FK Kauno Žalgiris

Futbolo klubas Kauno Žalgiris (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 2004, 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 adopted the name FK Kauno Žalgiris in 2016.

Kauno Žalgiris
Full nameFutbolo klubas Kauno Žalgiris
Nickname(s)Žaliai Balti (The Green-Whites)
Founded2004 as FM Spyris
GroundDarius and Girėnas Stadium
Capacity15,315
Owner(s)Paulius Motiejūnas (70%)
Mantas Kalnietis (30%)[1]
ChairmanMantas Kalnietis
ManagerNerijus Mačiulis (interim)
LeagueA Lyga
2022A Lyga, 2nd
WebsiteClub website

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4] 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 was 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.

The club signed a contract with 2016 Best I Lyga manager Vitalijus Stankevičius.[5]

In 2020 season team won third place in A lyga. In 2021 season again won third place.

Stadium

The club played its home matches at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium, which has been closed down for a reconstruction in 2018. The stadium is a multi-use facility in Ąžuolynas park in the Žaliakalnis district of Kaunas, Lithuania. The all-seater stadium held 9,180 spectators. In 1998 it was renovated according to UEFA regulations, and in 2005 it was modernized with an installation of the biggest digital scoreboard in the Baltic states.

Currently the club uses the Kauno Žalgiris FA Stadium (until 2020 was named Sport School Tauras) from Kaunas as their stadium, after receiving a special dispensation for the Lithuanian Football Federation. The stadium has a capacity of 500.[6]

Kit

  • When the club was called FK Spyris, they wore yellow/blue (Yellow kits, blue shorts and blue socks).
  • Since 2015, FK Žalgiris Kaunas's colours have been green and white. The kit is a green and white jersey, and the shorts and socks is a variation of green and white.
  • The Goalkeeper's kits were brown with black shorts and socks in the 2018 season. Currently, in the 2020 season, the goalkeeper's jersey is in blue.
"Spyris" home kit until 2015
20152018
home
20152018
away
2018 goalkeepers
2019–2021
home
2019–2021
away
Since 2020
goalkeepers

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Manufacturers

Spain Joma

Denmark Hummel

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Ref
2022 Hummel TOPsport [7]

Crest

FK Kauno Žalgiris is using the same logo as BC Žalgiris. The logo design is 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) (The meanings of Žalgiris and Grunwald are both "green grove").

Honours

Lithuanian Championship:

Rankings in Domestic competitions

SeasonLeaguePosPWDLFAPtsCup
2005II Lyga6th2613310444342
2006II Lyga4th181044352631
2007II Lyga11th266713404325
2008II Lyga7th22769293327
2009II Lyga5th20947392531
2010II Lyga2nd161213591737
2011II Lyga10th17101622753
2012II Lyga5th221138603636
2013I Lyga5th2712411554940Round of 16
2014I Lyga4th311975732956Third round
2015A Lyga5th3613617477445Semi-finals
2016A Lyga8th282917235515Quarter-finals
Round of 32
2017A Lyga8th283619195615Round of 32
2018A Lyga5th3311616294139Semi-finals
2019A Lyga4th3316512544553Quarter-finals
2020A Lyga3rd201226301838Quarter-finals
2021A Lyga3rd361899553963Second round
2022 A Lyga 2nd 36 18 9 9 55 37 63 Semi-finals

European Competitions record

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Agg.
2019–20 UEFA Europa League 1QR Cyprus Apollon Limassol 0–2 0–4 0–6
2020–21 UEFA Europa League 1QR Norway Bodø/Glimt 1–6
2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League 1QR Gibraltar Europa 2–0 0–0 2–0
2QR Wales The New Saints 0–5 1–5 1–10
2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League 1QR Slovakia Ružomberok 0–0 0–2 0–2
2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League 2QR Poland Lech Poznań 1–2 1–3 2–5
Notes
  • QR: Qualifying round

Current squad

As of 31 August 2023

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF Curaçao CUW Shermar Martina
4 DF Lithuania LTU Martynas Dapkus
6 MF Japan JPN Yuma Suwa
7 MF Lithuania LTU Artūr Dolžnikov
9 FW Lithuania LTU Nerijus Valskis
10 MF Lithuania LTU Gratas Sirgėdas
11 MF Spain ESP Xabi Auzmendi
12 GK Lithuania LTU Arijus Bražinskas
13 GK Lithuania LTU Ignas Plūkas
14 MF Lithuania LTU Karolis Uzėla
15 MF Lithuania LTU Karolis Šilkaitis
16 MF Nigeria NGA Abdulgafar Opeyemi
17 MF Lithuania LTU Vilius Armanavičius
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF Nigeria NGA Seth Sincere
22 GK Lithuania LTU Deividas Mikelionis
23 MF Ghana GHA Divine Naah
30 MF Lithuania LTU Nidas Vosylius
43 DF Netherlands NED Jason Noslin
47 FW Lithuania LTU Armandas Kučys
77 FW Guadeloupe GLP Florian David
80 MF Lithuania LTU Edvinas Kloniūnas
83 DF Lithuania LTU Pijus Nainys
93 DF Lithuania LTU Edvinas Girdvainis
97 DF Ukraine UKR Andrii Karvatskyi
99 DF France FRA Maxime Spano

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
25 MF Nigeria NGA Oyinlola Kayode (at Sūduva)

Technical staff

PositionName
ChairmanLithuania Mantas Kalnietis
Director of FootballLithuania Andrius Velička
Head coachLithuania Nerijus Mačiulis (interim)
Assistant coachLithuania Nerijus Mačiulis.[8][9]
Assistant coachLithuania Laimis Bičkauskas
Assistant CoachLithuania Ignas Dedura
Fitness CoachLithuania Vaidas Verbickas

References

  1. Augustis, Mindaugas (17 May 2022). "Koncernas "Žalgiris": tankiame įmonių voratinklyje – ataušusios Sabonio pėdos". Delfi (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  2. "2005 m. gegužės 1 d. Sveikata – Spyris 2 : 1 – LFE". lfe.lt.
  3. "Football – Žalgiris". zalgiris.lt. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  4. "Pradžia – A Lyga". smscredit.lt. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  5. "Naujasis "Kauno Žalgirio" futbolo komandos treneris – Vitalijus Stankevičius" (in Lithuanian). FK Kauno Žalgiris. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  6. "Keičiasi "Kauno Žalgirio" namų rungtynių vieta" (in Lithuanian). FK Kauno Žalgiris. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  7. "Kauno Žalgiris Kit History". Football Kit Archive. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  8. "Kauno klubas pristatė atsinaujinusį trenerių štabą | A Lyga | Aukščiausia Lietuvos futbolo lyga". alyga.lt.
  9. ""Kauno Žalgiris" pasirengimą sezonui pradėjo su atsinaujinusiu trenerių štabu". January 6, 2020.
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