FC Flora Tallinn (women)

Flora

Founded	1997
Ground	A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn
Ground Capacity	9,692
Chairman	Aivar Pohlak
Manager	Richard Barnwell
League	Meistriliiga
2013	2nd
Website	Club home page

Football Club Flora is an Estonian women's association football club from Tallinn. Founded in 1997, the club plays in Naiste Meistriliiga, the first level in the Estonian women's football system.

History

Founded in March 1997 as Flora Tallinn ladies team, Flora Naiskond played their first league game in the following month against the defending champions Pärnu, losing 0–3. Despite this, the team went on to enjoy some early success as Flora finished third in 1998 Naiste Meistriliiga season. Flora managed to repeat this feat in the next two seasons in 1999 and 2000. This success largely came thanks to Estonia women's national football team players such as Geit Prants, Liis Saharov, Katrin Tuse, Rutt Urbsalu, Monika Vehlmann, Maarja Vinkel and goalkeeper Maaren Olander, the then captain of both Flora and the women's national team. At the same time, youngsters like Maria Izbas, Merli Kaljuve, Marge Rennig, Riin Saar and Maarit Sarjas appeared for the women's national youth football team. This Flora squad remained relatively unchanged during the first years.^[1]

The following seasons were more disappointing as Flora finished 4th in 2001 and 2002 and 5th in 2003. By this time the only international players left were Monika Vehlmann and Liis Saharov. Problems deepened during the winter of 2003 and Flora had to start the 2004 Meistriliiga season without a manager before Anders Süvari, who had coached the team before, returened in summer. Despite this the team managed to win their first 4 league games. Revitalized, Flora once again challenged the top 3 but missed out narrowly, losing 2–3 in the penultimate round and leaving the team just two points away from the bronze medals. Late in the season, Süvari was replaced by Allan Soomets who remained as coach until the 2012 Meistriliiga season. Since December 2012 the team has been coached by Richard Barnwell.^[1]

Flora finished the Meistriliiga third in 2007 and the 2008 season and have been runners-up consecutively since 2008 but are yet to win the league. Flora has been more successful in the Estonian Women's Cup, winning the competition in 2013 by defeating league rivals Pärnu 2–0 in the finals.^[2]

Players

Current squad

As of 10 April 2015.^[3]

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

No. Position Player 2 MF Liis Pello 5 DF Liis Lepik 7 MF Lisette Tammik 8 FW Marie Heleen Lisette Kikkas 9 MF Miina Kallas 10 MF Tiina Trutsi 12 GK Mari-Ann Ploompuu 13 DF Maarija Mikiver 14 MF Kethy Õunpuu (captain) 15 DF Ragne Hindrimäe

No. Position Player 17 MF Eneli Vals 33 MF Kelly Rosen 36 MF Ariina Mürkhain 43 GK Getriin Strigin 44 DF Birgit Allmere 55 DF Riin Emajõe 77 DF Saron Läänmäe DF Annika Pajupuu FW Triin Väljataga

Reserve squad

As of 10 April 2015.^[4]

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

No. Position Player GK Kadi Meresaar DF Gertu Kendra DF Marit Kobakene DF Liina Liivsoo DF Siret Räämet DF Kristiina Tullus MF Riine Heinsalu MF Sandra Nigulis MF Keitlin Pärn MF Sandra Paulberg

No. Position Player MF Heidi Reial MF Keit Reitel MF Liisi Sakala MF Maarit Sarjas MF Marie Talts MF Helen-Triin Vähi FW Inger Fridolin FW Aliis Jürgen FW Ilona Kirst FW Kaire Tekku

Management

Current technical staff

Position	Name
Manager	Richard Barnwell
Assistant manager	Marko Kõiv

References