FC Nõmme United

Nõmme United
Full nameJalgpalliklubi FC Nõmme United
Founded2000 (2000)
GroundMänniku Stadium
Capacity500
PresidentMart Poom
ManagerSławomir Cisakowski
LeagueMeistriliiga
2025Esiliiga, 1st of 10 (promoted)
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 competes in the Meistriliiga, the top flight of Estonian football, following promotion from the 2025 Esiliiga as league champions. The club's home ground is Männiku Stadium.

Led by Mart Poom, Nõmme United is renowned for its strong youth system.[1] The club debuted in Meistriliiga in 2024 and will compete in the top flight again from 2026.

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, whilst the first team spent 13 consecutive seasons in the fourth tier from 2005 to 2017. 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.

Nõmme United won promotion back to top flight at their first attempt as the 2025 Esiliiga champions with league record 92 points.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Ref
2015–2022 Uhlsport Apollo [6]
2023 Adidas
2024– TonyBet

Stadium

Main article: Männiku 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.[7]

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

Rivalries

Nõmme Derby

Nõmme United has a local rivalry with Nõmme Kalju FC, as both clubs are based in the Nõmme district of Tallinn. Their home grounds Männiku Stadium and Hiiu Stadium are located approximately 3 km apart. For the first decades, the rivalry only existed in youth football, until Nõmme United’s promotion to the Estonian top division saw the clubs face each other for the first time on 17 March 2024.[8] The second-ever Nõmme Derby saw the second-fastest goal in Meistriliiga history, as Promise David opened the score for Nõmme Kalju after just 7 seconds.[9]

Players

First-team squad

As of 5 March 2026.[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 Georg Mattias Lagus
2 DF  JPN Yosuke Morishige
3 DF  EST Samuel Merilai
4 DF  EST Aleksandr Alteberg
6 DF  EST Mathias Palts
8 MF  EST Bruno Vain
9 FW  EST Egert Õunapuu
10 MF  EST Andre Frolov (captain)
11 FW  ZAM Benjamine Chisala
13 MF  EST Artjom Truuväärt
14 MF  EST Nikita Vassiljev
16 MF  GHA Dacosta Owusu
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 MF  EST Ivan Krasnov
20 FW  EST Kevin Mätas
22 MF  EST Artsemi Radomski
23 DF  EST Karl Läänelaid
24 MF  EST Gert Kabal
26 MF  NED Koen Oostenbrink
45 DF  EST Henri Järvelaid
49 MF  GEO Zakaria Beglarishvili
55 DF  ZAM Ricky Chanda
66 MF  EST Rico Palu
71 GK  EST Gregor Pürg

Under-21s and Academy

Further information: FC Nõmme United U21

Personnel

Honours

League

Statistics

League and Cup

Season Division Pos Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Top goalscorer 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
2025 Esiliiga 1 36 30 2 4 125 27 +98 92 Egert Õunapuu (23) Third 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. ^ "Jalgpalliklubi FC Nõmme United Kit History". Football Kit Archive. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  7. ^ "Avaleht - Männiku Jalgpallikeskus". mjkeskus.ee. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  8. ^ "DELFI FOTOD | Premium liiga esimene Nõmme derbi lõppes viigiga, Pärnu Vaprus avas võiduarve". Delfi Sport (in Estonian). 17 March 2024.
  9. ^ "VIDEO: Eesti jalgpalli kõrgliigas sai näha ajaloo üht kiiremat väravat". Postimees Sport. 28 May 2024.
  10. ^ "FC Nõmme United". Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
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