FK Kauno Žalgiris
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| Full name | Futbolo Klubas Kauno Žalgiris | |||
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| Nickname | Žaliai Balti (The Green-Whites) | |||
| Founded | 2004 as FM Spyris | |||
| Ground | Darius and Girėnas Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 15,026 | |||
| Owner(s) | Paulius Motiejūnas (70%) Mantas Kalnietis (30%)[1] | |||
| Chairman | Mantas Kalnietis | |||
| Manager | Željko Sopić | |||
| League | TOPLYGA | |||
| 2025 | A Lyga, 1st of 10 (champions) | |||
| Website | FK Kauno Žalgiris | |||
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| Active departments of BC Žalgiris | ||||||||||||
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Futbolo Klubas Kauno Žalgiris (Football Club Kauno Žalgiris) is a professional football club based in Kaunas, Lithuania, that competes in the TOPLYGA, the top tier division of Lithuania. The club was founded as FM Spyris Kaunas in 2004, became the section of BC Žalgiris, and moved to their current stadium Darius and Girėnas Stadium in 2015. After their debut season in the A Lyga, the club adopted the name FK Kauno Žalgiris in 2016.
Betsson has been the main sponsor of FK Kauno Žalgiris since 2022, the partnership was renewed in July 2025 through 2027.[2]
History
[edit]2005–2014: Early years
[edit]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.[3] 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.[4]
2015–present: Kauno Žalgiris
[edit]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.[5] 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.[6]
In 2020 season, team finish third place in A Lyga. In 2021 season again finish third place and in 2022 season became a runners-up. Starting in 2022, Betsson has been the main sponsor of the team with the partnership being renewed in July 2025 through 2027.[2]
In 2025, Kauno Žalgiris became champions of A Lyga for the first time in their history.
On 29 July 2026, after a victory against KÍ Klaksvík in the UEFA Champions League's qualification; the club secured itself a place in the league phase of the UEFA Conference League at the very minimum, becoming only the second Lithuanian club, after FK Žalgiris in 2022–23 to achieve this feat.[citation needed]
Stadium
[edit]The club plays its home matches at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium. The stadium is a multi-use facility in Ąžuolynas park in the Žaliakalnis district of Kaunas, Lithuania. The all-seater stadium holds 15,026 spectators and is the largest in Lithuania and the Baltic States. 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. The latest renovation started in 2018 and ended in 2022. In 2022, the club enhanced their training capabilities with a 115x74x20 meter air dome.
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
[edit]| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2017 | Joma | ||
| 2017–2022 | Hummel | ||
| 2022–2025 | Hummel | Betsson, TOPsport | [7] |
| 2025– | Puma | Betsson, TOPsport | [8][7] |
Crest
[edit]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
[edit]Rankings in domestic competitions
[edit]| Season | League | Pos | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | II Lyga | 6th | 26 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 44 | 43 | 42 | |
| 2006 | 4th | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 26 | 31 | ||
| 2007 | 11th | 26 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 40 | 43 | 25 | ||
| 2008 | 7th | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 29 | 33 | 27 | ||
| 2009 | 5th | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 39 | 25 | 31 | ||
| 2010 | 2nd | 16 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 59 | 17 | 37 | ||
| 2011 | 10th | 17 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 22 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 2012 | 5th | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 60 | 36 | 36 | ||
| 2013 | I Lyga | 5th | 27 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 55 | 49 | 40 | Round of 16 |
| 2014 | 4th | 31 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 73 | 29 | 56 | Third round | |
| 2015 | TOPLYGA | 5th | 36 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 47 | 74 | 45 | Semi-finals |
| 2016 | 8th | 28 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 23 | 55 | 15 | Quarter-finals Round of 32 | |
| 2017 | 8th | 28 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 56 | 15 | Round of 32 | |
| 2018 | 5th | 33 | 11 | 6 | 16 | 29 | 41 | 39 | Semi-finals | |
| 2019 | 4th | 33 | 16 | 5 | 12 | 54 | 45 | 53 | Quarter-finals | |
| 2020 | 3rd | 20 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 30 | 18 | 38 | Quarter-finals | |
| 2021 | 3rd | 36 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 55 | 39 | 63 | Second round | |
| 2022 | 2nd | 36 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 55 | 37 | 63 | Semi-finals | |
| 2023 | 4th | 36 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 61 | 40 | 59 | Semi-finals | |
| 2024 | 3rd | 36 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 43 | 40 | 54 | Semi-finals | |
| 2025 | 1st | 36 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 67 | 26 | 75 | Quarter-finals |
European competitions record
[edit]| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | UEFA Europa League | 1QR |  Apollon Limassol |
0–2 | 0–4 | 0–6 |
| 2020–21 | UEFA Europa League | 1QR |  Bodø/Glimt |
N/a | 1–6 | N/a |
| 2021–22 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 1QR |  Europa |
2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 |
| 2QR |  The New Saints |
0–5 | 1–5 | 1–10 | ||
| 2022–23 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 1QR |  Ružomberok |
0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 |
| 2023–24 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 2QR |  Lech Poznań |
1–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 |
| 2025–26 | UEFA Conference League | 1QR | Penybont |
3–0 | 1–1 | 4−1 |
| 2QR |  Valur |
1–1 | 2–1 | 3−2 | ||
| 3QR |  Arda |
0–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | ||
| 2026–27 | UEFA Champions League | 1QR |  Drita |
1–1 | 3–2 | 4−3 |
| 2QR |  KÍ |
1–0 | 0–0 | 1−0 | ||
| 3QR |  Dinamo Zagreb |
0–5 |
- Notes
- QR: Qualifying round
Current squad
[edit]- As of 5 August 2026[9]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Technical staff
[edit]| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| President |  Mantas Kalnietis |
| Managing director | Eimantas Pūras |
| Head coach | Željko Sopić |
| Assistant coach | Algis Jankauskas |
| Goalkeeper coach | Audrius Ramonas |
| Fitness coach | Ivan Ćuković |
| Doctor | Algirdas Narkevičius |
| Physio | Tomas Buragas |
| Analyst | Rokas Pranaitis |
| Analyst | Josip Paušić |
References
[edit]- ↑ Augustis, Mindaugas (17 May 2022). "Koncernas "Žalgiris": tankiame įmonių voratinklyje – ataušusios Sabonio pėdos". Delfi (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
- 1 2 "Betsson Lithuania Extends Sponsorships with FK Žalgiris and Lithuanian Basketball Federation Until 2027 - Betsson Group". Betsson. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
- ↑ "2005 m. gegužės 1 d. Sveikata – Spyris 2 : 1 – LFE". lfe.lt. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- ↑ "Football – Žalgiris". zalgiris.lt. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ↑ "Pradžia – A Lyga". smscredit.lt. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ↑ "Naujasis "Kauno Žalgirio" futbolo komandos treneris – Vitalijus Stankevičius" (in Lithuanian). FK Kauno Žalgiris. 3 January 2017. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
- 1 2 Narayan, Niji (10 July 2025). "Betsson Lithuania Extends Sponsorships with FK Žalgiris and Lithuanian Basketball Federation Until 2027". European Gaming Industry News. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
- ↑ "Kauno Žalgiris Kit History". Football Kit Archive. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ↑ "Komandos" (in Lithuanian). FC Kauno Žalgiris. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Lithuanian)
- TOPLYGA website