After presenting their arguments, 'Pietų IV' fans pointed out many problems with 'Žalgiris'

2025-07-24 13:38 © Elvis Žaldaris

The most active fan group of Vilnius "Žalgiris," "Pietų IV," has released an open letter explaining why their patience has run out.

"We continue important discussions related to our club.

Today's theme is ORGANIZATION.

We start this topic with the term NEPOTISM. This refers to the use of one’s official position to favor relatives, friends, or other close persons. In today's society, nepotism manifests in various ways – not just hiring relatives but also promoting them, increasing their salaries, or improving their working conditions. This is done with consideration not for achievements or competence, but for familial or other connections.

This is a topic regarding which our patience has been filled, filled, and finally overflowed. We have always heard rumors and various talks, but here, as everywhere, you can choose – to believe or not to believe. As they say, we didn't sit with a candle. However, when this season, images of our club's manager and coach began to circulate in public from various places in the city while being together (references in the comments), our patience cup overflowed completely. This situation has turned our legendary Žalgiris into a subject of mockery. The mere fact that the coach is the manager's partner raises questions about whether that is why he is still in this position? This is a bad sign, and in any modern organization, the situation would be resolved. But apparently, when "I am Žalgiris," anything goes. Unfortunately, we cannot tolerate such nepotism.

LEGENDS. This is another theme that has been intensifying since 2022. Due to mysterious circumstances, suddenly Mantas Kuklys (10 years at "Žalgiris") and Saulius Mikoliūnas (9 years at "Žalgiris") emerged. People we saw as legends of the club over the past decades are becoming part of the club's structure and image. And the image is very important, especially when it comes to attracting sponsors. Today they have been pushed far aside and no longer have anything to do with "Žalgiris." Why? It remains unclear to this day. Other prominent team players, such as Algis Jankauskas – is working with the "Kauno Žalgiris" coaching staff, Andrius Skerla – with "Hegelmann," and Deividas Šemberas has long become unwanted. We bought the stadium, but whose pictures will we hang on the wall to inspire the younger generation?

ŽALGIRIS YOUTH. The national team captain of 2024 is returning to play in Lithuania and during an interview says: "If I'm returning to Lithuania, it's only to "Kauno Žalgiris." This phrase was mentioned in our director's podcast "Skrieja kamuolys." Her response was simple: "It's normal for him to say that since he hasn't grown up in the "Žalgiris" system." Yes, the fact presented is correct. However, come February 2025, and a Vilnius-born player, raised in the "Žalgiris" academy, who has already debuted in the men's team – Romualdas Jansonas – transfers to "Kauno Žalgiris." Not only does he transfer, but he also successfully scores goals there. We do not know the progression of negotiations or circumstances, but we believe there should be ways for our youth to play for us. Especially since the manager talks so often about the academy, green blood, etc. Moreover, this player has already shown signs that he can establish himself in men's football.

LITHUANIAN PLAYERS. After the match on Saturday, during a "discussion" our club's management was asked: "Why are there not more experienced Lithuanians in the team?" A simple answer rang out: "We had a whole roster of Lithuanians – we lost the championship." We will not delve into the details of why that championship was lost, but it is easy to say that the team does not need Lithuanians. The reality is that after the 2023 season, Lithuanian players do not really look towards "Žalgiris." Moreover, good conditions are already being offered by other local teams. Since 2023, a contract has been signed with the only Giedrius Matulevičius, who chose a coach he has already played for. And even the previous stint with "Hegelmann" was not very bright. It is natural that players communicate with each other, and feedback about our organization is definitely not the best. The latest example is Rokas Lekiatas, who arrived at "Kauno Žalgiris," although we would greatly need a reliable starting lineup Lithuanian due to the 3 Lithuanian rule.

PLAYER SALES. This direction of the club also seems to have been forgotten. When "Kauno Žalgiris" sold 4 players in recent years (including 2 Lithuanians), our last noticeable sale was only Djibril Diaw. We cannot call Fabiano Ourego a sale, as the person literally fled the team. We understand that selling players from Lithuania is not easy, but gradually those cases are increasing. Unfortunately, not in our club. And when it comes to the academy, there is no mention that the vision includes the goal not only to nurture starting players but also to help the club earn money from player sales.

SPONSORS. The situation here is stable. However, stability is not always a good sign. Even after the 2022 European season, no breakthroughs have been recorded in this area. The club has reached the group stage of the Conference League, and in autumn the interest was at its peak, but no new prominent names have appeared among sponsors. We simply have a few sponsors, from whom a certain amount of money is consistently gathered. It does not seem that anyone is focusing on this strongly. Yes, we can talk about how uninteresting football is for business and so on. But opening the sponsorship lists of Telšiai "Džiugas" or FA "Šiauliai" – it does not seem so. Furthermore, publicly available documents clearly show that most of those sponsors contribute with real finances, not barter as in our club. Let’s agree that these are not teams from capital-sized cities. The conclusion is simple – when there’s a will, anything is possible. Unless sponsors refuse to join for certain "personal reasons."

STRUCTURE. Here everything is more than simple – we have neither a sports director, nor a scout, nor a strength and conditioning coach. Consequently, before a season for which the public objective is the Champions League group stage, we are supplemented by a group of players:
Youla (Sweden's 3rd league);
Salcinovic (Sweden's 3rd league);
Chol (MLS 2 league);
Devens (A league, 10th team);
Abiam (average Nigerian league team);
Basila (bottom team of Belgium's 2nd league. Hasn't played since April 2024);
Tavares (Latvian league, 3rd place team);
Hadji (Armenian league, 8th place team);
Ofori (Danish league, 10th team with a total of 26 minutes played this season).
"Solid."

TITLES. The club manager's favorite argument. Of course, we are extremely happy with every title won. However, let’s admit that the current competition in Lithuania is significantly different from that in the last decade. Previously, just the support from self-government would constitute a sum sufficient to exceed the accumulated budgets of 3-4 other teams. Let’s add bonuses for performances in Europe.

The achievements of the last 8 years are no longer so impressive: the league has been won 4 times, the cup – only 3. It is clear that with the change in the competitive environment and financial capabilities, winning everything is no longer so easy. Nevertheless, the club's budget has been the largest all these years. So perhaps with such a budget, everything could have been done better, and even more could have been achieved?

In football podcasts, various expert opinions have been heard. There has also been the narrative "it was always like this, and only when results are bad do questions begin to be raised." With this text, we want to emphasize that parallel to the poor results, many other things were happening that did not embellish our club and its historic name. And regarding "a handful there, a handful here, came and complained" – one "handful" saved this club, and without them, it simply wouldn’t exist. And that other small handful will stand for their values, for a modern and contemporary Vilnius "Žalgiris," no matter how ridiculous that may seem to someone.

As you can see, there are many problems, and not all are mentioned here. But the most important thing is that "Žalgiris" does not belong to anyone, and no single person is "Žalgiris." Vilnius "Žalgiris" is a legendary club – the symbol of our city, surrounded by its communities. And that "Žalgiris" needs change. Now," wrote the fans.