Igor Prins leaves Pärnu Vaprus after four years
Photo: Svetlana Valijeva Pärnu JK Vaprus have announced that head coach Igor Prins will not continue at the club following the conclusion of the 2026 Estonian Premium Liiga season. The 60-year-old departs after four seasons in charge, during which Vaprus finished sixth twice and seventh twice, with the club confirming that his contract has expired.
Prins took charge of Vaprus ahead of the 2023 season and immediately helped the club establish a new top-flight points record, collecting 48 points in his first campaign. That record was later improved in 2025, when the Pärnu side finished the season with 49 points.
During his four-year spell, Prins oversaw 158 matches across all competitions, recording 56 victories, 34 draws and 68 defeats. His tenure also included a historic achievement in the Estonian Cup, with Vaprus reaching the semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history earlier this year.
In his farewell message, Prins thanked the club, his coaching staff, players and supporters for their contributions throughout his time in Pärnu.
“I am grateful to Vaprus for the four years we spent together,” Prins said. “Thanks to the coaches and support staff, the incredible fans who were always there, and, of course, the excellent team that did all the hard work and gave us so many emotions.”
The former Estonia international, who earned 20 caps during his playing career, has extensive managerial experience in Estonian football. Before joining Vaprus, he coached FCI Levadia, Nõmme Kalju and Pärnu JK, while also spending approximately a year and a half in charge of the Estonia U21 national team between 2019 and 2020.
Vaprus concluded the 2026 Premium Liiga season in seventh place, securing their top-flight status with an emphatic 5-0 away victory over Tartu JK Tammeka in the final round.
The club confirmed that work is already underway to appoint Prins’s successor, with a new head coach set to be announced once the appointment has been finalised.
