Pärnu JK Vaprus

This article is about the men's football club. For the women's team, see Pärnu JK Vaprus (women).

Pärnu Vaprus

File:Pärnu JK Vaprus logo.png
Full name	Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi Vaprus
Nickname(s)	Karud (The Bears)
Founded	1922 (1922) Re-established in 1999 (1999)
Ground	Pärnu Rannastaadion
Capacity	1,501
Chairman	Karl Palatu
Manager	Igor Prins
League	Meistriliiga
2024	Meistriliiga, 7th of 10
Website	http://vaprus.ee
File:Kit left arm.svg File:Kit body.svg File:Kit right arm.svg File:Kit shorts.svg File:Kit socks long.svg Home colours File:Kit left arm.svg File:Kit body.svg File:Kit right arm.svg File:Kit shorts.svg File:Kit socks long.svg Away colours File:Kit left arm.svg File:Kit body.svg File:Kit right arm.svg File:Kit shorts.svg File:Kit socks long.svg Third colours

Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi Vaprus, commonly known as Pärnu Vaprus or simply 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. Founded in 1922, Pärnu Vaprus was dissolved after a merger in 1937 and re-established in 1999. The club has played in the Meistriliiga in 2006–2008, 2017–2018 and again since 2021.

History

Vaprus was formed in May 1922, as Spordiselts Vaprus (English: Sporting Society 'Bravery'). The club was active in various sports and credited for organising the first intercity running competitions from Pärnu to Tallinn and from Pärnu to Riga. In football, Vaprus competed in the local Pärnu football championships, winning in 1927 and 1934. However, the club failed to reach the heights of their rivals Pärnu Tervis and in 1937, Vaprus merged with several other local sporting clubs to form Pärnu Kalev. 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. 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. 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. Vaprus finished the following year in 7th place.

Stadium

Pärnu Rannastaadion

Main article: Pärnu Rannastaadion

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.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor	Ref
2017–	Nike	Coolbet

Players

See also: Category:Pärnu JK Vaprus players

First-team squad

As of 13 July 2024

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
8	MF	EST	Silver Alex Kelder (on loan from Paide)
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

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
20	MF	EST	Henri Välja
21	MF	EST	Reimo Madissoo
22	FW	EST	Markus Miiter
24	MF	EST	Mathias Villota
27	DF	EST	Ranet Ristikivi
28	FW	EST	Tristan Pajo (on loan from Flora)
34	DF	EST	Aivan Siim
42	FW	EST	Matthias Limberg
43	DF	EST	Markkus Seppik (on loan from Flora)
47	MF	EST	Sander Kolvart
70	MF	EST	Kristofer Põldme
77	FW	EST	Ronaldo Tiismaa
90	MF	EST	Joonas Sild

For season transfers, see transfers summer 2024.

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	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
2024		7	36	9	8	19	35	57	−22	35	Kevin Kauber (7)	Third round

External links

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