Wikipedia

FK Riteriai

Futbolo Klubas Riteriai,also known asFK Riteriaior asRiteriai,is a Lithuanian professionalfootballclub based inVilnius.Until 21 February 2019, the club was based inTrakaiand was known asFK Trakai.[1]The team won the 2024I Lygaand earned promotion to theA Lygaafter a one-year absence.

Riteriai
Full nameFutbolo Klubas Riteriai
Nickname(s)Riteriai(The Knights)
Founded2005;19 years ago(2005)
GroundLFF Stadium
Capacity5,067
Coordinates54°40′07″N25°17′39″E/ 54.66861°N 25.29417°E/54.66861; 25.29417
ChairmanJan Nevoina
ManagerSławomir Cisakowski
LeagueA Lyga
2024I Lyga,1st of 16 (promoted)
Websitefkriteriai.lt

Riteriai,meaning "Knights" in Lithuanian, has volt green and dark blue as its team colors, previously yellow and blue before 2019. The club plays at theLFF StadiuminVilnius,which has a capacity of 5,067.

History

edit
Logo of the team when it was known as FK Trakai.

2005–2013

edit

The club was established in 2005 as a way to promotephysical activityto children and the general society. In 2006, the club laid an artificial coverage stadium inTrakai[2]and started to play in theIII Lyga Vilnius County.In 2008, they also played in theSunday Football League.In 2010, they were admitted to theII Lyga South Zone,and in 2011, they were already in theI Lyga(second-tier division in Lithuania). Before the 2013 season, the club submitted an application to play in theA Lyga,as all three top finishers decided against seeking promotion, promising to play games inVilniusbefore adequate infrastructure requirements could be fulfilled, but ultimately remained in the same tier.[3]They were promoted toA Lygaafter finishing 3rd in the2013 LFF I Lygaseason. The club also reached the semi-finals of the2013–14 Lithuanian Football Cup,before being eliminated by the eventual winners,VMFD Žalgiris.During summer, the club organized youth camps with invitees fromAC Milan.[4]

2014–2016

edit

The club began preparation for the 2014 campaign by strengthening their first team, which included signingLithuanian national teamveterans,Paulius Grybauskas,Vytautas Lukša,Darius Miceika,andTadas Labukas,as well as unveiling former starEdgaras Jankauskasas their new head coach.[5][6]They debuted in the A Lyga victoriously, beatingKlaipėdos Granitas2–0.[7]Throughout the season, the club's results plateaued, but they managed to climb up to second place around the mid-season break. Trakai continued to strengthen their core and staff personnel through mid-season. On 19 September 2014, another national team star,Deividas Česnauskis,was signed on.[8]Soon afterwards, the club was eliminated from the2014–15 Lithuanian Football CupbyŠilas.With 7 matches remaining, Trakai was still in 2nd place in the league, but a losing streak followed. On 3 November 2014, Jankauskas was fired by the club.[9]Virmantas Lemežis took over as caretaker and managed to stabilize things. As a result, the team finished in 4th place, qualifying for the2015–16 UEFA Europa League.On 27 November 2014, Trakai announced the signing of the formerEkranasmanager,Valdas Urbonas,as development director, but during the club's season roundup event, he was announced as new manager for the upcoming season.[10][11]The Trakai reserve team also finished third in the A Lyga's reserves competitions that season.

In 2015, some veteran players left the team. On 2 July 2015, FK Trakai debuted in theUEFA Europa Leaguequalification round againstHB Torshavnfrom theFaroe Islands.Trakai won 7–1. However, the club lost in the Europa League's second qualifying round to theCypriotclubApollon Limassol.In the first leg, Trakai lost 4–0, while in the second leg, they drew 0–0. In the2015 A Lyga season,Trakai reached second place and became the vice-champion of Lithuania and qualified to2016–17 UEFA Europa League's first qualifying round. It was the club's most successful season yet.

Before the2016 A Lygaseason, the top 2015 season defenders,Linas Klimavičius,Edvardas Gaurilovas, Nikolaz Apakitze, Sergej Shevchuk, Marius Šalkauskas, Ronald Solomin and Rokas Stanulevičius, left the team. But the team managed to keep last season's leaders,Yuri Mamaev,Marius Rapalis,andDeividas Česnauskis.Trakai could keep the core of the team and signed contracts with a few newcomers. The team signed a legionnaire from Italy, Mattia Broli, and formerLithuanian national footballplayers,Arūnas Klimavičius,andMartynas Dapkus.[12]In the2015–16 Lithuanian Cup,Trakai reached the final after beatingFK Sūduvain the semi-finals, but lost the final 0–1 againstFK Žalgirisafter extra time.[13]Like in the previous season, they finished the 2016 A Lyga campaign in second place.

2017–2021

edit

Trakai started the2017 A Lygawith newly appointed head coachOleg Vasilenko.[14][15]They reached third place at the end of the season, and reached the quarter-finals of the2017 Lithuanian Football Cup,where they lost 1–4 againstFK Sūduva.

In 2018, the team saw a change in coaching. In May,Oleg Vasilenkowas fired,[16]andKibu Vicuñawas hired as the team's head coach.[17]He worked with the team during the second half of the2018 A Lyga seasonand in the2018–19 Europa Leaguequalification rounds, in which Trakai managed to beat Welsh clubCefn Druidsand Kazakh sideFC Irtysh Pavlodarto reach the third qualification round, but then lost against Serbian teamFK Partizan.Vicuña left Trakai in October to join Polish sideWisła Płock.[18]At the end of the 2018 season, Trakai reached third place in the league. In the2018 Lithuanian Football Cup,the dropped out of the competition after losing 0–3 against Sūduva in the round of 16.

Before the2019 season,the club officially moved from Trakai to Vilnius and renamed to FK Riteriai.[19]Aurelijus Skarbaliusbecame head coach of the club in December 2018.[20]After the club lost againstKÍ Klaksvíkin the first qualification round of the2019–20 UEFA Europa League,he withdrew from his position and left the club.[21]Like in the previous two seasons, Riteriai finished the 2019 league campaign in third position. In the2019 Lithuanian Football Cup,the club reached the round of 16, where they lost on penalties againstFK Kauno Žalgiris.

In January 2020,Mindaugas Čepaswas appointed as the new head coach of the team.[22]In the2020 season,Riteriai was one of only six competing teams in the A Lyga, since several teams were excluded from the league by theLithuanian Football Federationdue to manipulation of the match results in the 2019 season. Riteriai started the 2020 season on 8 March with a 0–3 defeat against Kauno Žalgiris.[23]Afterwards, the league was suspended for over two months because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.League play resumed on 30 May 2020, and on the second matchday, Riteriai beatFK Žalgiris1–0.[24]But only one month later, on 28 June, Riteriai suffered a devastating 0–7 defeat against FK Žalgiris,[25]which lead to the resignation of manager Čepas.[26]On 11 August,Tommi Pikkarainenwas appointed as the new head coach.[27]At the end of the season, Riteriai only won two out of 20 league games and collected 12 points. They finished the league campaign in last place. However, since the Lithuanian Football Federation wanted to expand the A Lyga to ten competing teams, no team was relegated, and Riteriai remained in the A Lyga in the 2021 season.[28]In the2020 Lithuanian Football Cup,Riteriai reached the semi-finals, where they were defeated 0–4 byFK Panevėžys.

Prior to the start of the2021 A Lyga,Sergei Gurenkowas appointed as the new manager of Riteriai.[29]He left the club at the end of May. Prior to his departure, the team dropped to sixth place in A Lyga after earning only two points in the last five matches under Gurenko.[30]Riteriai finished the season in sixth place.

2022–present

edit

In January 2022,Glenn Ståhlwas appointed as the new manager of Riteriai.[31]On 7 May 2022, he resigned from his position and left the club. He led the club in twelve official games, during which it won 21 points.[32]Pablo Villartook over as the new manager on 24 May 2022.[33][34]In the2022 Lithuanian Football Cup,Riteriai reached the quarter-finals, where they were defeated 1–2 byFK Žalgiris.In the2022 A Lyga,they reached fifth place.

After a poor start to the2023 seasonwith only one point out of the first four league matches, Villar was sacked on 24 March 2023.[35]He was succeeded byVladimir Jankovićon 31 March.[36]On 25 July, Janković was sacked.[37]Portuguese coach Matthew Silva, who coached the Riteriai B team (second team) in theI Lyga,was promoted to be the head coach of the first team one day later.[38]In the2023 Lithuanian Football Cup,Riteriai reached the quarter-finals, where they were defeated 0–2 byFA Šiauliai.The club ended the 2023 league campaign in the last place and therefore was relegated to the second division after ten consecutive seasons in the first division.[39]

Stadium

edit
Main article:LFF Stadium
LFF stadium's Eastern stand.

Since 2014, the club has played atLFF StadiuminVilnius.The stadium, formerly known as Vėtra Stadium, was built in 2004 and holds up to 5,500 spectators. After the bankruptcy of theFK Vėtrafootball club, theLithuanian Football Federationtook control of the stadium. The stadium is under reconstruction in an effort to meet level 3 UEFA stadium status, with the capacity expected to be extended to 8,000.

Academy

edit

FK Riteriai run their own football academy, which keeps close relationship withAC Milan.The academy is calledTalentų futbolo akademija,[40]it was established in 2013.[41]

Achievements

edit

Season by season

edit
Season Tier League Pos. LFF cup
2006 4 3 Lyga 4 -
2007 4 3 Lyga 8 -
2008 4 3 Lyga 7 -
2009 4 3 Lyga 13 -
2010 3 2 Lyga 4 First round
2011 2 I Lyga 4 Fourth round
2012 2 I Lyga 4 Fourth round
2013 2 I Lyga 3 Semi-finals
2014 1 A Lyga 4 Third round
2015 1 A Lyga 2 Final
2016 1 A Lyga 2 Round of 16
2017 1 A Lyga 3 Quarter-finals
2018 1 A Lyga 3 Round of 16
2019 1 A Lyga 3 Round of 16
2020 1 A Lyga 6 Semi-finals
2021 1 A Lyga 6 First round
2022 1. A Lyga 5. Quarter-finals
2023 1. A Lyga 10. Quarter-finals

Kit

edit

From 2014 to 2018, FK Trakai's home kits were yellow, while away kits were black and red, resembling those ofAC Milan.In 2018, the away kits changed to dark blue.

Following the club's rebranding as FK Riteriai in 2019, the uniforms adopted the new team colors: volt green for the home kit and dark blue for the away kit.

2006–2013 (Home kit)
2006–2013 (Away kit)
2014–2018 (Home kit)
2014–2017 (Away kit)
2018 (Away kit)
since 2019 (Home kit)
since 2019 (Away kit)

Uniform manufacturers

edit
Main sponsors of the club

European record

edit
Accurate as of 26 August 2020
Competition Played Won Drew Lost GF GA GD Win%
UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League 21 10 6 5 26 24 +2 047.62
Total 21 10 6 5 26 24 +2 047.62

Source: UEFA
Pld= Matches played;W= Matches won;D= Matches drawn;L= Matches lost;GF= Goals for;GA= Goals against;GD= Goal Difference. Defunct competitions indicated in italics.

Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
2015–16 UEFA Europa League 1Q HB Tórshavn 3–0 4–1 7–1
2Q Apollon Limassol 0–0 0–4 0–4
2016–17 UEFA Europa League 1Q Nõmme Kalju FC 2–1 1–4 3–5
2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1Q St Johnstone 1–0 2–1 3–1
2Q IFK Norrköping 2–1 1–2 3–3(5–3p)
3Q Shkëndija 2–1 0–3 2–4
2018–19 UEFA Europa League PR Cefn Druids 1–0 1−1 2–1
1Q Irtysh Pavlodar 0−0 1–0 1–0
2Q Partizan 1−1 0–1 1–2
2019–20 UEFA Europa League 1Q KÍ Klaksvík 1−1 0−0 1−1 (a)
2020–21 UEFA Europa League 1Q Derry City 3−2 (a.e.t.) — —
2Q Slovan Liberec 1−5 — —
Notes
  • PR:Preliminary round
  • 1Q:First qualifying round
  • 2Q:Second qualifying round
  • 3Q:Third qualifying round

Current squad

edit
As of 10 October 2024

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK LTU Armantas Vitkauskas
99 GK LTU Dilonas Matuškevičius
2 DF LTU Nojus Stankevičius
13 DF LTU Gustas Gumbaravičius
15 DF LTU Kajus Stankevičius
20 DF LTU Milanas Rutkovskis
70 DF LTU Matas Latvys
23 DF LTU Andrius Kazakevičius
46 DF POL Jakub Wawszczyk[42]
55 DF ZAM Ricky Chanda
7 MF UGA Isma Mugulusi
14 MF LTU Armandas Šveistrys
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF LTU Deimantas Rimpa
24 MF LTU Jonas Usavičius
29 FW LTU Andrius Kaulinis
30 MF LTU Simas Civilka
47 MF GEO Anri Rosiveri
79 MF UKR Oleksandr Kozhevnikov
11 FW NGA Ebuka Onah
22 FW NGA Axel Galita[43]
27 FW SUR Roscello Vlijter
77 FW LTU Ernestas Januš Zdanovič

Notable players

edit

Players who have either appeared in at least one match for their respective national teams at any time or received an individual award while at the club. Players whose names are listed inboldrepresented their countries while playing for FK Trakai or FK Riteriai.

Lithuania
Europe
Africa

Trakai Player of the Year

edit

Since 2014, a Player of the Year award is presented during an annual season closeup event. From 2014 to 2016, nominees were elected by Trakai players. However, since 2017, the award is determined by usingInStatdata.

Year Winner
2014 Vytautas Lukša[11]
2015 Yuri Mamaev
2016 Arūnas Klimavičius
2017 Mykhailo Shyshka
2018 Donatas Kazlauskas[44]
2019 Terem Moffi[45]

Staff

edit
  • Sławomir Cisakowski – head coach

Manager history

edit
Name Period
Edgaras Jankauskas Feb 2014 – Nov 2014
Virmantas Lemežis Nov 2014 – Dec 2014
Valdas Urbonas Jan 2015 – Jul 2016
Albert Rybak Jul 2016 – Aug 2016
Serhiy Kovalets Aug 2016 – Jan 2017
Oleg Vasilenko Jan 2017 – May 2018
Virmantas Lemežis May 2018 – Jun 2018
Kibu Vicuña Jun 2018 – Oct 2018
Albert Rybak Oct 2018 – Dec 2018
Aurelijus Skarbalius Dec 2018[20]– Jul 2019.[21]
Albert Rybak Jul 2019 – Nov 2019
Mindaugas Čepas Jan 2020[22]– Jun 2020[26]
Janusz Niedzvied Jul 2020 – Aug 2020
Tommi Pikkarainen Aug 2020[27]– Nov 2020
Sergei Gurenko Feb 2021 – May 2021
Valdas Trakys 9 June 2021 – 3 August 2021 (temporary)[46]
Miguel Moreira 3 August 2021 – 30 November 2021[47]
Glenn Ståhl January 2022 – 7 May 2022[48][49]
Pablo Villar 24 May 2022[33]– 24 March 2023[35]
Vladimir Janković 31 March 2023[36]– 25 July 2023[37]
Matthew Silva 26 July 2023[38]– 16 November 2023
Sławomir Cisakowski 14 February 2024[50][51][52]

References

edit
  1. ^"Oficialu." Trakai "tampa" Riteriais "".fkriteriai.lt(in Lithuanian). 19 February 2019.Retrieved6 March2019.
  2. ^"TFK.lt".
  3. ^"Sezono viduryje tikrai nebankrutuosime".sportas.info(in Lithuanian). 15 February 2013.Retrieved24 November2018.
  4. ^Futbolo žvaigždžių paieška. // Veidas.lt, 2011-08-09.
  5. ^"Senosios sostinės riteriai pasiruošę šturmuoti A lygą"(in Lithuanian). A Lyga. 27 February 2014.Retrieved24 November2018.
  6. ^""Trakų" futbolininkams pristatytas naujasis treneris E.Jankauskas "(in Lithuanian). A Lyga. 4 March 2014.Retrieved24 November2018.
  7. ^"Debiutantų dvikovoje triumfavo" Trakai ""(in Lithuanian). A Lyga. 10 March 2014.Retrieved24 November2018.
  8. ^"Deividas Česnauskis prisijungė prie" Trakų ""(in Lithuanian). A Lyga. 19 September 2014.Retrieved24 November2018.
  9. ^"Oficialu:" Trakai "atleido trenerį E.Jankauską".Eurofootball.lt(in Lithuanian). 3 November 2014.Retrieved24 November2018.
  10. ^"Prie" Trakų "klubo prisijungė buvęs" Ekrano "treneris V. Urbonas".Delfi(in Lithuanian). 28 November 2014.Retrieved24 November2018.
  11. ^ab"V. Urbonas paskirtas" Trakų "klubo vyriausiuoju treneriu".Delfi(in Lithuanian). 10 December 2014.Retrieved24 November2018.
  12. ^"FKT.lt".
  13. ^""Žalgiris" laimėjo LFF taurę ir pasiekė Europos rekordą ".lrytas.lt(in Lithuanian). 15 May 2016.Retrieved27 November2023.
  14. ^"Naujasis" Trakų "vyriausiasis treneris – specialistas iš Rusijos".delfi.lt(in Lithuanian). 19 January 2017.Retrieved27 November2023.
  15. ^""Trakai" turi naują vyriausiąjį trenerį "(in Lithuanian). FK Trakai. 19 January 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 31 January 2017.Retrieved19 January2017.
  16. ^""Trakai" turės naują trenerį. Su O.Vasilenka nutraukta sutartis ".futbolas.lt(in Lithuanian).Retrieved13 December2018.
  17. ^"Futbolo Klubas Trakai" "Trakams" vadovaus specialistas iš Ispanijos ".fkt.lt(in Lithuanian). Archived fromthe originalon 27 July 2018.Retrieved13 December2018.
  18. ^"Treneris iš Ispanijos palieka" Trakus "– keliasi į Lenkiją".delfi.lt(in Lithuanian). 11 October 2018.Retrieved27 November2023.
  19. ^"Oficialu." Trakai "tampa" Riteriais "".fkriteriai.lt(in Lithuanian). 19 February 2019.Retrieved9 November2022.
  20. ^ab""Trakams" naujajame sezone diriguos Aurelijus Skarbalius ".Delfi(in Lithuanian). 21 December 2018.Retrieved25 October2020.
  21. ^ab"A.Skarbalius traukiasi iš" Riterių "".Futbolo Klubas Riteriai(in Lithuanian). 18 July 2019.Retrieved25 October2020.
  22. ^ab""Riterius" treniruos M.Čepas ".Futbolo Klubas Riteriai(in Lithuanian). 7 January 2020.Retrieved27 November2023.
  23. ^"Riteriai 0–3 K. Žalgiris".alyga.lt(in Lithuanian). 8 March 2020.Retrieved27 November2023.
  24. ^"Žalgiris 0–1 Riteriai".alyga.lt(in Lithuanian). 30 May 2020.Retrieved27 November2023.
  25. ^"Riteriai 0–7 Žalgiris".alyga.lt(in Lithuanian). 28 June 2020.Retrieved27 November2023.
  26. ^ab"Po gėdingo pralaimėjimo" Riterių "treneris Čepas atsistatydino".delfi.lt(in Lithuanian). 28 June 2020.Retrieved27 November2023.
  27. ^ab""Riterių" vairą perėmė 50-metis suomis ".alyga.lt(in Lithuanian). 12 August 2020.Retrieved27 November2023.
  28. ^"Vykdomojo komiteto posėdžio metu patvirtintas I ir A lygų komandų skaičius".lff.lt(in Lithuanian). 26 February 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 28 May 2022.Retrieved27 November2023.
  29. ^""Riteriams" vadovaus buvęs Baltarusijos rinktinės kapitonas ".delfi.lt(in Lithuanian). 9 February 2021.Retrieved27 November2023.
  30. ^""Riteriai" baigia bendradarbiavimą su S. Gurenka ".fkriteriai.lt(in Lithuanian). 30 May 2021.Retrieved27 November2023.
  31. ^""Riterių" vairas patikėtas švedui Glennui Stahliui ".fkriteriai.lt(in Lithuanian). 27 January 2022.Retrieved27 November2023.
  32. ^""Riterius" palieka vyriausiasis treneris G. Stahl ".fkriteriai.lt(in Lithuanian). 7 May 2022.Retrieved27 November2023.
  33. ^ab""Riterius" treniruos ispanas P. Villaras ".fkriteriai.lt(in Lithuanian). 24 May 2022.Retrieved27 November2023.
  34. ^""Riterių" naujasis strategas – specialistas iš Ispanijos ".alyga.lt(in Lithuanian). 24 May 2022.Retrieved27 November2023.
  35. ^ab"Pablo Villar zwolniony z FK Riteriai"[Pablo Villar released from FK Riteriai] (in Polish). Bałtycki Futbol. 24 March 2023.Retrieved5 June2023.
  36. ^ab""Riterių" vairas bus patikėtas serbams ".sportas.lt(in Lithuanian). 1 April 2023.Retrieved27 November2023.
  37. ^ab""Riteriai" atsisveikino su treneriu ".sportas.lt(in Lithuanian). 25 July 2023.Retrieved27 November2023.
  38. ^ab""Riterius" treniruos M.Silva ".sportas.lt(in Lithuanian). 26 July 2023.Retrieved27 November2023.
  39. ^"Finišavo A lygos sezonas: bronzą išplėšė" Šiauliai ", su elitu atsisveikino" Riteriai "".delfi.lt(in Lithuanian). 12 November 2023.Retrieved12 November2023.
  40. ^"Talentų Futbolo Akademija".tfamilanas.lt.Archived fromthe originalon 7 July 2017.Retrieved13 December2018.
  41. ^"Italijos grandas" Milan "Lietuvoje atidarė savo futbolo akademiją".15min.lt/sportas.Retrieved13 December2018.
  42. ^„Riteriai “pasipildė legionieriumi iš Lenkijos
  43. ^https:// sportas.lt/naujiena/502916/riteriu-puoleju-gretas-papilde-jaunas-prancuzas-o-laikinai-paliko-nigerietis
  44. ^""Trakų" sezono uždarymo šventėje – apdovanoti geriausieji, pagerbtas D.Česnauskis "(in Lithuanian). FK Trakai. 14 November 2018.Retrieved24 November2018.
  45. ^""Riterių" sezono uždarymo šventėje – apdovanojimus rinkęs kapitonas ".15min.lt(in Lithuanian). 3 December 2019.Retrieved25 August2020.
  46. ^"Laikinuoju" Riterių "vyriausiuoju treneriu tapo Valdas Trakys".sportas24.lt(in Lithuanian). 9 June 2021.Retrieved27 November2023.
  47. ^"Išsiskyrė" Riterių "ir M. Moreiros keliai".alyga.lt(in Lithuanian). 30 November 2021.Retrieved27 November2023.
  48. ^""Riteriai" pristatė naująjį strategą ".alyga.lt(in Lithuanian). 27 January 2022.Retrieved27 November2023.
  49. ^""Riterius" paliko vyr. Treneris G. Stahlis ".alyga.lt(in Lithuanian). 7 May 2022.Retrieved27 November2023.
  50. ^"Futbolo Klubas Riteriai »" Riterius "treniruos 37-erių futbolo specialistas iš Lenkijos Slavomiras Cisakovskis".
  51. ^""Riterius" treniruos 37-erių futbolo specialistas iš Lenkijos ".
  52. ^"Sławomir Cisakowski będzie pracował w litewskim Riteriai".
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=FK_Riteriai&oldid=1259704847"