Taavi Viik appointed Vaprus head coach

Estonian Premium Liiga side Pärnu JK Vaprus have appointed Taavi Viik as their new head coach on a two-year contract, replacing Igor Prins, who departed the club after four seasons in charge. The 39-year-old takes over after spending the 2026 campaign as an assistant coach, with Vaprus opting for continuity ahead of next season.

Viik joined Vaprus in January 2026 as part of Prins’s coaching staff and has since become familiar with the squad, the club’s daily operations and its long-term objectives.

Before moving to Pärnu, Viik worked at FC Flora, where he coached the club’s U21 side and oversaw player development methodology across the U17 to U21 age groups. He also gained experience at senior level, taking charge of Flora’s first team from July until the end of the 2024 season.

Vaprus sporting director Karl Palatu explained that Viik’s familiarity with the club and his approach to player development were important factors behind the appointment.

“Over the past year, Taavi has become very familiar with our team and the club’s operations. We value his ability to see both the team as a whole and the development potential of each individual player,” Palatu said.

“We want to build on the strengths of the work already done, and we believe Taavi has the knowledge, experience and determination to help Vaprus continue developing. He has our full trust and support in this role.”

Viik expressed his excitement about stepping into the head coaching position and praised the work of his predecessor.

“I’m very excited and grateful for the opportunity to begin a new chapter as Vaprus head coach. During my year here, I’ve developed a great appreciation for the entire organisation, the players and, of course, the best fans in Estonia,” Viik said.

“The previous head coach did an excellent job at the club, and my task now is to take it to the next level. I’m looking forward to the new season and will give everything to provide our supporters with positive experiences next year.”

Vaprus finished seventh in the 2026 Premium Liiga season, securing their top-flight status with an emphatic 5-0 away victory over Tartu JK Tammeka in the final round, which allowed them to avoid the relegation play-offs.

Just days after the season concluded, Prins announced that he would not continue at the club following the expiration of his contract. During his four-year tenure, Vaprus finished sixth twice and seventh twice, while also reaching the Estonian Cup semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history in 2026.

Source: https://vaprus.ee/uudised/91