Pioneers in Estonian football (1921–1941)

Tallinna Jalgpalli Klubi was founded on 5 May 1921 by Estonian footballers, who had returned from World War I and Estonian War of Independence and had lost their spot in their former clubs Kalev or Sport.^[1] Coached by Olympic silver medalist in the marathon Jüri Lossmann, the club took part in the first Estonian Football Championship in 1921, where they finished runners-up to VS Sport.

In many ways, TJK were the pioneers in Estonian football. They became the first Estonian sports club to solely focus on football and have it also mentioned in their name. Following the appointment of Hungarian Franz Woggenhuber in 1922, TJK became the first football club in Estonia to have a foreign coach. In August 1925, the club also opened the first modern football stadium in Estonia. Furthermore, TJK members Johannes Ellip and August Siiber wrote the first statute of the Estonian Football Association.^[1]

Tallinna Jalgpalli Klubi won the Estonian Football Championship in the 1926 season, where they beat Kalev 6–0 in the semi-final and defeated the reigning champions Sport 4–1 in the final. TJK were crowned champions again in 1928. At the end of the same year, TJK player Arnold Pihlak joined FK Austria Vienna and became the first professional Estonian footballer.^[2]

TJK lifted the Estonian Cup in 1939 by beating Kalev 4–1 in the final. The club also won the cup final in the following year, but the competition was deemed unofficial due to World War II. TJK was disbanded in 1941 after Estonia had been occupied by the Soviets.

Rebirth and merger into TJK Legion (1992–2008)

Tallinna Jalgpalli Klubi was brought back to existence in January 1992, less than five months after Estonia had restored its independence.^[3] The club quickly became renowned for its successful youth system and was the starting point for famous Estonian internationals Konstantin Vassiljev, Tarmo Kink and Dmitri Kruglov. In 2008, Tallinna Jalgpalli Klubi and SK Legion merged and the club was named Tallinna Jalgpalli Klubi Legion. After a triumphant 2019 Esiliiga season, TJK Legion were promoted to Premium Liiga, marking the return of the TJK name, after its 80-year absence, to the Estonian top flight. The club competed in Premium Liiga for three seasons, from 2020 until 2022.

TJK jalgpalliväli

After being founded in 1921, TJK actively began looking for a site to construct their own football ground. Four years later, in August 1925, the club opened TJK Stadium, which became the first football stadium in Estonia to have a natural grass surface. The stadium's wooden grandstand could seat 3,740 people and with its additional standing capacity of 6,000, the football ground was able to facilitate nearly 10,000 spectators, making it the largest stadium in the country upon completion. The stadium was destroyed in the Second World War.

Wismari staadion

After the club was re-established in 1992, TJK started to operate at the Wismari Stadium. Opened in 1916, Wismari was once the home ground of TJK's arch-rivals Tallinna Sport.

League

• Estonian Championship
  • Winners (2): 1926, 1928

Cups

• Estonian Cup
  • Winners (1): 1939, 1940 (unofficial)