FC Žalgiris
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| Full name | Vilniaus futbolo klubas Žalgiris | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Žaliai Balti (The Green Whites) | ||
| Founded | 1947 | ||
| Ground | LFF Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 5,400 | ||
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
| Chairman | Vilma Venslovaitienė | ||
| Head Coach | Valdas Dambrauskas | ||
| League | A Lyga | ||
| 2015 | A Lyga, 1st | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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FK Žalgiris is a Lithuanian football club, playing in the capital, Vilnius. They have won the Lithuanian Championship (6 times), Lithuanian Football Cup (9 times) and Lithuanian Supercup (4 times).
The team's colours are green and white. The club plays at LFF stadium in Vilnius (capacity 5,400).
Contents
Name history
- 1947 – Dinamo
- 1948 – Spartakas
- 1962 – Žalgiris
- 1993 – Žalgiris-EBSW
- 1993 – FK Žalgiris
- 2009 – VMFD Žalgiris
- 2015 – FK Žalgiris
History
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Soviet times
1946 Lithuanian Soviet Union Republic (only among club teams) competed in USSR III Group 4 Zone championship. It consisted of Spartakas Kaunas and Dinamo Kaunas teams. The first match it played in Kaunas against Stroitel Moskva (1:1). A.Mališka, Dizmondas Ilgūnas, J.Šlyžius, Zenonas Ganusauskas, P.Štriupkus, Bronius Galvičius, Jonas Zienius, M.Baltrimavičius, Stasys Penkauskas, Steponas Petraitis, Viktoras Kučinskas played in that team. Later former Lithuanian interwar national football team players Stasys Skalskis, Henrikas Kersnauskas, Vladas Dzindziliauskas, V.Saunoris joined that team. That year the team won 4th place in RTFSR Western Zone championship.[1] After year the team was renamed Dinamo and moved to Vilnius.[2] This is a historical beginning of Žalgiris.
The club was established 1947. One season Vilnius team had Dinamo name, from 1948 till 1961 - Spartakas, from 1962 - Žalgiris. 1947 - 1989 the team was participated in USSR championship. 1953 it firstly compete in the highest USSR League. Their best finish in the Soviet Elite League was third in 1987, the year they made their first appearance in the UEFA Cup against Austria Vienna. That year, Žalgiris represented the Soviet Union at the World University Games in Yugoslavia, and won the tournament, beating South Korea in the final 5–0.
1990 - 2008
1990 March 11 Lithuania restored independence. After that Žalgiris began to play in Lithuanian championship. 1990 the best football players left the team (only stayed Valdemaras Martinkėnas and Gintautas Kvitkauskas, 1991 played Virginijus Baltušnikas). 1990 Žalgiris loose national championship and Cup. However club won Lithuanian champions titles 1991, 1992, 1999, Lithuanian Cup 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2003 and Lithuanian Supercup 2003. Žalgiris finished in the second place 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and in the third place 1990, 1996, 2001 in Lithuanian championship. The team was runner-up of Lithuanian Cup 1990, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2001.
VMFD Žalgiris
In 2009 Žalgiris was left inoperative and the club owners refused to sell. Team players, coaches and Pietų IV fans seeking to save the name of Žalgiris detached from FK Žalgiris and 23 February established VMFD Žalgiris [3] The new side was allowed in to the Lithuanian second division, and then returned to the top division next season.
Žalgiris won bronze medals in 2010 season. It could have an opportunity to victory silver but played as draw 0–0 with direct opponents Sūduva Marijampolė in the last game of season [4] Artūras Jeršovas became the most resultive player of Žalgiris. He scored 11 goals in Lithuanian championship. Žalgiris became the most correct team in A League 2010.[5]
2011 season Žalgiris had new head coach Vitalijus Stankevičius.[6] The team loaned GKS Belchatow its leader Pavel Komolov, refused some veterans and legionnaires.[7] Žalgiris saved the core of the team and signed contracts with 10 newcomers.[8] The team had theoretical ability to compete with Ekranas Panevėžys to Lithuanian champion title 3 tours before end of season but lost Sūduva Marijampolė and finished in the second place. The most resultive Žalgiris and all A League player became Deivydas Matulevičius. He scored 19 goals.
2012 season Žalgiris began with new head coach - Croatian Damir Petravič.[9] The team refused some veterans and legionnaires.[10] The most resultive last season player Deivydas Matulevičius was loaned Cracovia Kraków 10 new players joined Žalgiris including former Heart of Midlothian forward Calum Elliot.[11] After half year in Kraków D. Matulevičius returned to Vilnius. Cracovia relegated from Polish Ekstraklasa League and lost right to sign contract with 23 years forward from Lithuania.[12] 2011–12 season in LFF Cup final Žalgiris after penalties won against champion Ekranas Panevėžys and after 9 years got that trophy. After 90 minutes and extra time result was 0–0.[13] After lost match in UEFA Europe League qualification round against FC Admira Wacker Mödling from Austria Žalgiris changed head coach. Specialist from Poland Marek Zub began to train the team.[14] Žalgiris two years in a row was second in Lithuanian A League. The fight to champion title continued till the last match in the season. Ekranas Panevėžys 1 point overtook Žalgiris and got gold medals.[15]
In the beginning of 2013 season Žalgiris defeated Ekranas Panevėžys and won Lithuanian Supercup[16] Two years in a row the team won Lithuanian Cup. Žalgiris after penalties defeated FK Šiauliai.[17] The team played successfully in UEFA Europe League qualification round. It eliminated St Patrick's Athletic from Ireland, Pyunik from Armenia and Lech Poznań from Poland. Žalgiris was defeated by Red Bull Salzburg in the 4th qualification round. The team after 14 years became Lithuanian champion. It 2 points overtook Atlantas Klaipėda.[18]
Stadium
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For most of the time Žalgiris played in Žalgiris Stadium. This stadium is the biggest in Lithuania and holds 15,029 viewers.
Since 2011 Žalgiris plays in LFF Stadium (Lithuanian Football Federation stadium). This arena, formerly known as Vėtra Stadium, was built in 2004 and holds up 5,500 people.
After the bankrupt of FK Vėtra football club, LFF took control of the stadium.
Currently it is under construction to meet level 3 UEFA stadium status. The capacity will be extended to 8,000.
It is situated 400 metres up the Aušros vartų and Liepkalnio streets from the Gate of Dawn (Lithuanian: Aušros vartai)
The address of the stadium: Liepkalnio 13/2, Vilnius.
Kit
From the establishment of the club, Žalgiris colours are green and white, therefore the kit is green and white striped jersey and green/white variation of shorts and socks. In the past there has also been checkered green-white jersey designs. Away kits are usually plain white or green.
Kit manufacturers
| Period | Kit manufacturer |
|---|---|
| 2009–2012 | Hummel |
| 2013–2015 | Kappa |
| 2016– | Nike |
Supporters
The official club of Žalgiris' fans is named Pietų IV. The members of Pietų IV support the team during every game in Lithuania and in Europe and never leave the team alone. This community is united by their love and loyalty to Žalgiris. Pietų IV is the leader of organised supporting in Baltic states.
The establishment date of Pietų IV is considered October, 1985. Since that time fans have been supporting the team while singing, waving flags and creating impressive choreography. Fans helped Žalgiris to survive the financial crisis. During hard periods they organized various events and collected enough money to remain. Pietų IV and the managers of the club together are the founders of Žalgiris Vilnius.
Achievements
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- 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2003, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
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- 2003, 2012, 2013, 2014
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- 1982
Participation in European cups
Participation in Lithuanian championships
- 1990 Lithuanian football championship - 3rd
- 1991 Lithuanian football championship - 1st
- 1991–92 LFF Lyga - 1st
- 1992–93 LFF Lyga - 2nd
- 1993–94 LFF Lyga - 2nd
- 1994–95 LFF Lyga - 2nd
- 1995–96 LFF Lyga - 3rd
- 1996–97 LFF Lyga - 2nd
- 1997–98 LFF Lyga - 2nd
- 1998–99 LFF Lyga - 1st
- 1999 A Lyga - 2nd
- 2000 A Lyga – 2nd
- 2001 A Lyga – 3rd
- 2002 A Lyga – 4th
- 2003 A Lyga – 4th
- 2004 A Lyga – 4th
- 2005 A Lyga – 8th
- 2006 A Lyga – 4th
- 2007 A Lyga – 4th
- 2008 A Lyga – 5th
- 2009 I Lyga – 6th
- 2010 A Lyga – 3rd
- 2011 A Lyga – 2nd
- 2012 A Lyga – 2nd
- 2013 A Lyga – 1st
- 2014 A Lyga – 1st
- 2015 A Lyga – 1st
Staff
As of January 15, 2014.[19]
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman |  Vilma Venslovaitienė |
| Director of Sport | Mindaugas Nikoličius |
| Commercial-technical Director | Andriejus Ovčinikovas |
| Head Coach | Valdas Dambrauskas |
| Assistant Coach | Ivan Švabovič |
| Assistant Coach | Andrius Skerla |
| Club doctor | Tomas Jonaitis |
Current squad
As of 13 Jan 2016 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Youth squad
Žalgiris-2
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Žalgiris-B
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Player of the Year
Lists of the winners of Žalgiris Vilnius. Player of the Year Award instituted from 2004 as voted by the official members of Žalgiris' supporters club - Pietų IV:
- 2004: Mindaugas Malinauskas
- 2005: Virmantas Lemežis
- 2006: Igoris Morinas
- 2007: Igoris Morinas
- 2008: Igoris Morinas
- 2009: Edgaras Mastianica
- 2010:
Pavel Komolov - 2011: Marius Rapalis
- 2012:
Kamil Bilinski - 2013: Mantas Kuklys
- 2014: Deividas Šemberas
- 2015:
Andro Švrljuga
Famous players
- Šenderis Giršovičius (1974)
- Igoris Pankratjevas (1983–89)
- Arminas Narbekovas (1983–90)
- Valdas Ivanauskas (1984), (1986–89)
- Virginijus Baltušnikas (1985–90), (1991–92), (1994–95), (1997–98)
- Andrėjus Tereškinas (1990–96), (2005)
- Ričardas Zdančius (1991–94)
- Edgaras Jankauskas (1991–96)
- Aurelijus Skarbalius (1992–94)
- Andrius Skerla (1995–96)
- Deividas Šemberas (1996–98), (2013-15)
- Žydrūnas Karčemarskas (1998), (2001)
- Robertas Poškus (1999)
- Mindaugas Kalonas (2001)
Notable players
- Mario Grgurović
- Algis Jankauskas
- Aurelijus Skarbalius
- Igoris Morinas
- Deivydas Matulevičius
- Raimondas Vilėniškis
- Kamil Biliński
- Jakub Wilk
- Pavel Komolov
- Andrey Nagumanov
Calum Elliot- Deividas Šemberas
- Darvydas Šernas
Coaches
References
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- ↑ Vytautas Saulis ir Gediminas Kalinauskas. „Lietuvos futbolas, 1922-1997 m.: istorinė apybraiža“ // Vilnius, „Diemedis“, 1997. 55 p.
- ↑ Vytautas Saulis ir Gediminas Kalinauskas. „Lietuvos futbolas, 1922-1997 m.: istorinė apybraiža“ // Vilnius, „Diemedis“, 1997. 53 p.
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