VMFD Žalgiris is a Lithuania

Lithuania

Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...

n football

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 club, playing in the capital, Vilnius

Vilnius

Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...

. They have won the Lithuanian Championship

A Lyga

The A Lyga is the top division of professional football in Lithuania. It is organized by LFF . League size has varied between 8 and 12 teams over the past few years; for its 2011 season, the league features 12 teams...

 three times: 1991, 1992, and 1999. The team's colours are green and white. The club plays at the Žalgiris stadium (capacity 15,030).

Name history

• 1947 - Dinamo
• 1948-1961 - Spartakas
• 1962 - Žalgiris
• 1993 - Žalgiris-EBSW
• 1993 - FK Žalgiris
• 2009 - VMFD Žalgiris

Soviet times

During the Soviet era, Žalgiris, a part of the republican VSS with the same name, was by far the best Lithuanian team. Their best finish in the Soviet Elite League was third in 1987, the year they made their first appearance in the UEFA Cup

UEFA Cup

The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...

. That year, Žalgiris represented the Soviet Union

USSR national football team

The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...

 at the World University Games in Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....

, and won the tournament, beating South Korea in the final 5-0.

Recent times

In 2007 the club celebrated its 60th anniversary.

In 2009 Žalgiris was left inoperative and the club owners refused to sell, resulting in the team and fans continuing the club under the name of VMFD Žalgiris. The new side was allowed in to the Lithuanian second division

1 Lyga

-Participating teams :-2009:-2008:-History:-References:*...

, and then returned to the top division

A Lyga

The A Lyga is the top division of professional football in Lithuania. It is organized by LFF . League size has varied between 8 and 12 teams over the past few years; for its 2011 season, the league features 12 teams...

 next season.

Notable Coaches

Voldemaras Jaškevičius (1947) Jaroslavas Citavičius (1947-1948) Georgijus Glazkov (1948-1951) Andrejus Protasovas (1951) Jurijus Chodotovas (1952-1953) Stasys Paberžis (1953-1957) Vytautas Saunoris (1958-1960) Zenonas Ganusauskas (1961-1962) Serafimas Cholodkovas (1963-1965) Juozas Vaškelis (1966-1967) Algirdas Vosylius (1968-1971) Algirdas Klimkevičius (1974-1976) Benjaminas Zelkevičius

Benjaminas Zelkevicius

Benjaminas Zelkevičius is a football coach and a former striker from Lithuania. Zelkevičius has been manager of the Lithuania national football team on three separate occasions: from 1990–1991, 1995–1997, and 2001–2002...

 (1977–1982), (1985–1991) Algimantas Liubinskas

Algimantas Liubinskas

Algimantas Liubinskas is a Lithuanian politician and former manager of the Lithuania national football team and last time he is the head coach of FC Kaisar in the Kazakhstan Premier League.-Football:...

 (1983–1985) Eugenijus Riabovas

Eugenijus Riabovas

Eugenijus Riabovas is a Lithuanian football manager.-Playing career:Prior to his coaching career, Riabovas played for Žalgiris Vilnius and 3 times was named as Best Footballer of Lithuania...

 (2001), (2003) Kęstutis Latoža

Kestutis Latoža

Kęstutis Latoža is a Lithuanian football manager.-Career:Latoža played club football for FK Žalgiris Vilnius from 1968 to 1983....

 (2002), (2004-2005) Igoris Pankratjevas

Igoris Pankratjevas

Igoris Pankratjevas is a Lithuanian professional football coach and a former player. He made his debut in the Soviet Top League in 1983 for FK Žalgiris Vilnius. Igoris Pankratjevas coached many Lithuanian football teams and Lithuanian national U-21 team. 2010 season he was a coach of FK Žalgiris...

 (2006) Arminas Narbekovas

Arminas Narbekovas

Arminas Andreyevich Narbekovas is a former Lithuanian football player, he is currently the Head Coach of Banga Gargždai.-Career:...

 (2006–2007) Mindaugas Čepas (2008–2009) Igoris Pankratjevas

Igoris Pankratjevas

Igoris Pankratjevas is a Lithuanian professional football coach and a former player. He made his debut in the Soviet Top League in 1983 for FK Žalgiris Vilnius. Igoris Pankratjevas coached many Lithuanian football teams and Lithuanian national U-21 team. 2010 season he was a coach of FK Žalgiris...

 (2010) Vitalijus Stankevičius (2011-)

Achievements

• Lithuanian Championship
  A Lyga
  The A Lyga is the top division of professional football in Lithuania. It is organized by LFF . League size has varied between 8 and 12 teams over the past few years; for its 2011 season, the league features 12 teams...
  
  : 3

1991

1991 LFF Lyga

Final tables of the Lithuanian Championship in 1991 are presented below. Lithuanian Football Federation organizes three football leagues: A Lyga , 1 Lyga , and 2 Lyga , which comprises several zones. 1991 was a transitional year: it was decided to adopt western fall-spring model. Therefore the...

, 1992, 1999

• Lithuanian Cup
  Lithuanian football Cup
  The Lithuanian Football Federation Cup is the main "knockout" cup competition in Lithuanian football. It began in 1947 as a tournament for teams in the Lithuanian SSR not competing in the Soviet league pyramid...
  
  : 5

1991, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2003

• Lithuanian Super Cup
  Lithuanian Supercup
  Lithuanian Supercup is a one-match football annual competition. The match is played at the beginning of the season, typically in late March. The two participating clubs are holders of the A Lyga champions title and the Lithuanian football Cup...
  
  : 1

2003

• Soviet First League
  Soviet First League
  The Soviet First League was the second highest division of Soviet football, below the Soviet Top League. The division lasted from the inception of Soviet league football in 1936 to the dissolution of the USSR in 1991.-Overview:...
  
  : 1

1982

Famous players

Virginijus Baltušnikas

Virginijus Baltušnikas

Virginijus Baltušnikas is a retired Lithuanian professional football player who played for FK Žalgiris Vilnius in the Soviet Top League and Lithuanian A Lyga as well as FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod the Russian Premier League.Baltušnikas made 42 appearances for the Lithuania national football...

 (1985-90), (1991-92), (1994-95), (1997-98) Šenderis Giršovičius (1974) Valdas Ivanauskas

Valdas Ivanauskas

Valdas Ivanauskas is a football coach and a former football striker from Lithuania.He is best known in Europe for his time at Hamburger SV as a player in 1993–97 and coaching at Hearts football club in 2005–07.- Career :...

 (1984), (1986–89) Edgaras Jankauskas

Edgaras Jankauskas

Edgaras Jankauskas is a retired Lithuanian footballer who works as a coach-interpreter for FC Lokomotiv Moscow.A tall, powerful striker who plays to the physical side of the game, he is also known for skill. Other than in his own, he played professionally in nine different countries, and...

 (1991–96) Mindaugas Kalonas

Mindaugas Kalonas

Mindaugas Kalonas is a Lithuanian football midfielder. His current club is FC Metalurh Zaporizhya.- Football career :...

 (2001) Žydrūnas Karčemarskas

Žydrunas Karcemarskas

Žydrūnas Karčemarskas is a Lithuanian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Gaziantepspor.He is the first-choice goalkeeper for Lithuania national football team since 2004, and has made 43 appearances for the side....

 (1998), (2001) Arminas Narbekovas

Arminas Narbekovas

Arminas Andreyevich Narbekovas is a former Lithuanian football player, he is currently the Head Coach of Banga Gargždai.-Career:...

 (1983–90) Stasys Paberžis (1947–51) Igoris Pankratjevas

Igoris Pankratjevas

Igoris Pankratjevas is a Lithuanian professional football coach and a former player. He made his debut in the Soviet Top League in 1983 for FK Žalgiris Vilnius. Igoris Pankratjevas coached many Lithuanian football teams and Lithuanian national U-21 team. 2010 season he was a coach of FK Žalgiris...

 (1983-89) Robertas Poškus

Robertas Poškus

Robertas Poškus is a Lithuanian professional footballer playing for FK Simurq Zaqatala. A hard-working striker, he stands 1.83 m tall and weighs 74 kg.-External links:***...

 (1999) Vytautas Saunoris (1947-55) Deividas Šemberas

Deividas Šemberas

Deividas Šemberas is a Lithuanian professional footballer who plays as centre back for Russian Premier League club PFC CSKA Moscow...

 (1996-98) Aurelijus Skarbalius

Aurelijus Skarbalius

Aurelijus "Auri" Skarbalius is a head-coach and former Lithuanian professional footballer, who started his career as a winger, but played mostly as either left- or right-sided fullback...

 (1992–94) Andrius Skerla

Andrius Skerla

Andrius Skerla is a Lithuanian professional football defender playing for Polish Ekstraklasa club Jagiellonia Białystok.-Career:...

 (1995–96) Ričardas Zdančius

Ricardas Zdancius

Ričardas Zdančius is a former Lithuanian professional footballer, member of the Lithuania national team. He won a total of 24 international caps, scoring 4 goals for the Lithuania national football team.-External links:...

 (1991-94)

Participation in Lithuanian Championships

• 2000
  2000 LFF Lyga
  -League standings:-References:...
  
   - 2nd
• 2001
  2001 LFF Lyga
  Final tables of the Lithuanian Championship in 2001 are presented below. The Lithuanian Football Federation organized three football leagues: A Lyga , 1 Lyga , and 2 Lyga , which comprised several regional zones....
  
   - 3rd
• 2002
  2002 LFF Lyga
  Final tables of the Lithuanian Championship in 2002 are presented below. The Lithuanian Football Federation organized three football leagues: A Lyga , 1 Lyga , and 2 Lyga , which comprised four regional zones, with a new North zone being added for this season.-A Lyga:-LFF 1 Lyga:-LFF 2 Lyga zone...
  
   - 4th
• 2003
  2003 LFF Lyga
  Final tables of the Lithuanian Championship in 2003 are presented below. The Lithuanian Football Federation organized three football leagues: A Lyga , 1 Lyga , and 2 Lyga , which comprised four regional zones....
  
   - 4th
• 2004
  2004 LFF Lyga
  Final tables of the Lithuanian Championship in 2004 are presented below. The Lithuanian Football Federation organized three football leagues: A Lyga , 1 Lyga , and 2 Lyga , which comprised four regional zones....
  
   - 4th
• 2005 - 8th
• 2006
  2006 LFF Lyga
  Final tables of the Lithuanian Championship in 2006 are presented below. The Lithuanian Football Federation organized three football leagues: A Lyga , 1 Lyga , and 2 Lyga , which was comprised three regional zones....
  
   - 4th
• 2007
  2007 LFF Lyga
  Final tables of the Lithuanian Championship in 2007 are presented below. The Lithuanian Football Federation organized three football leagues: A Lyga , 1 Lyga , and 2 Lyga , which comprised several zones...
  
   - 4th
• 2008
  2008 LFF Lyga
  The Lithuanian A Lyga 2008 was the 19th season of top-tier football in Lithuania. The season started on 29 March 2008 and ended on 16 November 2008....
  
   - 5th
• 2009 - 6th
• 2010 - 3rd

Staff

• Chairman - Vilma Venslovaitienė
• Director of Sport - Mindaugas Nikoličius
• General Manager - Mindaugas Kasperūnas
• Head Coach - Vitalijus Stankevičius
• Assistant Coach - Mindaugas Čepas
• Club Doctor - Dainius Pavilonis

Current squad

As of May 23, 2011.
(captain)

Youth squad

Notable players

Aleksej Dubina Georgi Kalaydzhiev Andrius Puotkalis

Andrius Puotkalis

Andrius Puotkalis is a Lithuanian professional footballer. He was playing the position of midfielder and is 1.84 m tall. He is a former member of the Lithuania national football team.-External links:*...

 Ramūnas Radavičius Nerijus Vasiliauskas Audrius Veikutis Iulian Bursuc

Iulian Bursuc

Iulian Bursuc is a retired Moldovan professional football player.He latest played for Dacia Chişinău.-External links:...

Denis Arkhipov

External links

• Official Website