Pärnu JK Vaprus explained

Clubname:Pärnu JK Vaprus
Upright:0.85
Fullname:Pärnu Jalgpalliklubi Vaprus
Nickname:Karud (The Bears)
Ground:Pärnu Rannastaadion
Capacity:1,501[1]
Chairman:Karl Palatu
Manager:Igor Prins
League:Meistriliiga
Season:2023
Position:Meistriliiga, 6th of 10
Website:http://vaprus.ee
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Pärnu JK 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.

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

See 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.[5]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period! style="background:#FEDD00; color:#000; border:1px solid #000;"
Kit manufacturerShirt sponsorRef
2017–NikeCoolbet[6] [7]

Players

First-team squad

[8] [9]

For season transfers, see transfers summer 2024.

Reserves and academy

Personnel

PositionName
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

DatesName
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

Seasons and statistics

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pärnu Rannastaadion. Estonian Football Association. et.
  2. Web site: Ajalugu 20. sajandil. et. 13 November 2014. Vaprus.ee.
  3. Web site: Ajalugu 21. sajandil. et. 13 November 2014. Vaprus.ee.
  4. Web site: Premium liigas esindab Pärnut jalgpalliklubi Vaprus. EFA. 11 January 2017.
  5. Web site: ERR . Ester Vilgats . 2023-11-05 . Pärnus avati uus jalgpallihall . 2023-11-21 . ERR . et.
  6. Web site: 1 March 2021 . Pärnu Vapruse ja Coolbeti koostöö jätkub . vaprus.ee.
  7. Web site: Pärnu JK Vaprus Kit History . 2023-03-15 . Football Kit Archive . en.
  8. Web site: Pärnu JK Vaprus. Estonian Football Association. 1 February 2023. et.
  9. Web site: Esindusmeeskond. vaprus.ee. 1 February 2024.

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