Žalgiris
FK Žalgiris is a Lithuanian professional football club based in Vilnius, founded in 1947. The club competes in the A Lyga, Lithuania's top division, and plays at the LFF Stadium with a capacity of 5,067. Throughout its history, Žalgiris has been the most successful club in Lithuanian football, winning the Lithuanian Championship 11 times, the Lithuanian Football Cup 14 times, and the Lithuanian Supercup 9 times. The club made history in 2022 by becoming the first Lithuanian team to qualify for the group stages of a UEFA club competition, reaching the Europa Conference League.
History
Overview
General information about the club
FK Žalgiris, commonly known as Žalgiris Vilnius or simply Žalgiris, was originally founded as Dinamo in 1947. The club's name commemorates the victorious Battle of Žalgiris (Battle of Grunwald), with both names translating as "green forest." Throughout its history, Žalgiris has featured many Lithuanian football legends including Arminas Narbekovas, Valdas Ivanauskas, Edgaras Jankauskas, and Deividas Šemberas. The team's traditional colors are green and white, and they currently play at the LFF Stadium in Vilnius.
Most recent season and achievements
In July 2022, after beating Malmö 3–0 on aggregate in the Champions League second qualifying round, Žalgiris made history by guaranteeing themselves group stage football for the season. They became the first ever Lithuanian club to qualify for the group stages of a UEFA club competition, eventually dropping into the Europa Conference League group stage after losing in the Europa League play-offs. They finished bottom of their group with five points and one win from their six games. Žalgiris finished the 2023 A Lyga season in second place, twelve points behind winning team FK Panevėžys, who won their first-ever league title.
History
Early years
The first incarnation of the club played in 1946 as a national team of Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic when it competed in USSR Group III Zone 4 championship. The club consisted of Spartakas Kaunas and Dinamo Kaunas players, managed by French coach Emil Pastor. The club is thought to have been officially founded in 1947 when it was moved from Kaunas to Vilnius and its name was changed to Dinamo Vilnius. The first official match was played on 16 May 1947 against Lokomotiv Moscow, with Steponas Petraitis scoring the first official goal from a penalty spot. The club changed its name to Spartakas Vilnius in 1948 and used this name until the end of 1961 season, when they became Žalgiris in 1962.
Successful period
The club's most successful period during the Soviet era came in the 1980s. Žalgiris achieved its first promotion to the top tier in 1952 but came last the following season. The club's most successful season was in 1987 when they finished third in the Soviet Top League and qualified for the 1988–89 UEFA Cup where they played against Austria Wien. They also reached the semi-finals of the 1987–88 Soviet Cup for the first time in club's history and won the 1987 Summer Universiade by defeating the South Korean team. In 1988, several Žalgiris players were decorated with medals in USSR national teams: Vyacheslav Sukristov received silver at UEFA Euro 1988, while Arminas Narbekovas and Arvydas Janonis brought back gold medals from the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Crisis and recovery
Following Lithuania's declaration of independence on 11 March 1990, Žalgiris left the Soviet Top League with immediate effect. Despite losing most top players, they remained favorites for the Lithuanian title but only managed third place in 1990. The club won their first A Lyga title in 1991 and completed the double by winning the Lithuanian cup. The struggles of the 2000s culminated in 2008 when club owner Vadim Kastujev was arrested in Moscow. Stripped of funds, the club failed to meet licensing requirements for top flight competition in 2009. Fans founded a new phoenix club called VMFD Žalgiris which entered the second division. After a difficult year outside the top flight, finishing sixth in a seven-team league, the club received promotion to A Lyga as the number of teams in the top flight was increased.
Current period
The fortunes of Žalgiris went uphill from 2010. With FBK Kaunas in turmoil and Vėtra bankrupt, Ekranas became the dominant force, but Žalgiris was closing in. They took second in 2011 and 2012, finally ending their nine-year trophy drought by winning the Lithuanian Football Cup in 2012. In 2013, Žalgiris celebrated their first title in fourteen years and won the double. They successfully defended the title in 2014 and 2015, claiming three successive championships. The club continued its dominance with a fourth consecutive league title in 2016 and remarkably won two cup competitions that year. In both 2021 and 2022, they won the double consisting of the A Lyga and LFF cup title, and added another championship in 2024.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Žalgiris has been the most successful club in Lithuanian football history. In the Lithuanian Championship, they have been champions 11 times (1991, 1991–92, 1998–99, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024) and runners-up 13 times. In the Lithuanian Cup, they have won the competition 14 times, including a record four consecutive victories from 2012–13 to 2015–16, and have been finalists 6 times. The club has also won the Lithuanian Super Cup 9 times (2003, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2025).
Continental and global competitions
During the Soviet era, Žalgiris achieved third place in the Soviet Top League in 1987, won the Soviet First League in 1982, and were runners-up three times. The club won the Summer Universiade in 1987, representing the Soviet Union by defeating the South Korean team. In international club competitions, they won the Baltic League in 1990, reached the semi-finals of the Intertoto Cup in 2005, and won the Chico Science Cup in 2015. Their historic achievement came in 2022 when they became the first Lithuanian club to qualify for the group stages of a UEFA club competition, reaching the Europa Conference League.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The club's name Žalgiris commemorates the victorious Battle of Žalgiris (Battle of Grunwald), with both names translating as "green forest." This historical connection has been central to the club's identity throughout its various name changes from Dinamo to Spartakas and finally to Žalgiris in 1962.
Traditional home and away kits colors
From the establishment of the club, Žalgiris colors were blue, red, or sometimes orange. In the 1980s, green and white kits were introduced, establishing the green and white tradition that continues today. The kit is usually a green and white striped jersey with green and white variations of shorts and socks. In the past, there have also been checkered green-white jersey designs. Away kits are usually plain white or green.
Traditional Rivals
Ekranas
Ekranas Panevėžys became a significant rival during the 2000s and 2010s when they dominated Lithuanian football. Žalgiris faced them in crucial matches, including losing to Ekranas in the 1990 championship semi-finals but later taking revenge in 1991. The rivalry intensified when Ekranas became the undisputed superpower of Lithuanian football for several years, with Žalgiris gradually closing the gap until they could challenge for titles again.
FBK Kaunas
FBK Kaunas (formerly Žalgiris Kaunas) emerged as a major rival at the turn of the century. Under the name Žalgiris Kaunas, they won the transitional shortened league season in 1999 and then consecutive titles from 2000 to 2004, during which time Žalgiris went into decline and struggled in the league, even dropping to eighth place in 2005.
Atlantas
Atlantas has been a recurring opponent in important matches, including the dramatic 2013 season where they nearly prevented Žalgiris from winning the championship in the final rounds. Despite the competitive rivalry on the pitch, Žalgiris supporters maintain friendly relations with Atlantas fans.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
The provided source does not contain specific information about current sponsors.
Nicknames
The club is commonly referred to as "green and whites" due to their traditional colors. The official supporters' club is named Pietų IV, established in October 1985.
Ownership and finances
The club faced a major financial crisis in 2008 when owner Vadim Kastujev was arrested in Moscow. Stripped of funds, the club survived until the end of the season but failed to meet licensing requirements for top flight competition in 2009. Fans helped Žalgiris survive the financial crisis by organizing various events and collecting money to help the club remain operational. In November 2018, Deividas Česnauskis was appointed as sports director and Deividas Šemberas as director of sports operations.
Traditions and culture
The official supporters' club Pietų IV has been supporting the team since October 1985, singing, waving flags, and creating impressive choreography during games in Lithuania and Europe. Fans helped Žalgiris survive the financial crisis and were instrumental in the founding of the phoenix club VMFD Žalgiris. Žalgiris supporters maintain friendly relations with fans of Atlantas and internationally have close historical ties with supporters of Dynamo Kyiv, Karpaty Lviv, and Dinamo Tbilisi.
Stadium
For the majority of its history, Žalgiris played in Žalgiris Stadium, which was the biggest in Lithuania with a capacity of 15,029. Since 2011, Žalgiris plays in LFF Stadium (Lithuanian Football Federation stadium), formerly known as Vėtra Stadium, which was built in 2004 and holds around 5,000 people. After the bankruptcy of FK Vėtra football club, LFF took control of the stadium. It is situated near Vilnius Old Town, 400 metres up the Aušros vartų and Liepkalnio streets from the Gate of Dawn.