Pärnu JK Vaprus
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| Full name | Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi Vaprus | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Karud (The Bears) | |||
| Founded | 1922 Re-established in 1999 | |||
| Ground | Pärnu Rannastaadion | |||
| Capacity | 1,501[1] | |||
| Chairman | Karl Palatu | |||
| Manager | Igor Prins | |||
| League | Meistriliiga | |||
| 2024 | Meistriliiga, 7th of 10 | |||
| Website | http://vaprus.ee | |||
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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.[2] In football, Vaprus competed in the local Pärnu football championships, winning in 1927 and 1934.[3] 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.[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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6] Vaprus finished the following year in 7th place.
Stadium
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.[7]
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017– | Nike | Coolbet | [8][9] |
Players
First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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For season transfers, see transfers summer 2024.
Reserves and academy
Personnel
Current technical staff
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Managerial history
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Honours
Seasons and statistics
| Season | Level | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Top goalscorer | Cup |
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| 1999 | III liiga | 3 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 54 | 42 | +12 | 32 |  Raino Lapp (17)
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| 2000 | 1 | 20 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 60 | 22 | +38 | 44 | Raino Lapp (12)
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| 2001 | II liiga | 2 | 20 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 63 | 25 | +38 | 43 | Mihkel Vorman (11)
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| 2002 | 5 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 25 | 39 | −14 | 23 | |||
| 2003 | Esiliiga | 7 | 28 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 42 | 71 | −29 | 22 | Marek Markson (10)
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| 2004 | II liiga | 1 | 28 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 157 | 21 | +136 | 76 | Indrek Joost (28)
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| 2005 | Esiliiga | 1 | 36 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 92 | 39 | +53 | 94 | Verner Uibo (19)
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| 2006 | Meistriliiga | 7 | 36 | 10 | 4 | 22 | 49 | 86 | −37 | 34 | Ranet Lepik (9)
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| 2007 | 8 | 36 | 8 | 1 | 27 | 35 | 96 | −61 | 25 | Mihhail Kazak (7)
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Quarter-finals | |
| 2008 | 9 | 36 | 5 | 2 | 29 | 41 | 125 | −84 | 17 | Martin Partsioja (7)
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Third round | |
| 2009 | Esiliiga | 7 | 36 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 64 | 77 | −13 | 39 | Taavi Laurits (9)
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Third round |
| 2010 | 7 | 36 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 57 | 78 | −21 | 37 | Taavi Laurits (13)
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| 2014 | IV liiga | 9 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 46 | −33 | 5 | Henri Hansson (3) Kaspar Mitt (3)
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| 2015 | 2 | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 55 | 21 | +34 | 39 | Jaak-Peeter Oja (15)
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| 2016 | III liiga | 2[A] | 22 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 69 | 22 | +47 | 57 | Robyn Hallmere (12)
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| 2017 | Meistriliiga | 10 | 36 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 29 | 146 | −117 | 8 | Kristen Saarts (8)
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| 2018 | 10 | 36 | 2 | 7 | 27 | 25 | 123 | −98 | 13 | Tõnis Vihmoja (8)
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Second round | |
| 2019 | Esiliiga | 3 | 36 | 21 | 4 | 11 | 73 | 48 | +25 | 67 | Kristen Saarts (21)
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Third round |
| 2020 | 1 | 32 | 19 | 8 | 5 | 72 | 30 | +42 | 66 | Ronaldo Tiismaa (17)
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Second round | |
| 2021 | Meistriliiga | 10 | 30 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 24 | 88 | −64 | 18 | Enrico Veensalu (5)
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Third round |
| 2022 | 10 | 36 | 3 | 2 | 31 | 32 | 96 | −64 | 11 | Ronaldo Tiismaa (7)
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First round | |
| 2023 | 6 | 36 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 40 | 43 | −3 | 48 | Kevin Kauber (8)
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Second round | |
| 2024 | 7 | 36 | 9 | 8 | 19 | 35 | 57 | −22 | 35 | Kevin Kauber (7)
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Third round |
- ^Pärnu Vaprus inherited the 2017 Meistriliiga league spot left vacant by the dissolved Pärnu Linnameeskond.
References
- ^ "Pärnu Rannastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- ^ a b "Ajalugu 20. sajandil" (in Estonian). Vaprus.ee. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ "Pärnu jalgpallimeistriks Vaprus". Päewaleht. 15 October 1934.
- ^ "Ajalugu 21. sajandil" (in Estonian). Vaprus.ee. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ "Premium liigas esindab Pärnut jalgpalliklubi Vaprus". EFA. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ "Süües kasvab isu: Pärnu Vapruse meeskond on sama, aga ootused täiesti teisest klassist". Soccernet.ee. 23 February 2024.
- ^ ERR, Ester Vilgats | (2023-11-05). "Pärnus avati uus jalgpallihall". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ "Pärnu Vapruse ja Coolbeti koostöö jätkub". vaprus.ee. 1 March 2021.
- ^ "Pärnu JK Vaprus Kit History". Football Kit Archive. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
- ^ "Pärnu JK Vaprus" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ "Esindusmeeskond". vaprus.ee. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
External links
- Official website (in Estonian)
- Team (2020–) at Estonian Football Association
- Team (2001–2019) at Estonian Football Association
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