JK Tabasalu

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

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

Current squad

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. NationPlayer
22DF  ESTRobin Korran
25DF  ESTHenri Raaper
26DF  ESTHans Oliver Vuks
27GK  ESTKaupo Koort
30DF  ESTRobin Rumberg
32FW  ESTArt Anepaio
42GK  ESTKaarel Rumberg
44DF  ESTFrank Annion
47FW  ESTKarl-Erik Ennuste
55FW  ESTMarkus Poder
66MF  ESTSander Salei
90MF  ESTKen-Tristan Joelaid

Out on loan

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

Personnel

Managerial history

DatesName
2018–2019 Marko Kristal
2020–2023 Risto Sarapik
2024– Alan Arruda

League and Cup history

SeasonDivisionPosPldWDLGFGAGDPtsTop GoalscorerEstonian CupNotes
2013IV liiga N22015327827+5148 Kersten Lõppe (19)as Tallinna JK Charma Mööbel
2014III liiga N22215346429+3548 Tanel Tammemägi (13)as Tallinna JK Charma
2015II liiga N/E62610795767−1037 Martin Tšegodajev (7)Third roundas Tabasalu JK Charma
201652612775648+843 Edwin Stüf (9)First round
2017II liiga S/W32615387752+2548 Andrus Mitt (17)as JK Tabasalu
201832617366840+2854 Edwin Stüf (19)
2019Esiliiga B736134197779–243 Kersten Lõppe (13)Quarter-finals
2020430163115846+1251 Sten Jakob Viidas (14)Fourth round
2021632125156064–441 Tristan Pajo (16)
2022236254712050+7079 Tristan Pajo (30)Quarter-finals
2023Esiliiga536181178170+1155 Peeter Klein (16)Semi-finals

References