Flora Tallinn’s academy has become a beating heart of Estonian football. It has produced some of the country’s best homegrown talents that have been integral to the club’s dominance in the Premium Liiga since the 1990’s. Flora has shown how a well-structured academy can shape a nation and a club’s footballing identity.
Since the Premium Liiga was established in 1992, Flora Tallinn have won the league title 15 times, more than any other club, with their city rivals Levadia Tallinn being the closest to them with 10 championships. However, it’s fair to say that Flora would not have been as successful if it wasn’t for their youth development, which is one of the best, if not the best in the country.
The academy has a reputation for producing top talent and Flora Tallinn academy manager Moorits Veering tells us what sets the academy apart from others in Estonia. “What truly sets us apart is the organisation and structure of our youth programme – we have a clear long-term vision and a detailed plan for what we want to achieve.” He went on to say, “each month we host a coaching seminar called the ‘FC Flora football foorum’, where first-team coaches participate and give academy coaches to exchange ideas and discuss development.”
Flora Tallinns U21 team compete in the Esiliiga, the second tier of Estonian football, Moorits says this is significant for the players of the club. “It is an important strategic priority for the club. Competing in the second division means our U21 players face experienced senior players every week. This accelerates their physical and mental development as playing at this level it demands intensity and consistency.”
This helps bridge the gap between youth football and the Premium Liiga. As well as this, players who don’t receive required playing time in the Premium Liiga can drop down and earn valuable minutes in the second division.
Many players who come through Flora Tallinn’s academy have gone on to play for their home country of Estonia, such as the Estonian football legend Ragnar Klavan. Yet, for the June 2025 World Cup qualifiers, Flora saw four homegrown players get called up to the Estonian national team.
Moorits is proud of what the club have achieved: “it’s an incredible source of pride. For us as coaches, seeing a player represent Estonia is the ultimate confirmation that we are doing job well. Our goal is to have at least five players in every Estonia youth national team.”
Flora currently have the highest placed U21 team in the country as well as the first team being tied top of the Premium Liiga alongside Levadia Tallin, hoping to win their 16th league title with an incredibly young squad, with the average age being 23. “It’s very rewarding because it shows our philosophy is working – that we can compete at the highest level in Estonia while putting trust in our young players. For the academy staff it’s a powerful source of motivation.” explained Moorits.
The academy has big goals for the future, and they are hoping to further develop Estonian football. Moorits spoke to us about some of the plans they have in place for the future. “Our aim is to add two dedicated fitness coaches to the youth system. In addition, we plan to introduce a transition coach to help support players moving from the U21 team to the first team, allowing us to strengthen the transition phase even further, making players technically, mentally and physically prepared for professional football.”
However, the biggest goal for Flora Tallinn is to become the dominant force in Estonian football by utilising their academy. “Our key strategic priority is creating FC Flora UEFA category 1 academy. This means providing education and accommodation to the players from the club to create a high-performance environment.” said Moorits.
Flora Tallinn’s academy is more than just a conveyor belt of talent – it’s the foundation of the club’s identity and Estonia’s national footballing future. By committing to youth development and providing a clear pathway to the first team, Flora has proven that sustainable success comes from believing in your own youth.
