FK Atlantas was a Lithuanian professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
club based in the port city of
Klaipėda
Klaipėda ( ; ) is a city in Lithuania on the Baltic Sea coast. It is the List of cities in Lithuania, third-largest city in Lithuania, the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, fifth-largest city in the Baltic States, and the capi ...
.
The club's name has changed several times. It was established in 1962 as ''Granitas'', and became ''PSK Aras'' in 1993. Since 1996, when
FK Sirijus Klaipėda
FK Sirijus Klaipėda was a Lithuanian football (soccer), football club, played in the Žalgiris Stadium (Klaipėda), Žalgiris Stadium in Klaipėda. The club won the A Lyga, Lithuanian Championship in 1990, and twice won the Lithuanian Football Cu ...
was absorbed into the club, it has had the name Atlantas, which in
Lithuanian language
Lithuanian (, ) is an East Baltic languages, East Baltic language belonging to the Baltic languages, Baltic branch of the Indo-European language family. It is the language of Lithuanians and the official language of Lithuania as well as one of t ...
means Atlantic Ocean.
Atlantas were the SSR Lithuanian champions in 1978, 1980, 1981, and 1984.
History
Modern Atlantas was founded in 1996. In Soviet occupation period in
Klaipėda
Klaipėda ( ; ) is a city in Lithuania on the Baltic Sea coast. It is the List of cities in Lithuania, third-largest city in Lithuania, the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, fifth-largest city in the Baltic States, and the capi ...
The team was known as Granitas and Atlantas from 1970 was a farm club of Granitas. The name Atlantas was used in Lithuanian championship and Granitas in Soviet Union Championship. In Lithuanian independence period from 1990 Granitas and Atlantas tradition was lost, but in 1996 the team was refounded team and named Atlantas. This team soon became the strongest football team in
Klaipėda
Klaipėda ( ; ) is a city in Lithuania on the Baltic Sea coast. It is the List of cities in Lithuania, third-largest city in Lithuania, the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, fifth-largest city in the Baltic States, and the capi ...
. They Played in the top division for a long time.
In summer 2018, the club had financial problems, because account's in banks were suspended. After that, some players ran away from the club. Club owners thought about all chances to save club from dissvolvement. In the first half of the
2018 A Lyga, the club was in 4th position and after the summer they didn't win any games in the championship and lost their position. But after 28 rounds, they were in 6th position and could play in final stage of the championship. 29th round was a loss to
FC Stumbras 0–6.
In January 2019, about the club situation known, that they lost sponsorship from business and
Klaipėda
Klaipėda ( ; ) is a city in Lithuania on the Baltic Sea coast. It is the List of cities in Lithuania, third-largest city in Lithuania, the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, fifth-largest city in the Baltic States, and the capi ...
city municipality and that means, that the club soon would defunct.
In February 2019, the club changed owners. The new chief was Vidas Adomaitis.
On 5 December 2019, the Lithuanian Football Federation announce that two A Lyga clubs, FK Atlantas and
FK Palanga have been excluded from the A Lyga due to manipulation of the match results, fined 30,000 euros and relegated to
II Lyga. Five players were punished with fines and a ban from all football activity ranging from 6 to 12 months.
Atlantas was in 2020 Antra lyga (3rd level) and after first round was one of the top–6 teams. In final stage team had chances for the promotion to Pirma lyga.
Name history
*1962 – Granitas Klaipėda
*1970 – Atlantas Klaipėda
*1996 – FK Atlantas Klaipėda
Honours
Domestic
*
Lithuanian Championship
**Runners-up (3): 2001, 2002, 2013
**Third place (5): 1999, 2000, 2004, 2014, 2015
*
Lithuanian Cup
**Winners (2): 2001, 2003
**Runners-up (2): 2004,
2014–15
Soviet Championship
*Lithuanian SSR Championship
**Champions (4): 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984
*
Soviet Second League
The Soviet Second League (, Soviet football championship (Second League)) was the third highest division of Soviet Union, Soviet football (soccer), football, below the Soviet First League. The league was formed in 1971 in place of the Class A Se ...
**Winners (2): 1964, 1985
*Lithuanian SSR Cup
**Winners (4): 1977, 1981, 1983, 1986
Other tournaments
*
Turkmenistan President's Cup
**Third place (1):
2003
2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater.
In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War.
Demographic ...
Supporters
FK Atlantas supporters were called Vakarų Frontas. They maintained friendly relations with fans of
Žalgiris Vilnius and
Rangers FC
Rangers Football Club is a professional football club in Glasgow, Scotland. The team competes in the Scottish Premiership, the top division of Scottish football. The club is often referred to as Glasgow Rangers, though this has never been it ...
.
Crest and colours
The crest features a yellow seahorse with a football on the background. In the middle of the crest there is a white text saying Atlantas at the top and Klaipėda in smaller text under it. The logo contained some white.
Since the beginning, the club has used the colors yellow and blue on their kits.
Kit manufacturers
* 2013–2016
Jako
* 2017–2018
Puma
* 2018–present
Adidas
Adidas AG (; stylized in all lowercase since 1949) is a German athletic apparel and footwear corporation headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany. It is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe, and the second largest in the ...
Season-by-season
;
Lithuania
Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...
:
2020 squad
Notable and famous players
FK Atlantas players who have either appeared for their respective national team at any time or received an individual award while at the club.
;Lithuania
*
Robertas Poškus (1996–1997)
*
Tomas Danilevičius (1995–1996)
*
Raimondas Žutautas (1995)
*
Darvydas Šernas
*
Linas Pilibaitis
Linas Pilibaitis (born 5 April 1985) is a Lithuanian professional footballer who plays as a attacking midfielder for FK TransINVEST.
Club career
Pilibaitis was born in Kretinga. He joined Kaunas aged 17 in 2002, gradually working his way into ...
*
Kęstutis Ivaškevičius
*
Andrius Jokšas
*
Rimantas Žvingilas
*
Valdas Trakys
* Vladimiras Buzmakovas
*
Darius Žutautas
*
Audrius Kšanavičius
*
Mindaugas Panka
*
Edvinas Gertmonas
*
Nerijus Barasa
*
Tadas Labukas
*
Arūnas Šuika
Arūnas Šuika (born 16 May 1970) is a Lithuanian football coach and former player. A midfielder, he played several years for FK Atlantas before moving in 1995 to Denmark to play for Lyngby Boldklub
Lyngby Boldklub () is a professional Footb ...
*
Remigijus Pocius
*
Vidas Alunderis
Vidas Alunderis (born 27 March 1979) is a Lithuanian former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Defender (association football), defender.
Honours
Zagłębie Lubin
* Ekstraklasa: 2006–07 Ekstraklasa, 2006–07
Refer ...
*
Andrius Gedgaudas
*
Rolandas Baravykas
*
Ovidijus Verbickas
*
Saulius Mikalajūnas
*
Valdemaras Martinkėnas
*
Audrius Žuta
Audrius Žuta (born 5 January 1969) is a Lithuanian former football player and referee.
Career
He obtained a total number of 26 caps for the Lithuania national football team
The Lithuania national football team () represents Lithuania in m ...
*
Viktoras Olšanskis
*
Tomas Žiukas
*
Vadimas Petrenko
;Europe
*
Adebayo Akinfenwa (2001–2002)
*
Jalen Pokorn
*
Andrei Panyukov
*
Yuri Kirillov
*
Dzmitry Mazalewski
;South America
*
Leandro da Silva
;Africa
*
Pascal Feindouno (2016)
;Asia
*
Minoru Takenaka (2000–2003)
European cups history
2020 staff
Managers
*
Algirdas Klimkevičius (19??–66)
*
Algirdas Vosylius (1967–??)
*
Romualdas Dambrauskas (19??–70)
*
Henrikas Markevičius (1976–78)
*
Fiodoras Finkelis (1978)
*
Vladas Ulinauskas (1980)
*
Romas Lavrinavičius (1981)
*
Algirdas Mitigaila (1982–83)
*
Česlovas Urbonavičius (1984–86)
*
Vytautas Gedgaudas (1986–89)
*
Česlovas Urbonavičius (1984)
*
Vytautas Gedgaudas (1992 – March 95)
*
Algirdas Mitigaila (March 1995–00)
*
Arūnas Šuika
Arūnas Šuika (born 16 May 1970) is a Lithuanian football coach and former player. A midfielder, he played several years for FK Atlantas before moving in 1995 to Denmark to play for Lyngby Boldklub
Lyngby Boldklub () is a professional Footb ...
(2000)
*
Vacys Lekevičius (2001–04)
*
Šenderis Giršovičius (2002)
*
Igoris Pankratjevas (2003–05)
*
Vacys Lekevičius (2005)
*
Igoris Pankratjevas (2006)
*
Arminas Narbekovas (2006–07)
*
Mindaugas Čepas (2008–09)
*
Šenderis Giršovičius (2009–10)
*
Saulius Mikalajūnas (23 Dec 2009 – 20 May 2010)
*
Igoris Pankratjevas (2010)
*
Vitalijus Stankevičius (2011)
*
Romualdas Norkus (1 March 2012 – 30 June 2012)
*
Sébastien Roques (July 2012 – Nov 2012)
*
Konstantin Sarsania (1 Jan 2013 – 27 May 2017)
*
Sergej Savchenkov (28 May 2017 – 13 June 2017)
*
Rimantas Žvingilas (13 Jun 2017 – 23 July 2017)
*
Igoris Pankratjevas (23 Jul 2017–end of 2017)
*
Algimantas Briaunys (January 2018– 30 August 2018)
*
Anatoli Shelest (September 2018 – November 2018)
*
Viktors Dobrecovs
Viktors Dobrecovs (born 9 January 1977) is a football manager and former Latvia
Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to ...
(February 2019 – November 2019)
*
Donatas Navikas
Donatas Navikas (born 30 June 1983) is a former Lithuania
Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bor ...
(in November 2019; temporary)
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atlantas
Defunct football clubs in Lithuania
Football clubs in Klaipėda
1962 establishments in Lithuania
Association football clubs established in 1962
Association football clubs disestablished in 2020
2020 disestablishments in Lithuania