# 2016 Esiliiga B

The 2016 Esiliiga B was the 4th season of the Esiliiga B, third-highest Estonian league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 2013. The season began on 28 February 2016 and concluded on 6 November 2016.
Kuressaare won the league, finishing with 76 points and were promoted to the Esiliiga. It was their first Esiliiga B title in history.

## Teams
### Stadia

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Elva | Elva | Elva linnastaadion | 30 |
| Flora U19 | Tallinn | Sportland Arena | 540 |
| Joker | Raasiku | Raasiku artificial turf | 200 |
| Kuressaare | Kuressaare | Kuressaare linnastaadion | 1,000 |
| Sillamäe Kalev II | Sillamäe | Sillamäe Kalev artificial turf | 0 |
| Tallinna Kalev II | Tallinn | Kalev Keskstaadion artificial turf | 270 |
| Tammeka U21 | Tartu | Sepa Stadium | 300 |
| Tulevik II | Viljandi | Viljandi linnastaadion | 1,068 |
| Viimsi | Haabneeme | Viimsi KK Stadium | |
| Welco | Tartu | Tamme Stadium | 1,750 |

### Personnel and kits

| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
| Elva | Kaido Koppel | Jürgen Kuresoo | Nike | Sportland |
| Flora U19 | Risto Kallaste | Silver Räämet | Nike | Tele2 |
| Joker | Andre Ilves | Rene Lill | Joma | Unibox |
| Kuressaare | Sander Viira | Elari Valmas | Joma | Saaremaa Lihatööstus |
| Sillamäe Kalev II | Vadym Dobizha | | Uhlsport | Alexela |
| Tallinna Kalev II | Daniel Meijel | | Jako | ViisTek Media |
| Tammeka U21 | Timo Teniste | | Nike | Goldtime |
| Tulevik II | Raiko Mutle | | Joma | Viljandi Aken ja Uks |
| Viimsi | Urmas Kirs | | Joma | |
| Welco | Siim Valtna | Mikk Valtna | Nike | |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Kuressaare | Pelle Pohlak | Signed by Flora U19 | 1 January 2016 | Pre-season | Sander Viira | 1 January 2016 |
| Tammeka U21 | Sander Lember | Mutual consent | 1 January 2016 | Pre-season | Timo Teniste | 1 January 2016 |
| Flora U19 | Pelle Pohlak | Appointed as president of Flora | 12 July 2016 | 9th | Risto Kallaste | 12 July 2016 |

## Results
### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Kuressaare (C, P) | 36 | 23 | 7 | 6 | 117 | 48 | +69 | 76 | Promotion to the Esiliiga |
| 2 | Elva (P) | 36 | 21 | 5 | 10 | 67 | 39 | +28 | 68 | Promotion to the Esiliiga |
| 3 | Welco (O, P) | 36 | 20 | 4 | 12 | 74 | 50 | +24 | 64 | Qualification for the promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Tammeka U21 | 36 | 18 | 5 | 13 | 89 | 64 | +25 | 59 | |
| 5 | Tallinna Kalev II | 36 | 16 | 7 | 13 | 72 | 53 | +19 | 55 | |
| 6 | Sillamäe Kalev II | 36 | 16 | 5 | 15 | 70 | 61 | +9 | 53 | |
| 7 | Joker | 36 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 74 | 66 | +8 | 52 | |
| 8 | Viimsi (O) | 36 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 56 | 64 | −8 | 51 | Qualification for the relegation play-offs |
| 9 | Flora U19 (R) | 36 | 4 | 7 | 25 | 27 | 85 | −58 | 19 | Relegation to II liiga |
| 10 | Tulevik II (R) | 36 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 26 | 142 | −116 | 14 | Relegation to II liiga |
* 1 2 3 Reserve teams are ineligible for promotion.

### Results tables
## Play-offs
### Promotion play-offs

Welco, who finished 3rd, faced Nõmme Kalju U21, 8th-placed 2016 Esiliiga side for a two-legged play-off. The first leg originally ended 3–2 to Nõmme Kalju U21 but they were later ruled to have forfeited the match after fielding an ineligible player Henrik Pürg. According to the rules, the second leg was cancelled and Welco earned entry into the 2017 Esiliiga.

#### Second leg
### Relegation play-offs

Viimsi, who finished 8th, faced Keila, the II liiga play-offs winner. The winner on aggregate score after both matches earned entry into the 2017 Esiliiga B. Viimsi won on away goals.

#### Second leg
## Season statistics
### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Maarek Suursaar | Kuressaare | 33 |
| 2 | Jürgen Kuresoo | Elva | 29 |
| 3 | Rauno Esop | Joker | 25 |
| 4 | Karl Anton Sõerde | Tallinna Kalev II | 22 |
| 5 | Sander Laht | Kuressaare | 17 |
| 5 | Erki Mõttus | Tammeka U21 | 17 |
| 7 | Roman Grigorevski | Sillamäe Kalev II | 15 |
| 7 | Mikk Rajaver | Kuressaare | 15 |
| 9 | Mikk Valtna | Welco | 14 |
| 10 | Martin Aasmäe | Tammeka U21 | 11 |
| 10 | Andre Ilves | Joker | 11 |

## Awards
### Monthly awards

| Month | Manager of the Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Player of the Month |
| Month | Manager | Club | Player | Club |
| March | Timo Teniste | Tammeka U21 | Martin-Gert Pärli | Tammeka U21 |
| April | Siim Valtna | Welco | Karl Andre Vallner | Tallinna Kalev II |
| May | Sander Viira | Kuressaare | Rauno Esop | Joker |
| June/July | Kaido Koppel | Elva | Sander Laht | Kuressaare |
| August | Kaido Koppel | Elva | Jürgen Kuresoo | Elva |
| September | Daniel Meijel | Tallinna Kalev II | Maarek Suursaar | Kuressaare |
| October | Sander Viira | Kuressaare | Lauri Särak | Welco |

### Esiliiga B Player of the Year

Jürgen Kuresoo was named Esiliiga B Player of the Year.