Paide Linnameeskond

Paide Linnameeskond is a professional football club based in Paide, Estonia that competes in the Meistriliiga, the top flight of Estonian football. The club's home ground is Paide linnastaadion.

Paide Linnameeskond
Full namePaide Linnameeskond
Founded2004 (2004)
GroundPaide linnastaadion
Capacity500[1]
PresidentVeiko Veskimäe
ManagerKarel Voolaid
LeagueMeistriliiga
2022Meistriliiga, 3rd
WebsiteClub website

Founded in 2004, the club has played in the Meistriliiga since 2009 and has never been relegated. Paide Linnameeskond have won the Estonian Cup once, in 2021–22.

History

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. The club 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. Under Zahovaiko Paide Linnameeskond established itself as one of the top teams in the top flight, finishing 5th in 2018, 4th in 2019, and 2nd in 2020, earning their first ever European place finish. 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.[3]

In June 2021, Paide Linnameeskond announced its formal affiliation with the Gambian football club Real de Banjul.[4] Throughout the cooperation between Paide Linnameeskond and Real de Banjul, multiple Gambian footballers have used Paide as a stepping stone, including Alassana Jatta and Muhammed Sanneh.

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 2-0 defeat to R.S.C. Anderlecht of Belgium, was played at the 14,336-capacity Lilleküla Stadium.

Players

Current squad
As of 31 January 2023[5]

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 Mihkel Aksalu
2 DF  EST Hindrek Ojamaa
3 DF  EST Kristjan Pelt
4 MF  GAM Foday Darboe
5 DF  EST Gerdo Juhkam
6 MF  FRA Dominique Simon
7 MF  EST Herol Riiberg
9 FW  EST Kristofer Piht
10 MF  EST Andre Frolov (captain)
11 FW  EST Kaimar Saag
12 DF  GHA Abdul Yusif
14 FW  EST Robi Saarma
16 MF  EST Sergei Mošnikov
17 FW  EST Dimitri Jepihhin
19 FW  EST Siim Luts
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 FW  GAM Bubacarr Tambedou
25 FW  EST Sten Viidas
27 FW  SEN Mechini Gomis
29 DF  EST Joseph Saliste
33 MF  EST Karl Mööl
56 GK  EST Mattias Sapp
77 MF  EST Marten Kelement
99 GK  GAM Ebrima Jarju
— DF  EST Siim Aer
— MF  EST Silver Alex Kelder
— MF  EST Kevin Metso
— DF  EST Oliver Niit
— MF  GAM Foday Trawally
— DF  NED Dehninio Muringen

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

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player

Reserves and academy
Further information: Paide Linnameeskond U21

Club officials

Honours

Seasons and statistics

Seasons

Europe
Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Agg.
2020–21 UEFA Europa League First qualifying round Žalgiris — 0–2 —
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

References
  1. "Paide linna staadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister. 25 January 2022.
  2. "Paide Linnameeskonna ajalugu" [History of Paide Linnameeskond] (in Estonian). Paide Linnameeskond.
  3. "Uus peatreener on Karel Voolaid" [Karel Voolaid is the new head coach] (in Estonian). Paide Linnameeskond.
  4. "Paide alustas koostööd Jatta ja Sannehi kasvatajaklubiga" [Paide starts cooperation with youth club of Jatta and Sanneh] (in Estonian). Soccernet.
  5. "Meeskond" [Team] (in Estonian). Paide Linnameeskond.
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