Ground Capacity 9,692 Manager Aleksandra Ševoldajeva 2015 2nd Founded 1997 | President Pelle Pohlak League Naiste Meistriliiga Ground A. Le Coq Arena | |
Full name MTÜ Jalgpalliklubi FC Flora | ||
FC Flora Tallinn, commonly known as Flora Tallinn, or simply as Flora, is a women's football club, based in Tallinn, Estonia.
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Founded in 1997, Flora plays in Naiste Meistriliiga, the first level in the Estonian women's football system.
History
Founded in March 1997 as Flora 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.
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.
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.
Current squad
As of 10 April 2016.Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.