VMFD Žalgiris Vilnius

Žalgiris Vilnius
Full name Vilniaus futbolo klubas Žalgiris
Nickname(s) Žaliai Balti (The Green Whites)
Founded 1947
Ground LFF Stadium
Capacity 5,400
Chairman Vilma Venslovaitienė
Manager Valdas Dambrauskas
League A Lyga
2014 A Lyga, 1st
Website Club home page

VMFD Žalgiris is a Lithuanian football club, playing in the capital, Vilnius. They have won the Lithuanian Championship (5 times), Lithuanian Football Cup (8 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).

Name history

History

Soviet times

1946 Lithuanian Soviet Union Republic (only among club teams) competed in USSR III Group 4 Zone championship. It was 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 qualifaction 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 continue 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

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 shirt and white shorts.

Kit manufacturers

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

1991, 1992, 1999, 2013, 2014
1991, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2003, 2012, 2013, 2014
2003, 2012, 2013, 2014
1982

Participation in European cups

Season Competition Round Country Club Score Agg.
1988–89
UEFA Cup
1/32
Austria
Austria Wien
 2–0, 2–5
4–5
1989–90
UEFA Cup
1R
Sweden
IFK Göteborg
 2–0, 0–1
2–1
2R
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Red Star Belgrade
 1–4, 0–1
1–5
1992–93
UEFA Champions League
1R
Netherlands
PSV Eindhoven
 0–6, 0–2
0–8
1993–94
Cup Winners' Cup
1Q
Slovakia
MFK Košice
 0–2, 0–1
0–3
1994–95
Cup Winners' Cup
1Q
Wales
Barry Town
 1–0, 6–0
7–0
1R
Netherlands
Feyenoord
 1–1, 1–2
2–3
1995–96
Cup Winners' Cup
1Q
Slovenia
NK Mura
 2–0, 1–2
3–2
1R
Turkey
Trabzonspor
 2–2, 0–1
2–3
1996–97
UEFA Cup
PR
Northern Ireland
Crusaders
 2–0, 1–2
3–2
1R
Scotland
Aberdeen
 1–4, 3–1
4–5
1997–98
Cup Winners' Cup
1Q
Israel
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
 0–0, 1–2
1–2
1998–99
UEFA Cup
1Q
Iceland
ÍA
 2–3, 1–0
3–3 (a)
2Q
Norway
Brann
 0–1, 0–0
0–1
1999–00
UEFA Champions League
1Q
Armenia
Araks Ararat
 2–0, 3–0
5–0
2Q
Ukraine
Dynamo Kyiv
 0–2, 0–1
0–3
2000–01
UEFA Cup
1Q
Poland
Ruch Chorzów
 2–1, 0–6
2–7
2001–02
UEFA Cup
1Q
Israel
Maccabi Tel Aviv
 0–6, 0–1
0–7
2002
UEFA Intertoto Cup
1R
Hungary
Budapest Honvéd
 1–0, 0–0
1–0
2R
France
Sochaux
 0–2, 1–2
1–4
2003
UEFA Intertoto Cup
1R
Sweden
Örgryte IS
 1–1, 0–3
1–4
2004–05
UEFA Cup
1Q
Northern Ireland
Portadown
 2–2, 2–0
4–2
1Q
Denmark
Aalborg BK
 1–3, 0–0
1–3
2005
UEFA Intertoto Cup
1R
Northern Ireland
Lisburn Distillery
 1–0, 1–0
2–0
2R
Latvia
Dinaburg
 2–0, 1–2
3–2
3R
Greece
Egaleo
 3–1, 2–3
5–4
1/2
Romania
CFR Cluj
 1–2, 1–5
2–7
2012–13
Europa League
2Q
Austria
Admira Wacker Mödling
 1–1, 1–5
2–6
2013–14
Europa League
1Q
Republic of Ireland
St Patrick's Athletic
 2–2, 2–1
4–3
2Q
Armenia
Pyunik
 2–0, 1–1
3–1
3Q
Poland
Lech Poznań
 1–0, 1–2
2–2 (a)
PO
Austria
Red Bull Salzburg
 0–5, 0–2
0–7
2014–15
Champions League
2Q
Croatia
Dinamo Zagreb
 0–2, 0–2
0-4

Participation in Lithuanian championships

Staff

As of January 15, 2014.[19]

Position Name
Chairman Lithuania Vilma Venslovaitienė
Director of Sport Lithuania Mindaugas Nikoličius
Commercial-technical Director Lithuania Andriejus Ovčinikovas
Head Coach Lithuania Valdas Dambrauskas
Assistant Coach Lithuania Ivan Švabovič
Assistant Coach Lithuania Andrius Skerla
Club doctor Lithuania Tomas Jonaitis

Current squad

As of 3 July 2014 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Lithuania GK Armantas Vitkauskas
2 Lithuania MF Deividas Šemberas (Captain)
3 Lithuania DF Georgas Freidgeimas
5 Lithuania DF Algis Jankauskas
7 Belarus MF Yury Kendysh
8 Lithuania DF Egidijus Vaitkūnas
10 Poland MF Jakub Wilk
11 Croatia MF Andro Švrljuga
13 Lithuania FW Daniel Romanovskij
14 Cyprus FW Kristis Andreou
15 Bosnia and Herzegovina DF Semir Kerla
16 Lithuania MF Paulius Janušauskas
17 Armenia DF Artak Yedigaryan
No. Position Player
18 Lithuania DF Aldas Korsakas
21 Lithuania MF Vytautas Lukša
22 Lithuania MF Justas Lasickas
23 Lithuania FW Artur Skuratovič
24 Togo FW Serge Nyuiadzi
30 Lithuania GK Lukas Lidakevičius
45 Lithuania FW Edvinas Baniulis
55 Lithuania GK Saulius Klevinskas
77 Lithuania MF Linas Pilibaitis
80 Brazil FW Elivelto
88 Lithuania MF Mantas Kuklys

Žalgiris-2

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
36 Lithuania DF Kristijonas Bazys
38 Lithuania MF Artūr Serikov
42 Lithuania DF Mantas Bezuška
46 Lithuania DF Karolis Žudys
50 Lithuania FW Pavel Smirnov
No. Position Player
51 Lithuania MF Tomas Malinauskas
53 Lithuania MF Aidas Mačionis
70 Lithuania DF Denis Romanov
71 Lithuania GK Karolis Čirba
79 Lithuania MF Erlandas Juška

Žalgiris-3

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
15 Lithuania DF Rokas Simanavičius
22 Lithuania GK Ignas Plūkas
24 Lithuania MF Haroldas Vaineikis
25 Lithuania MF Edvinas Mučinis
33 Lithuania MF Dominik Stankevič
35 Lithuania MF Tomas Misiūnas
37 Lithuania DF Roland Andrijevski
39 Lithuania MF Karolis Mikutavičius
40 Lithuania DF Erik Sinkevič
41 Lithuania DF Haroldas Šidlauskas
No. Position Player
43 Lithuania MF Edvin Pavlovskij
44 Lithuania DF Ernestas Mininas
45 Lithuania FW Edvinas Baniulis
47 Lithuania DF Edgar Čičin
69 Lithuania DF Gvidas Normantas
72 Lithuania GK Andrius Juzkiv
73 Lithuania GK Robertas Konarskis
78 Lithuania MF Mykolas Krasnovskis
90 Lithuania MF Aurimas Tručinskas
97 Lithuania FW Eimantas Skendelis

In

Position Player Transferred from Source Date
MF Lithuania Rytis Leliūga Latvia Liepājas Metalurgs [20] 2012-12-21
MF Lithuania Artūras Žulpa Lithuania Kruoja Pakruojis [21] 2013-01-04
MF Japan Takuya Kanai Netherlands Quick Boys '31/Venlo [20] 2013-02-20
GK Lithuania Ignas Plūkas Lithuania FBK Kaunas [21] 2013-02-21
FW Croatia Vedran Gerc Malaysia Kedah FA [20] 2013-02-21
MF Poland Jakub Wilk Poland Lech Poznań [21] 2013-02-25
FW Lithuania Andrius Velička Azerbaijan AZAL PFK [22] 2013-06-20
MF Lithuania Eivinas Zagurskas Greece Paniliakos F.C. [23] 2013-07-06
GK Lithuania Lukas Lidakevičius England Barnsley F.C. [24] 2013-08-07
FW Togo Serge Nyuiadzi Bulgaria PFC CSKA Sofia [20] 2013-08-13
DF Lithuania Mantas Fridrikas Lithuania FK Šiauliai [25] 2014-01-07
DF Armenia Artak Yedigaryan Armenia FC Banants [26] 2014-01-22
FW Cyprus Kristis Andreou Cyprus AEL Limassol [27] 2014-02-03
MF Lithuania Linas Pilibaitis Hungary Győri ETO FC [28] 2014-02-06
MF Poland Jakub Wilk Romania FC Vaslui [28] 2014-02-07
MF Brazil Andrezinho Malaysia Johor Darul Takzim F.C. [29] 2013-02-19
MF Lithuania Deividas Šemberas Russia FC Alania Vladikavkaz [30] 2013-02-24

Out

Position Player Transferred to Source Date
DF Lithuania Jaunius Juozaitis — [21] 2013-01-05
MF Lithuania Raimondas Vilėniškis — [21] 2013-01-05
MF Lithuania Markas Beneta Lithuania Atlantas Klaipėda [21] 2013-01-10
GK Lithuania Marius Rapalis Belarus Neman Grodno [20] 2013-01-31
MF Russia Andrey Nagumanov Germany TSG Öhringen [20] 2013-01-31
FW Scotland Calum Elliot Scotland Alloa Athletic [20] 2013-02-27
DF Lithuania Karolis Urbaitis Lithuania FK Banga Gargždai [31] 2013-06-28
DF Croatia Tomislav Pek Croatia HNK Šibenik [32] 2013-07-01
MF Poland Jakub Wilk Romania FC Vaslui [33] 2013-07-26
FW Croatia Vedran Gerc Albania KF Tirana [20] 2013-08-05
MF Japan Takuya Kanai — [34] 2013-12-17
MF Lithuania Povilas Krasnovskis — [34] 2013-12-17
FW Poland Kamil Biliński Romania Dinamo București [35] 2014-01-03
DF Croatia Luka Perić Sweden Östersunds FK [36] 2014-02-17

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:

Famous players

Notable players

Coaches

  • Lithuania Voldemaras Jaškevičius (1947)
  • Lithuania Jaroslavas Citavičius (1947–48)
  • Lithuania Georgijus Glazkovas (1948–51)
  • Lithuania Andrejus Protasovas (1951)
  • Lithuania Jurijus Chodotovas (1952–53)
  • Lithuania Stasys Paberžis (1953–57)
  • Lithuania Vytautas Saunoris (1958–60)
  • Lithuania Zenonas Ganusauskas (1961–62)
  • Lithuania Serafimas Cholodkovas (1963–65)
  • Lithuania Juozas Vaškelis (1966–67)
  • Lithuania Algirdas Vosylius (1968–71)
  • Lithuania Serafimas Cholodkovas (1971–73)
  • Lithuania Algirdas Klimkevičius (1974–76)
  • Lithuania Benjaminas Zelkevičius (Jan 1, 1977–May 1, 1983)
  • Lithuania Algimantas Liubinskas (Jan 1, 1983–Dec 31, 1985)
  • Lithuania Benjaminas Zelkevičius (April 1, 1985–Oct 1, 1991)

References

  1. ↑ Vytautas Saulis ir Gediminas Kalinauskas. „Lietuvos futbolas, 1922-1997 m.: istorinė apybraiža“ // Vilnius, „Diemedis“, 1997. 55 p.
  2. ↑ Vytautas Saulis ir Gediminas Kalinauskas. „Lietuvos futbolas, 1922-1997 m.: istorinė apybraiža“ // Vilnius, „Diemedis“, 1997. 53 p.
  3. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/lt/vmfd_zalgiris
  4. ↑ http://www.lff.lt/lt/article/lygiosios_vilniuje_suduvai_uztikrino_sidabro_medalius_foto
  5. ↑ http://www.lrytas.lt/-12903619761289160109-geriausiu-lietuvos-futbolininku-i%C5%A1rinktas-saugas-d-%C5%A1ernas-nuotraukos.htm#.UxSksfl_tfQ
  6. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n311_.html
  7. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n316_.html
  8. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n372_.html
  9. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n854.html
  10. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n851.html
  11. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n879.html
  12. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n1194.html
  13. ↑ http://www.lff.lt/lt/article/lff_taures_finale_po_itemptos_kovos_ir_baudiniu_triumfavo_zalgiris_papildyta
  14. ↑ http://www.sportas.lt/straipsnis/zalgirio-komandos-vaira-perima-lenkas-m-zubas-12317
  15. ↑ http://www.lff.lt/lt/article/ekranas_penkta_karta_is_eiles_tapo_lietuvos_cempionu
  16. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n2078_lff_supertaure_keliauja_i_vilniu.html
  17. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n2395_lff_taure_lieka_sostineje.html
  18. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n3076_naujas_lietuvos_futbolo_karalius___zaliai_baltas.html
  19. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/apie_komanda?sezonas=2013
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n2720_zalgiri_palieka_vedranas_gercas.html
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/2013_ziemos_tranferiai
  22. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n2539_andrius_velicka_oficialiai_tapo_zalgirieciu.html
  23. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n2608_zalgiri_papilde_eivinas_zagurskas.html
  24. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/video/15679.html
  25. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n3155_pirmasis_komandos_naujokas___m_fridrikas.html
  26. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n3194_%E2%80%9Ezalgiryje%E2%80%9C___armenijos_rinktines_narys.html
  27. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n3243_kiprietis_tampa_zalgirieciu.html
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n3254_%E2%80%9Ezalgiryje%E2%80%9C___lietuvos_rinktines_zaidejas.html
  29. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n3291_brazilas_tapo_%E2%80%9Ezalgirio%E2%80%9C_ekipos_nariu.html
  30. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n3310_dsemberas_grizta_i_%E2%80%9Ezalgiri%E2%80%9C.html
  31. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n2562_komanda_paliko_gynejas.html
  32. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n2581_issiskyre_zalgirio_ir_tomislavo_peko_keliai.html
  33. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n2606_jakubas_wilkas_keliasi_i_rumunija.html
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n3144_zalgiri_paliko_du_futbolininkai.html
  35. ↑ http://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/liga-1/bilinski-a-semnat-contractul-cu-dinamo-polonezul-este-jucatorul-cainilor-pentru-urmatorii-doi-ani-si-jumatate-video-11846225
  36. ↑ http://www.zalgiris-vilnius.lt/naujienos/n3288_luka_pericius_rungtyniaus_svedijoje.html

External links