Jalgpalliklubi Tabasalu, commonly known as Tabasalu, is an Estonian football club based in Tabasalu, Harku Parish.[2] The club competes in Esiliiga, the second tier of Estonian football. Tabasalu's home ground is Tabasalu Arena.

JK Tabasalu
Full nameJalgpalliklubi Tabasalu[1]
Founded23 November 2012
GroundTabasalu Arena, Tabasalu
Capacity1,630
ManagerAlan Arruda
LeagueEsiliiga
2023Esiliiga, 5th of 10
WebsiteClub website

History edit

The football club was founded on 23 November 2012 and its first seasons in the Estonian league system were quite successful: they finished second in their debut seasons in IV liiga and III liiga. In 2018, Tabasalu hired former FCI Levadia coach Marko Kristal[3] as manager and quickly became II liiga's title contenders. During the 2018 season, while playing in the fourth division, Tabasalu had an average attendance of 321 people, which was Estonia's fourth largest home average at the time. The year ended with them finishing third, but due to Paide Linnameeskond III not wanting to get promoted, they were given the opportunity to take part in promotion play-offs. They got through to the final thanks to FCI Tallinn using an unavailable player.[4] In the final round they played against Lasnamäe Ajax, who they managed to beat 3–0 and 4–1 and were therefore promoted to the top three leagues.[5]

In their debut season in Esiliiga B, they were last-placed after 17 rounds, but managed to start gaining points and rose to seventh by the end of the year with nine points ahead of relegation places. Throughout the year, Tabasalu's youth players had trials in Bologna,[6] Chievo Verona[7] and Padova.[8] After the season, Marko Kristal joined Nõmme Kalju.[9] The club reached the Estonian Cup quarter-finals in the following year and finished fourth in the 2020 Esiliiga B season. They were again given the option to play in the promotion play-offs, but this time lost 2–8 on aggregate to Pärnu JK. Tabasalu finished the 2022 Esiliiga B season in 2nd place, narrowly losing the title in the last second of the final matchday against FC Tallinn.[10]

On 19 October 2022, whilst competing in the Estonian third tier, Tabasalu notably knocked out top flight club Nõmme Kalju FC from the Estonian Cup by winning 1–0.[11] The club reached the 2022–23 Estonian Cup semi-finals, where they lost to the eventual winners Narva Trans 0–1 at home.[12]

Players edit

Current squad edit

As of 4 March 2024.[13]

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 Rihard Kristjan Kristel
3 DF   EST Juss Ilisson
4 DF   EST Joel Kokla
5 MF   EST Amor Orgusaar
6 MF   EST Tomi Linde
7 FW   EST Kevin Pormeister
9 FW   EST Peeter Klein
10 FW   EST Raivo Saar
11 MF   EST Thomas Matvejev
12 DF   EST Sigvard Suppi
13 DF   EST Märten Subka
21 MF   EST Mark Toompuu
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 DF   EST Robin Korran
25 DF   EST Henri Raaper
26 DF   EST Hans Oliver Vuks
27 GK   EST Kaupo Koort
30 DF   EST Robin Rumberg
32 FW   EST Art Anepaio
42 GK   EST Kaarel Rumberg
44 DF   EST Frank Annion
47 FW   EST Karl-Erik Ennuste
55 FW   EST Markus Poder
66 MF   EST Sander Salei
90 MF   EST Ken-Tristan Joelaid

Out on loan edit

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

No. Pos. Nation Player

Personnel edit

League and Cup history edit

Season Division Pos Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Top Goalscorer Estonian Cup Notes
2013 IV liiga N 2 20 15 3 2 78 27 +51 48   Kersten Lõppe (19) as Tallinna JK Charma Mööbel
2014 III liiga N 2 22 15 3 4 64 29 +35 48   Tanel Tammemägi (13) as Tallinna JK Charma
2015 II liiga N/E 6 26 10 7 9 57 67 −10 37   Martin Tšegodajev (7) Third round as Tabasalu JK Charma
2016 5 26 12 7 7 56 48 +8 43   Edwin Stüf (9) First round
2017 II liiga S/W 3 26 15 3 8 77 52 +25 48   Andrus Mitt (17) as JK Tabasalu
2018 3 26 17 3 6 68 40 +28 54   Edwin Stüf (19)
2019 Esiliiga B 7 36 13 4 19 77 79 –2 43   Kersten Lõppe (13) Quarter-finals
2020 4 30 16 3 11 58 46 +12 51   Sten Jakob Viidas (14) Fourth round
2021 6 32 12 5 15 60 64 –4 41   Tristan Pajo (16)
2022 2 36 25 4 7 120 50 +70 79   Tristan Pajo (30) Quarter-finals
2023 Esiliiga 5 36 18 1 17 81 70 +11 55   Peeter Klein (16) Semi-finals

References edit

  1. ^ "Jalgpalliklubi Tabasalu - ESR". spordiregister.ee. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Klubi üldinfo". Tabasalu JK. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Kristal sai Tabasalu peatreeneriks" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  4. ^ "FCI ämber aitas Tabasalu edasi, Esiliiga B-st lahutab kaks mängu" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Kohtla-Järve tõrjus Keila üritused ja tõusis Esiliigasse" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  6. ^ "VÄGEV! Talendikas noormängija siirdub Itaalia kõrgliigaklubi noorteakadeemiasse" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Itaalia tippklubi testis 15-aastast Tabasalu noormängijat" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Järjekordsed Tabasalu noormängijad käisid Itaalias testimisel" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  9. ^ "AMETLIK: Nõmme Kalju määras ametisse kaks uut peatreenerit" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  10. ^ Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (13 November 2022). "Kalju duubel pudenes II liigasse, Esiliiga B võitis dramaatiliselt FC Tallinn (video!)". Soccernet.ee - Jalgpall luubi all!. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Korralik pauk! Nõmme Kalju kaotas karikasarjas Esiliiga B klubile. Argo Arbeiter: oleme lödipüksid!". Delfi Sport (in Estonian). 19 October 2022.
  12. ^ JK Tabasalu - JK Narva Trans I 0:1 I Tipneri karikavõistluste poolfinaal 2023, Youtube, 11 May 2023
  13. ^ "JK Tabasalu (2019)". Eesti Jalgpalli Liit. Retrieved 4 March 2024.