FK Kauno Žalgiris

Kauno Žalgiris
Full name Futbolo klubas Kauno Žalgiris
Nickname(s) Žalgiris
Founded 2005
Ground Darius and Girėnas Stadium
Ground Capacity 9,180
Chairman Eimantas Pūras
Manager Johnny McKinstry
League A Lyga
2016 A Lyga, 8th
Website Club website

Futbolo klubas Kauno Žalgiris (English: Football club Kauno Žalgiris) is a professional football club based in Kaunas, Lithuania, that competes in the A lyga, the top tier of Lithuania. The club was founded as FM Spyris Kaunas in 2005, became the football section of basketball club Žalgiris Kaunas and moved to their current stadium, the Darius and Girėnas Stadium, in 2015. After their debut season in the A Lyga, the club adapted the name FK Kauno Žalgiris in 2016.

History

2005–2014: Early years

The idea of professional club was raised by the Kaunas football school "Tauras" in 2004, when coaches of the school decided to give an opportunity for school graduates to continue their football careers professionally, this became a reality in 2005 when FM Spyris was formed. The club initially played in the LFF II league's southern division, wearing yellow and blue. On 1 May 2005, FM Spyris played their first official match, defeated 2-1 by FK Sveikata Kybartai.[1] For a single season in 2010, FM Spyris was renamed to FM Aisčiai Kaunas, the team finished as runners-up. Despite struggling to get back on top of the league, by 2013, the club had moved up to the LFF I league and enjoyed a couple of competitive seasons and were competitive in the LFF Cup.[2]

2015–present: Kauno Žalgiris

After their recent success, the club made it official that they would like to join the premier Lithuanian football league for the 2015 season, Spyris was accepted on the first check up. Before the season started it was announced that 6 new players will join the club Dzmitry Rekish, Giuseppe Palma (on loan from S.S.C. Napoli), Andrius Velička, Paulius Daukša, Klimas Gusočenko and Jevgenij Maroz. Prior to the start of the season, the club announced their cooperation with BC Žalgiris and plans of adapting the name Žalgiris. The name change would spark a controversy due to the fact another Lithuanian club FK Žalgiris Vilnius would also be competing in the league. The club from Vilnius would file a complaint under the basis of LFF regulations not allowing two teams being under the same name. On 1 March 2015, the club debuted in the A Lyga by defeating FK Klaipėdos Granitas 2–1 in Kaunas as FK Spyris Kaunas. The club's green and white kits would sport the name Žalgiris and the basketball club's logo, alongside the logo they used as FK Spyris. Spyris finished fifth in the league, also reached the Lithuanian Football Cup semi-final, but was defeated by Žalgiris Vilnius.[3] Before the start of the 2016 season, the club changed its name to FK Kauno Žalgiris, adapting the name of the namesake basketball club. Although the newly developing fan base were happy about it, the name change was shadowed by more legal issues with FK Žalgiris Vilnius, so the future of club's name was uncertain. The club started its preseason by signing a former Kaunas football school Tauras graduate Mantas Fridrikas. Later the club announced the oldest player on the team Audrius Kšanavičius is retiring, winger Jevgenij Moroz and one of the best 2015 A lyga players Dzmitry Rekish were leaving the club. After a brief spell of silence, the club announced the signings of three new players just before the beginning of the season who were former FK Šiauliai right back Ernestas Pilypas, Russian winger Leonid Mushnikov, who also was part of Šiauliai team from 2011 to 2013 and 2013 Lithuanian Footballer of the Year Mindaugas Kalonas whose career at that time was on a downfall.

Club signed a contract with 2016 Best I Lyga manager Vitalijus Stankevičius.[4]

Stadium

Darius and Girėnas Stadium

The club plays its home matches at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium. Stadium is a multi-use stadium in the Ąžuolynas park in Žaliakalnis district of Kaunas, Lithuania. The all-seater stadium holds 9,180. In 1998 the stadium was renovated according to UEFA regulations, and in 2005 it was modernised with the installation of the biggest stadium television screen in the Baltic states. In early spring and late autumn Žalgiris use NFA stadium in Kaunas (capacity 500).

Kit

FK Žalgiris Kaunas colours are green and white, therefore the kit is green and white jersey and green and white variation of shorts and socks. In the past they used yellow and blue jersey. Away kits are usually plain white.

Home kit
Away kit

Kit manufacturer

Kit manufacturer

Spain Joma

Crest

FK Kauno Žalgiris is using same logo as BC Žalgiris. Logo design: a green and white shield with the sign "BC Žalgiris", a basketball, and the letter "Ž". The club's name commemorates the victorious Battle of Žalgiris (Battle of Grunwald) (both names: Žalgiris and Grunwald are translated as "green grove").

Participation in Lithuanian championships

Season League Pos P W D L F A Pts Cup
2005 II Lyga 6th 26 13 3 10 44 43 42
2006 II Lyga 4th 18 10 4 4 35 26 31
2007 II Lyga 11th 26 6 7 13 40 43 25
2008 II Lyga 7th 22 7 6 9 29 33 27
2009 II Lyga 5th 20 9 4 7 39 25 31
2010 II Lyga 2nd 16 12 1 3 59 17 37
2011 II Lyga 10th 17 1 0 16 22 75 3
2012 II Lyga 5th 22 11 3 8 60 36 36
2013 I Lyga 5th 27 12 4 11 55 49 40 Round of 16
2014 I Lyga 4th 31 19 7 5 73 29 56 Third round
2015 A Lyga 5th 36 13 6 17 47 74 45 Semifinalist
2016 A Lyga 8th 28 2 9 17 23 55 15 Quarterfinalist
Round of 32
2017 A Lyga

Current squad

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

No. Position Player
3 Lithuania DF Matas Gavrilovas
4 Lithuania DF Klimas Gusočenko
5 Brazil MF Marcelo Muniz
6 Spain MF Mario Duque
7 Lithuania MF Povilas Malakas
8 Lithuania MF Tomas Bučma
9 Lithuania MF Aurimas Raginis
10 Brazil MF Brunno Amorim
11 Lithuania FW Ernestas Mickevičius
17 Lithuania MF Pijus Sirvys
No. Position Player
18 Lithuania MF Edvinas Kloniūnas
20 Lithuania DF Ignas Dedura
30 Lithuania FW Lukas Kochanauskas
31 Montenegro DF Marko Ivanovic
33 Lithuania GK Modestas Stonys
34 Lithuania GK Paulius Ilgarūbis
44 Georgia (country) DF Vako Bachiashvili
88 Georgia (country) DF Levan Chapodze
90 Belarus MF Ihar Yasinski

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player
Lithuania GK Deividas Mikelionis (at Atlantas until 31 December 2017)

Kauno Žalgiris B

Squad

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

No. Position Player
14 Lithuania MF Benas Olencevičius
16 Lithuania MF Rytas Babickas
31 Lithuania DF Dovydas Sinkus
No. Position Player
32 Lithuania MF Mantas Zabiela
34 Lithuania DF Algirdas Kvalkauskas
36 Lithuania MF Pijus Širvys
38 Lithuania MF Kasparas Neverdauskas
42 Lithuania MF Povilas Malakas
43 Lithuania DF Domas Levišauskas
46 Lithuania MF Laurynas Veščiūnas
51 Lithuania DF Mantas Jakutavičius
52 Lithuania MF Edgaras Kloniūnas
88 Lithuania MF Mindaugas Zlatkus

[5]

Famous players

Notable players

Technical staff

Position Name
Chairman Lithuania Eimantas Pūras
Director of Football Lithuania Andrius Velička
Head coach Northern Ireland Johnny McKinstry
Assistant coach United Kingdom Alexander McCarthy
Assistant coach Lithuania Laimis Bičkauskas
Assistant Coach Lithuania Ignas Dedura
Fitness Coach Lithuania Vaidas Verbickas

References

  1. ↑ http://lfe.lt/2005-05-01-Sveikata-%C5%BDalgiris/rungtynes-45
  2. ↑ "Football – Žalgiris". zalgiris.lt. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "Pradžia - A Lyga". smscredit.lt. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  4. ↑ "Naujasis „Kauno Žalgirio“ futbolo komandos treneris – Vitalijus Stankevičius" (in Lithuanian). FK Kauno Žalgiris. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "Komandos nariai – Žalgiris". zalgiris.lt. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
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