FK Atlantas explained

Clubname:FK Atlantas
Fullname:Football Club Atlantas
Ground:Central Stadium of Klaipėda
Capacity:4,428
Chairman:Vidas Adomaitis
Manager:Vacant
League:N/A
Season:2020
Position:4th 2 Lyga (Western Zone)
Leftarm1:FECD37
Body1:FECD37
Rightarm1:FECD37
Shorts1:1952CD
Socks1:FECD37
Leftarm2:1952CD
Body2:1952CD
Rightarm2:1952CD
Shorts2:1952CD
Socks2:1952CD
Website:http://www.atlantas.lt/ (now defunct)

FK Atlantas was a Lithuanian professional football club based in the port city of Klaipėda.

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 was absorbed into the club, it has had the name Atlantas, which in Lithuanian language 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 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. 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.[1] Club owners thought about all chances to save club from dissvolvement.[2] 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.[3]

In January 2019, about the club situation known, that they lost sponsorship from business and Klaipėda city municipality and that means, that the club soon would defunct.[4]

In February 2019, the club changed owners. The new chief was Vidas Adomaitis.[5] [6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

Name history

Honours

Domestic

Soviet Championship

Other tournaments

Stadium

Central Stadium of Klaipėda is a multi-purpose stadium in Klaipėda, Lithuania. It is currently used mostly for football matches by FK Atlantas competing in A Lyga. In the past the stadium had a capacity of 9,000 and now holds only 5,000.

Sometimes (in early spring or late autumn, or winter) plays in alternative stadium Klaipėdos miesto centrinio stadiono dirbtinės dangos aikštė.[9] That is artificial pavement ground nearby Central Stadium.

Supporters

FK Atlantas supporters are called Vakarų Frontas.FK Atlantas supporters maintain friendly relations with fans of Žalgiris Vilnius and Rangers FC.

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

Season-by-season

Lithuania
SeasonDiv.Pos.Pl.WDLGoalsTop ScorerCupEurope
19991st31896334–24
20001st3362141170–45
20011st2361912566–29
20021st232207558–23
20031st528961327–30
20041st328155836–29
20051st7361181740–52
20061st63614101246–41
20071st6361361754–45
20081st628771431–44
20093rd1201820101–11Gintas Podelis
20102nd727961235–33Žilvinas Kymantas
20111st1133322828–121Karolis Laukžemis
20121st836762333–92Tino Lagator
20131st232225564–23Evaldas Razulis
20141st336198976–36Evaldas Razulis
20151st336217865–34Andrey Panyukov
20161st433168942–32Maksim Maksimov
20171st5338121339–43Andrey Panyukov
20181st633662128–75
20191st633752130–78

Current squad

[11]

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
Europe
South America
Africa
Asia

European Cups history

SeasonCompetitionRoundClub1st Leg2nd LegAggregate
2000UEFA Intertoto Cup1R Kocaelispor1–00–11–1 (5–3 p)
2R Bradford City1–41–32–7
2001–02UEFA CupQR Rapid București0–40–80–12
2002–03UEFA CupQR Litex Lovech0–51–31–8
2003–04UEFA CupQR Dyskobolia Grodzisk0–21–41–6
2004UEFA Intertoto Cup1R Spartak Moscow1–00–21–2
2005–06UEFA Cup1Q Rhyl3–21–24–4 (a)
2014–15UEFA Europa League1Q FC Differdange 030–13–13–2
2Q Shakhter Karagandy0–00–30–3
2015–16UEFA Europa League1Q Beroe Stara Zagora0–21–31–5
2016–17UEFA Europa League1Q HJK0–21–11–3
2017–18UEFA Europa League1Q Kairat0–61–21–8

Staff

PositionName
President Vidas Adomaitis
Director (?)
Director of Football Arnas Lekevičius
Head coach Viktors Dobrecovs
Assistant coach
Assistant coach

Managers

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A lyga siekia padėti "Atlantui" | A Lyga | Aukščiausia Lietuvos futbolo lyga.
  2. Web site: V. Lekevičius: "Buvo minčių uždaryti klubą, bet kas tuomet?" | A Lyga | Aukščiausia Lietuvos futbolo lyga.
  3. Web site: Stumbras - Atlantas | A Lyga | Aukščiausia Lietuvos futbolo lyga.
  4. Web site: "Atlantas" pasiekė aklavietę: Nuo klubo nusisuka ir rėmėjai, ir savivaldybė. 22 January 2019.
  5. Web site: "Atlanto" gelbėtojas purtosi ir Pukelio, ir Buzo, o Lekevičiui paliktų nebent garbės regalijas.
  6. Web site: Klaipėdos "Atlantas" turės jaunąją pamainą. 7 February 2019.
  7. Web site: FK "Atlantas" ir FK "Palanga" dėl manipuliavimo rezultatais yra šalinami iš A lygos. LFF. 5 December 2019. 19 February 2020.
  8. Web site: II lyga Vakarų zona 2020 1-6 vietos - Lietuvos Futbolas.
  9. Web site: Klaipėdos "Atlantas" | A Lyga | Aukščiausia Lietuvos futbolo lyga.
  10. Web site: "Atlantas" stiprina vartininkų pozicijas . FK Atlantas . 22 February 2017 . Lithuanian . 22 February 2017.
  11. Web site: Komanda. FK Atlantas. 4 March 2017. Lithuanian.