Founded in 1922, Pärnu Vaprus was dissolved after a merger in 1937 and re-established in 1999. The club has played in the Meistriliiga in 2006–2008, 2017–2018 and again since 2021.
History
Vaprus was formed in May 1922, as Spordiselts Vaprus (English: Sporting Society 'Bravery'). The club was active in various sports and credited for organising the first intercity running competitions from Pärnu to Tallinn and from Pärnu to Riga.[2] In football, Vaprus competed in the local Pärnu football championships, winning in 1927 and 1934.[3] However, the club failed to reach the heights of their rivals Pärnu Tervis and in 1937, Vaprus merged with several other local sporting clubs to form Pärnu Kalev.[2]
The club was re-established in 1999 as an amateur team playing in the lower leagues. In 2003, several local clubs merged with Vaprus, including former top league club Pärnu Levadia, forming a working football club.
Vaprus won the 2005 Esiliiga season and was, for the first time in the club's history, promoted to Estonia's top-flight football league Meistriliiga. The club finished their first Meistriliiga season in 7th place. Vaprus finished the 2008 Meistriliiga season in 10th place, but managed to avoid direct relegation due to disbandment of TVMK. However, the club was still relegated after losing the relegation play-offs against Paide Linnameeskond.[4]
In 2010, Vaprus formed a united team Pärnu Linnameeskond with Pärnu JK and Pärnu Kalev. Vaprus itself continued to only operate in youth football until 2014, when they entered their senior team to Estonian lower leagues. Pärnu Linnameeskond reached Estonian top flight in 2015, but broke up after two seasons with Pärnu Vaprus inheriting their league spot for 2017.[5]
After an eight-year absence, Vaprus returned to top-flight football and moved to the newly renovated 1,501 seater Pärnu Rannastaadion. The club finished the season in last place, but managed to avoid relegation due to Sillamäe Kalev's bankruptcy. Pärnu Vaprus was relegated in the following 2018 season. Vaprus won Esiliiga in 2020, and returned to Meistriliiga, where they again finished last in the 2021 season. However, the club again avoided relegation due to Viljandi Tulevik leaving top-flight football for financial reasons. Vaprus finished the 2022 season in 10th place, but once again, avoided relegation due to TJK Legion leaving top-flight football for financial difficulties.
Pärnu Vaprus appointed Igor Prins as their manager for the following 2023 season and recorded their most successful season in the club's history, surprisingly occupying 3rd place until matchday 27 and finishing the season in 6th place with 48 points, despite being considered as clear relegation candidates at the start of the year.[6] Vaprus finished the following year in 7th place.
The club's home ground is the 1,501-seat Pärnu Rannastaadion. First opened in 1929, it was the home of Vaprus until its dissolution in 1937 and again since the early 2000s after the club's re-establishment. The stadium was completely reconstructed in 2015–2016.
Vaprus plays their home matches during winter and early spring months at the Pärnu Rehepapi artificial turf ground and uses the adjacent indoor football facility Pärnu Jalgpallihall, which opened in 2023 and cost over €4.7 million, as training centre during the snowy winter period.[7]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
