Anticipating The Return of European Football to Ireland

On Monday, June 20th, the draws for the 1st and 2nd rounds of qualification for the Champions League and the Europa League were made. As ever, there were League of Ireland teams involved in the draw, with the continental teams visiting Irish shores in the coming weeks. Here, we take a look at the opponents of Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians and St. Patrick’s Athletic. The draw for the third round of qualifying for the Europa League will be made on July 15th, in which Sligo Rovers will be involved.

We start with Shamrock Rovers’ second round opponents Flora Tallinn.

Flora Tallinn, Estonia

Estonian champions Tallinn

Founded: 1990
Stadium: A. Le Coq Arena (10,000)
Manager: Martin Reim
Colours: Green and White
Nickname: Triibulised (Stripes)

Captain: Karl Palatu
Dangermen: Alo Dupikov, Siim Luts, Sergei Mosnikov
Notable former players: Mart Poom (Former Derby County and Sunderland goalkeeper)

Flora Tallinn, Although only 21 years old have been very successful in their own right in their country of Estonia. They’ve won
8 League Titles, 5 Estonian Cups and 6 Estonian Super Cups. In the 1997-98 season they recorded their first treble winning season to date.

Flora have qualified for European Competition every year since 1994, but have only won a total of 4 games. Their most notable victory coming against Norwegian outfit FK Lyn Oslo in 2006-07 Uefa Cup First Qualifying Round.

In their history, the best player they have had in their side was striker Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko who now plays for U.C. Leiria in Portugal. Over a 10 year spell with Tallinn, from 1999 to 2009, he scored 121 goals and 140 appearances for the club, making him the all time leading goalscorer for the club. Current manager Martin Reim is the closest to his record for Flora Tallinn with 69 goals.

Norwegian striker Tor Henning Hamre holds the record for the most goals in a single season, scoring 39 goals during the 2002-03 campaign. Their stadium is also the Official Stadium for the Estonian National team.

From what I’ve seen of Flora Tallinn, they are top side in Estonia, but it is a generally poor league, Shamrock Rovers should
progress past this team to the next round. However they are still the current champions and Rovers will have to pay full respects to the Estonian side.

Prediction: 3-0 Shamrock Rovers on aggregate.

Meanwhile, Bohemians will face the winners of Slovenian side Olimpija Ljubliana and NK Siroki Brijeg from Bosnia. Read the rest of this entry »