FC Nõmme United

Nõmme United
Full nameJalgpalliklubi FC Nõmme United
Founded2000 (2000)
GroundMänniku Stadium
Capacity500
PresidentMart Poom
ManagerSlawomir Cisakowski
LeagueEsiliiga
2024Meistriliiga, 10th of 10 (relegated)
Websitehttp://www.fcnommu.ee/

FC Nõmme United is an Estonian professional football club based in Nõmme, a district in Tallinn. The club was founded in 2000 and currently competes in Esiliiga, the second-highest division in the Estonian football. Their home ground is Männiku Stadium.

Led by Mart Poom, Nõmme United is renowned for its strong youth system.[1] The club has competed in the Estonian top division Meistriliiga once, in 2024.

History

Early history (2000–2018)

The club was founded in 2000 by Enn Loog and was initially named FC Elion, before the name was changed to FC Nõmme United in 2006. From early years on, Mart Poom, who at the time was playing in the Premier League, contributed to the growth of the club.[2] After Poom's retirement, Mart Poomi Jalgpallikool (English: Mart Poom's Football School) was founded which started to act as an academy to Nõmme United.[2] The club quickly established itself as one of the leading youth academies in the country. In 2018, goalkeeper Karl Jakob Hein joined the academy of Arsenal F.C. and made his first team debut on 9 November 2022, becoming the second Estonian to feature for the Gunners after club's president Poom.

Rise to top flight football (2019–present)

After finishing first in the Estonian third-tier Esiliiga B in 2019, the club was promoted to Esiliiga. After the 2022 season, Vladimir Vassiljev became the manager of the club and Nõmme United set their sights on gaining promotion to Premium Liiga within the next three seasons.[3] They did it in one, as the club finished the 2023 Esiliiga season in first place with 90 points. After the end of the season, Vassiljev left for abroad and Nõmme United appointed Jani Sarajärvi as head coach for their debut in the Estonian top flight, but the Finnishman was dismissed just four games into the season.[4] The team was first led by assistant coaches and then by Martin Klasen for the remainder of the year. Although Nõmme United had the joint-fourth highest budget in the league,[5] the club finished their inaugural Premium Liiga season in last place with 15 points, and were relegated.

Stadium

Nõmme United's home ground is Männiku Stadium which is part of their home base Männiku Football Centre, located at Võidu 16, Nõmme, Tallinn. In addition to the natural grass ground, the complex also has an artificial turf football pitch (90 × 60m), upon which an air dome is installed during the winter months.[6]

At winter and early spring months, Nõmme United play their home matches at Sportland Arena.

Players

Current squad

As of 1 March 2025.[7]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  EST Georg Mattias Lagus
2 DF  EST Kaarel Leppsalu
3 DF  EST Samuel Merilai
4 DF  EST Aleksandr Alteberg
5 DF  EST Jakob Käis
6 DF  EST Mathias Palts
7 MF  EST Romet Leppik
8 MF  EST Bruno Vain
9 FW  EST Egert Õunapuu
10 MF  EST Andre Frolov
11 MF  EST Tristan Vendelin
12 DF  EST Mark Marmei
17 FW  GAM Ousman Ceesay (on loan from Falcons)
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 FW  EST Kevin Mätas
21 GK  EST Silver Rebane
23 DF  EST Karl Läänelaid
28 DF  EST Steven Salmistu
30 MF  EST Markus Riisenberg
31 FW  EST Artjom Truuväärt
49 MF  GEO Zakaria Beglarishvili
55 DF  ZAM Ricky Chanda
59 FW  EST Arseni Gusarov
79 FW  EST Lars Ossep
80 MF  EST Ken Mölder
91 GK  EST Robin Ortega
92 MF  EST Karl Gustav Kokka

For season transfers, see transfers summer 2024.

Personnel

Honours

League

Statistics

League and Cup

Season Division Pos Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Top goalscorer Estonian Cup Notes
2000 V liiga E 2 20 14 6 0 54 16 +36 48 Ivar Sova (12) as Eesti Telefoni SK
2001 IV liiga E 1 18 16 2 1 103 16 +87 47 Jaanus Juhalu (28)
2002 III liiga N 5 18 8 2 8 32 33 −1 26 Ivar Sova (10)
2003 3 18 11 4 3 55 28 +27 37 Ivar Sova
Jaanus Juhalu (9)
2004 1 18 12 3 3 54 14 +40 39 Jaanus Juhalu (13) as FC Elion
2005 II liiga S/W 3 28 16 4 8 67 51 +16 52 Ivar Sova (13)
2006 4 28 15 6 7 68 44 +22 51 Ivar Sova (22) as FC Nõmme United
2007 9 26 10 1 15 72 84 −12 31 Ivar Sova (21) Third round
2008 2 26 18 1 7 72 36 +36 55 Ivar Sova (25)
2009 1 26 18 4 4 100 31 +69 58 Ivar Sova (39) Second round
2010 3 26 14 5 7 67 52 +15 47 Sander Lepik (20) Fourth round
2011 7 26 13 2 11 55 56 −1 41 Alex Jelagin
Raido Reinsalu (17)
Fourth round
2012 14 26 3 2 21 25 113 −88 11 Henri Rüütli
Roland Mäe (5)
First round
2013 4 26 15 1 10 90 60 +30 46 Sander Lepik (25) Second round
2014 9 26 9 1 15 69 75 −6 28 Sander Lepik (21) Third round
2015 4 26 14 5 7 88 41 +47 47 Ander Ott Valge (26) Second round
2016 3 26 19 3 4 131 38 +93 60 Kevin Mätas (49) Fourth round
2017 1 26 23 2 1 158 18 +140 71 Mark Kolosov (52) Second round
2018 Esiliiga B 5 36 17 9 10 100 57 +43 60 Pavel Fedorenko (20) First round
2019 1 36 27 4 5 118 38 +80 85 Oliver Jürgens (28) Second round
2020 Esiliiga 3 32 16 7 9 76 43 +33 55 Kevin Mätas (22) Second round
2021 4 30 12 5 13 79 67 +12 41 Robi Saarma (28) First round
2022 6 36 18 6 12 79 56 +23 60 Egert Õunapuu (36) Third round
2023 1 36 28 6 2 114 29 +85 90 Egert Õunapuu (32) Third round
2024 Meistriliiga 10 36 2 9 25 22 79 –57 15 Oleksandr Musolitin
Egert Õunapuu (3)
Fourth round

References

  1. ^ "Premium liigasse saanud Nõmme United jääb põhimõtetele kindlaks. Poom: kasvatajaklubi nimi mind ei häiri" [Nõmme United, who has entered the Premium Liiga, remains true to its principles. Poom: I don't mind the feeder club image]. Delfi Sport. 4 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b Poom, Mart (2014). Mart Poom. Minu lugu. Film Distribution OÜ. p. 412.
  3. ^ Ilves, Kris (20 December 2022). "Premium liiga ja Serbia asemel Nõmme Unitedi valinud Vladimir Vassiljev: mulle on väga oluline projekt ja inimesed selle ümber". Soccernet.ee.
  4. ^ "Ametlik! Nõmme Unitedi ja Sarajärvi teed läksid nelja vooru järel lahku". Soccernet.ee. 2 April 2024.
  5. ^ Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (19 February 2024). "Kunst on kunstis kunsti näha. Kas sammu tundmatusse astuv Nõmme United lisab lõuendile värvi?". Soccernet.ee.
  6. ^ "Avaleht - Männiku Jalgpallikeskus". mjkeskus.ee. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  7. ^ "Eesti Jalgpalli Liit – FC Nõmme United (2020)". jalgpall.ee. Retrieved 9 June 2020.