Viljandi JK Tulevik

Viljandi Jalgpalliklubi Tulevik, commonly known as Viljandi Tulevik, or simply as Tulevik, is an Estonian football club based in Viljandi that competes in II liiga, the fourth tier of Estonian football. The club's home ground is Viljandi linnastaadion.

Tulevik

Full name	Viljandi Jalgpalliklubi Tulevik
Founded	23 September 1912; 112 years ago (1912-09-23) Re-established in 1992; 33 years ago (1992)
Ground	Viljandi linnastaadion
Capacity	1,068[1]
President	Raiko Mutle
Manager	Rait Oja
League	II liiga
2024	Esiliiga B, 9th of 10 (relegated)
Website	http://jktulevik.ee
Home colours Away colours

Founded in 1912 as Sports Association Tulevik (lit. 'Future'), the club was disbanded in 1940 due to the Soviet occupation of Estonia and re-established in 1992 as one of the founding members of the Meistriliiga. The club has competed in the Estonian top division in 1992–1993, 1997–2010, 2015, and most recently from 2017 until 2021.

History

Early history (1912–1940)

Founded in 1912 as Spordiselts Tulevik (English: Sports Association 'Future'), in part, by Heinrich Aviksoo, they began playing football in 1913 on a field by Lake Viljandi, where Viljandi linnastaadion was built in 1928. Interrupted by World War I and the Estonian War of Independence, Tulevik didn't resume playing football until 1927. In 1937, they won the Central division of the regional B klass. Following the Soviet occupation of Estonia in 1940, Tulevik was forced to disband.^[2]

In 1977, Viljandi Linnameeskond was formed. The team was promoted to the Soviet Estonian Championship in 1981 and spent the next decade within the top two tiers.^[2]

Tulevik's revival and prime years (1992–2010)

In 1992, after Estonia had regained its independence, Viljandi Linnameeskond was first renamed JK Viljandi, and then JK Tulevik, and became a founding member of the Meistriliiga. After two seasons, the club was relegated to the Esiliiga. In 1997, Tulevik became a part of the Flora system and returned to the Meistriliiga, while Sergei Ratnikov was appointed as manager. In June 1998, Ratnikov was replaced by Tarmo Rüütli.

The club made their European debut in the 1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup, losing to St. Gallen 3–9 on aggregate in the first round. Under Rüütli, Tulevik experienced the most successful period in the club's history, as they reached the 1998–99 Estonian Cup final, losing to Levadia 2–3, and finished the 1999 Meistriliiga season as runners-up, notably surpassing their parent club FC Flora. Tulevik faced Club Brugge in the 1999/00 UEFA qualifying rounds, but lost 0–5 on aggregate. In November 1999, Rüütli left the club to manage Flora and the Estonia national team, and was replaced by his assistant Aivar Lillevere. Tulevik reached the Estonian Cup final again in the following season, but were defeated by Levadia again 0–2.^[2] In the following ten years, Tulevik remained a strong mid-table club, but were less and less represented by local Viljandi players, with first team trainings even moved to Tallinn.

Ex-Liverpool F.C. defender Ragnar Klavan and Estonian centre-back pairing Karol Mets & Joonas Tamm all started their careers at Viljandi Tulevik

Recent history (2011–present)

In 2011, Tulevik ended their affiliation with Flora. As a result, the newly formed FC Viljandi took their place in the Meistriliiga and Tulevik were relegated to the II liiga. In January 2013, Aivar Lillevere returned to the club as manager. Tulevik finished the 2014 Esiliiga in fifth place and defeated Lokomotiv 1–1 on aggregate on away goal in the promotion play-offs, thus earning promotion to the Meistriliiga.^[2] The team's stay in the top division proved short-lived as the club finished the 2015 season in last place and were relegated. Tulevik won the 2016 Esiliiga and were once again promoted to the Meistriliiga. Lillevere resigned in November 2017 and was replaced by Marko Kristal in the following month. In April 2018, Kristal's contract was terminated after disappointing results in the league, with Sander Post taking over as manager.^[3]

Under Sander Post, Tulevik established themselves in the Meistriliiga, finishing the 2018 season and 2019 season in 7th place and 2020 season in 6th place. In November 2020, Sander Post announced that he would be stepping down as manager and continue as the sporting director of Tulevik. Jaanus Reitel was announced as his replacement as manager.^[4] Viljandi Tulevik finished the 2021 season in 8th place. On 8 December 2021, Tulevik announced they will leave top-flight football due to financial reasons, with club president Raiko Mutle saying the Covid pandemic had made the club's economic situation extraordinarily difficult and Tulevik would now take the time to focus on improving their sustainability and youth system.^[5]

In the following 2022 season, Viljandi Tulevik entered Esiliiga, the second of tier of Estonian football. With the team consisting mostly of club's youth players, Tulevik finished the season in 9th place and were relegated. Two years later, they dropped down to fourth tier.

Crest and colours

The traditional club colours of Viljandi Tulevik are yellow, black and blue. The club's crest was modernised in 2024.^[6]

• 
  1992–2023
• 
  2024–present

Stadium

Main article: Viljandi linnastaadion

Viljandi linnastaadion

Tulevik initially played on a field by Lake Viljandi, where in 1929, Viljandi linnastaadion was opened. The stadium has been Tulevik's home since its opening until the club's dissolution in 1940 due to Soviet occupation of Estonia, and again since the club's re-establishment in 1992. Renovated in 2008–2009, Viljandi linnastaadion (Viljandi City Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium with a capacity of 1,068. The stadium is located at Ranna 1, Viljandi.^[7][1]

Viljandi Männimäe air dome

In autumn 2021, a state-of-the-art indoor football facility was opened in Viljandi. Costing nearly 3 million euros, the sports complex facilitates footballers during the snowy winter and spring months.^[8]

Players

Current squad

As of 11 January 2023.^[9][10]

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 Marten Ritson 2 DF  EST Rome Veske 3 DF  EST Karl Kurvits 4 DF  EST Marius Vister 6 FW  ALG Houd Boukhelkha 10 MF  EST Edvin Tapfer 11 MF  EST Riho Domberg 12 GK  EST Kaupo Kruusmäe 13 MF  EST Sander Liir 16 MF  EST Lauri Elur 16 DF  EST Gustav-Hendrik Seeder 17 FW  EST Rainer Peips

No. Pos. Nation Player 18 DF  EST Raimond Mets 19 DF  EST Karl Kask 21 DF  EST Kristen Kähr 22 MF  EST Arlet Hunt 23 MF  EST Roven Pilv 24 MF  EST Johannes Metsmaa 28 DF  EST Kevin Soitu 30 MF  EST Cevin Suurhallik 72 GK  EST Karl-Eerik Jürisson 77 MF  EST Andre Varusk 90 MF  EST Ingo Ott

Reserves and academy

Further information: Viljandi JK Tulevik U21

Club officials

Coaching staff Position[11] Name Head coach Rait Oja Assistant coach Kaimar Saag (player-coach) Goalkeeping coach Mati Jürisson Physiotherapist Helena Pallon

Managerial history Dates Name 1992–? Leo Ira 1997–1998 Sergei Ratnikov 1998–1999 Tarmo Rüütli 1999–2000 Aivar Lillevere 2000–2002 Tarmo Rüütli 2003–2004 Aivar Lillevere 2005–2010 Marko Lelov 2011–2012 Raiko Mutle 2013–2017 Aivar Lillevere 2018 Marko Kristal 2018–2020 Sander Post 2020–2021 Jaanus Reitel 2021 Sander Post (interim) 2022–2024 Indrek Ilves 2024– Rait Oja

Honours

League

• Meistriliiga
  • Runners-up (1): 1999
• Esiliiga
  • Winners (1): 2016
• B klass (Central Division)
  • Winners (1): 1937

Cups

• Estonian Cup
  • Runners-up (2): 1998–99, 1999–2000
• Estonian Supercup
  • Runners-up (1): 2000

Seasons and statistics

Seasons

Season	Division	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Top goalscorer	Cup	Supercup
1992	Meistriliiga	13	11	1	3	7	17	34	−17	5	Anatoli Logovoi (5)
1992–93		12	22	3	1	18	24	88	−64	7	Sten Kaldma (7)	Quarter-finals
1993–94	Esiliiga	8	20	8	3	9	44	38	+6	19		Third round
1994–95		5	20	15	2	3	60	18	+42	47		Quarter-finals
1995–96		6	26	12	1	13	58	51	+7	38		Fourth round
1996–97		7	28	9	3	16	32	53	−21	30		Fourth round
1997–98	Meistriliiga	5	24	8	5	11	32	35	−3	29	Argo Arbeiter (9)	Semi-finals
1998		5	14	5	3	6	15	25	−10	18	Teet Allas (4)
1999		2	28	16	5	7	57	34	+23	53	Dmitri Ustritski (16)	Runners-up
2000		4	28	12	9	7	45	34	+11	45	Marius Dovydėnas (12)	Runners-up	Runners-up
2001		5	28	11	6	11	41	37	+4	39	Dmitri Ustritski (16)	Quarter-finals
2002		5	28	10	6	12	51	52	−1	36	Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko (20)	Quarter-finals
2003		5	28	8	8	14	44	56	−12	30	Enver Jääger (11)	Quarter-finals
2004		6	28	6	7	15	30	53	−23	25	Dmitri Ustritski (11)	Second round
2005		5	36	12	11	13	46	48	−2	47	Dmitri Ustritski (13)	Quarter-finals
2006		9	36	5	5	26	29	74	−45	20	Janek Kalda (7)	Second round
2007		7	36	11	4	21	43	80	−37	37	Aleksander Saharov Mihail Ištšuk (8)	Second round
2008		6	36	9	4	23	31	74	−43	31	Jüri Jevdokimov Markko Kudu (7)	Third round
2009		6	36	15	6	15	55	49	+6	51	Jüri Jevdokimov (14)	Fourth round
2010		7	36	8	5	23	33	62	−29	29	Aleksandr Kulatšenko (8)	Third round
2011	II liiga	4	28	17	3	6	85	42	+43	54	Rasmus Luhakooder (23)	Third round
2012		2	26	17	5	4	100	32	+68	56	Rasmus Luhakooder (23)	First round
2013	Esiliiga	8	36	12	10	14	46	57	−11	46	Rasmus Luhakooder (8)	Second round
2014		5	36	14	9	13	53	51	+2	51	Rainer Peips (10)	Third round
2015	Meistriliiga	10	36	6	4	26	35	75	−40	22	Joonas Tamm (9)	First round
2016	Esiliiga	1	36	28	5	3	106	38	+68	89	Kristen Kähr (22)	Fourth round
2017	Meistriliiga	8	36	8	4	24	34	95	−61	28	Herol Riiberg (6)	Quarter-finals
2018		7	36	8	5	23	37	100	−63	29	Rainer Peips (8)	Quarter-finals
2019		7	36	7	7	22	35	75	−40	28	Kaimar Saag (13)	First round
2020		6	28	9	4	15	30	46	−16	31	Pavel Marin (11)	Fourth round
2021		8	30	9	3	18	39	62	−23	30	Kaimar Saag (11)	Semi-finals
2022	Esiliiga	9	36	6	5	25	28	102	−74	23	Edvin Tapfer (5)	Fourth round
2023	Esiliiga B	6	36	16	7	13	58	55	+3	55	Kristen Kähr (10)	Fourth round
2024		9	36	10	5	21	49	74	−25	35	Kaimar Saag (15)	Third round

Europe

Season	Competition	Round	Opponent	Home	Away	Agg.
1998	UEFA Intertoto Cup	First round	St. Gallen	1–6	2–3	3–9
1999–2000	UEFA Cup	Qualifying round	Club Brugge	0–3	0–2	0–5
2000–01	UEFA Cup	Qualifying round	Napredak Kruševac	1–1	1–5	2–6