Pärnu JK Vaprus
Full namePärnu Jalgpalliklubi Vaprus
Nickname(s)Karud (Bears)
Founded1922 (1922)
GroundPärnu Rannastaadion
Capacity1,501[1]
ChairmanKarl Palatu
ManagerIgor Prins
LeagueMeistriliiga
2023Meistriliiga, 6th of 10
WebsiteClub website

Pärnu JK Vaprus, commonly known as Pärnu Vaprus, or simply as 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.

History

Vaprus was formed in May 1922, as Sporting Society Vaprus (English: Sporting Society 'Bravery'). Among other sports, Vaprus competed in the local Pärnu football championships, winning in 1927 and 1934. In 1937, Vaprus merged with several other local sporting clubs to form Pärnu Kalev.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

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.

Stadium

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.[5]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Ref
2017– Nike Coolbet [6][7]

Players

First-team squad

As of 25 September 2023[8][9]

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 Estonia EST Hendrik Vainu
4 DF Estonia EST Magnus Villota
5 DF Estonia EST Uku Kõrre
7 DF Estonia EST Martin Käos
8 MF Estonia EST Raimond Eino
9 FW Estonia EST Kristjan Kask
10 MF Estonia EST Enrico Veensalu
11 FW Estonia EST Kevin Kauber
13 GK Estonia EST Ott Nõmm
15 DF Estonia EST Kevin Aloe
17 MF Estonia EST Sander Kapper
19 FW Estonia EST Virgo Vallik
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 MF Estonia EST Henri Välja (on loan from Levadia)
21 MF Estonia EST Reimo Madissoo
22 FW Estonia EST Markus Miiter
23 MF Estonia EST Reno Mark
24 MF Estonia EST Mathias Villota
27 DF Estonia EST Ranet Ristikivi
39 MF Estonia EST Robin Limberg
66 DF Estonia EST Kairo Kiltmaa
70 MF Estonia EST Kristofer Põldme
77 FW Estonia EST Ronaldo Tiismaa
90 MF Estonia EST Joonas Sild

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

Reserves and academy

Personnel

Honours

Winners (1): 2005, 2020
Winners (1): 2004
Winners (1): 2000

Seasons and statistics

  1. ^
    Pärnu Vaprus inherited the 2017 Meistriliiga league spot left vacant by the dissolved Pärnu Linnameeskond.

References

  1. ↑ "Pärnu Rannastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
  2. ↑ "Ajalugu 20. sajandil" (in Estonian). Vaprus.ee. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Ajalugu 21. sajandil" (in Estonian). Vaprus.ee. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Premium liigas esindab Pärnut jalgpalliklubi Vaprus". EFA. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  5. ↑ ERR, Ester Vilgats | (2023-11-05). "Pärnus avati uus jalgpallihall". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  6. ↑ "Pärnu Vapruse ja Coolbeti koostöö jätkub". vaprus.ee. 1 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "Pärnu JK Vaprus Kit History". Football Kit Archive. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  8. ↑ "Pärnu JK Vaprus" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "Esindusmeeskond". vaprus.ee. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
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