 2–1 | 3–2 |
| Second qualifying round |  Stjarnan |
4–0 | 1–2 | 5–2 | ||
| Third qualifying round |  BK Häcken |
1−1 | 1−6 | 2–7 | ||
| 2025–26 | UEFA Conference League | First qualifying round |  FCB Magpies |
4–1 | 3–2 | 7–3 |
| Second qualifying round | AIK |
0–2 | 0–6 | 0–8 | ||
| 2026–27 | UEFA Conference League | First qualifying round | Hegelmann |
3–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| Second qualifying round |  Zira |
1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | ||
| Third qualifying round |  Rapid Wien |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Paide linna kunstmurustaadion". Eesti spordiregister. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Paide Linnameeskonna ajalugu" [History of Paide Linnameeskond] (in Estonian). Paide Linnameeskond. Archived from the original on 12 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ↑ "Paide linnameeskond tagas hõbemedalid ja koha eurosarjas". Järva Teataja (in Estonian). 3 December 2020. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024.
- ↑ "Uus peatreener on Karel Voolaid" [Karel Voolaid is the new head coach] (in Estonian). Paide Linnameeskond. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ↑ "Paide alustas koostööd Jatta ja Sannehi kasvatajaklubiga" [Paide starts cooperation with youth club of Jatta and Sanneh] (in Estonian). Soccernet. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ↑ "Gallery: Ragnar Klavan makes return to Estonian football, joins Paide". ERR. 2 July 2021. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024.
- ↑ "Paide linnameeskond kirjutas end suurte tähtedega karikale". Järva Teataja (in Estonian). 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024.
- ↑ "Ajalooline üleminek: Paide Linnameeskonna ründaja siirdus Saksamaa kõrgliigasse" [Historic transfer: Paide Linnameeskond striker moves to the German top flight]. Postimees. 3 January 2025.
- ↑ "Paide Linnameeskond Kit History". Football Kit Archive. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ↑ "Tere tulemast, Capelli Sport!". Paide Linnameeskond (in Estonian). 27 February 2024. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024.
- 1 2 "Linnameeskonna miljoniprojekt toob Paidesse uudse spordikeskuse". Järva Teataja (in Estonian). 12 March 2026.
- ↑ "INTERVJUU ⟩ Paide ehitab Eesti vägevaimat jalgpallikeskust, kuigi alaliit seda ei toeta" [Paide is building the most impressive football centre in Estonia, although the FA does not support it]. Postimees. 11 November 2024.
- ↑ Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (25 February 2025). "Koduehitus või kullaproov? Aga miks mitte mõlemad korraga? Tiitliunistusele laiemat alust valav Paide hoiab teravust kahel rindel". Soccernet.ee.
- ↑ "Uus jalgpallihall toob Paide Linnameeskonna Paidesse treenima" [New football hall brings Paide Linnameeskond's trainings to Paide]. ERR. 15 December 2024.
- ↑ "Paide Linnameeskond" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- 1 2 "Meeskond" [Team] (in Estonian). Paide Linnameeskond. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
External links
[edit]
- Official website (in Estonian)
- Paide Linnameeskond at Estonian Football Association