FK Atlantas was a Lithuanian football team from the port city of Klaipėda.

FK Atlantas
Full nameFootball Club Atlantas
Founded1962; 62 years ago (1962)
Dissolved2020; 4 years ago (2020)
GroundCentral Stadium of Klaipėda
Capacity4,428
ChairmanVidas Adomaitis
ManagerVacant
LeagueN/A
20204th 2 Lyga (Western Zone)
WebsiteClub website

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 edit

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 edit

  • 1962 – Granitas Klaipėda
  • 1970 – Atlantas Klaipėda
  • 1996 – FK Atlantas Klaipėda

Honours edit

Domestic edit

Soviet Championship

  • Lithuanian SSR Championship
    • Champions (4): 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984
  • Soviet Second League
    • Winners (2): 1964, 1985
  • Lithuanian SSR Cup
    • Winners (4): 1977, 1981, 1983, 1986

Other tournaments edit

Stadium edit

 
Klaipėdos centrinis stadionas

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 edit

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

Crest and colours edit

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.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Traditional kit
Home
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Traditional kit
Away
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Traditional kit
Away
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2007/2008; 2015 (Away)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Puma
2017 (Home)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Puma
2017 (Away)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goalkeeper`s kit 2018

Kit manufacturers edit

Season-by-season edit

  Lithuania
Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L Goals Top Scorer Cup Europe
1999 1st 3 18 9 6 3 34–24
2000 1st 3 36 21 4 11 70–45
2001 1st 2 36 19 12 5 66–29
2002 1st 2 32 20 7 5 58–23
2003 1st 5 28 9 6 13 27–30
2004 1st 3 28 15 5 8 36–29
2005 1st 7 36 11 8 17 40–52
2006 1st 6 36 14 10 12 46–41
2007 1st 6 36 13 6 17 54–45
2008 1st 6 28 7 7 14 31–44
2009 3rd 1 20 18 2 0 101–11 Gintas Podelis
2010 2nd 7 27 9 6 12 35–33 Žilvinas Kymantas
2011 1st 11 33 3 2 28 28–121 Karolis Laukžemis
2012 1st 8 36 7 6 23 33–92 Tino Lagator
2013 1st 2 32 22 5 5 64–23 Evaldas Razulis
2014 1st 3 36 19 8 9 76–36 Evaldas Razulis
2015 1st 3 36 21 7 8 65–34 Andrey Panyukov
2016 1st 4 33 16 8 9 42–32 Maksim Maksimov
2017 1st 5 33 8 12 13 39–43 Andrey Panyukov
2018 1st 6 33 6 6 21 28–75
2019 1st 6 33 7 5 21 30–78

Current squad edit

As of 20 April 2020[11]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   LTU Lukas Paukštė
4 DF   LTU Tautvydas Špiegis
5 DF   LTU Marius Činikas
6 DF   LTU Andrius Bartkus
7 FW   BDI Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana
8 MF   LTU Vytautas Lukša
9 FW   LTU Tadas Labukas
10 FW   LTU Darvydas Šernas
12 GK   BUL Stefano Kunchev
13 MF   LTU Vilius Armanavičius
14 DF   LTU Jonas Latakas
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF   CRO Damir Žutić
19 MF   CRO Jurica Kovačić
20 FW   LVA Deivids Dobrecovs
22 MF   LVA Ņikita Juhņevičs
23 MF   LTU Titas Vitukynas
24 MF   LTU Justas Vainikaitis
27 MF   BUL Dimitar Petkov
28 DF   LTU Tomas Gvazdinskas
44 MF   NGA Akinjide Idowu
77 MF   CRO Mateo Dunić

Notable and famous players edit

FK Atlantas players who have either appeared for their respective national team at any time or received an individual award while at the club.

European Cups history edit

Season Competition Round Club 1st Leg 2nd Leg Aggregate
2000 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R   Kocaelispor 1–0 0–1 1–1 (5–3 p)  
2R   Bradford City 1–4 1–3 2–7  
2001–02 UEFA Cup QR   Rapid București 0–4 0–8 0–12  
2002–03 UEFA Cup QR   Litex Lovech 0–5 1–3 1–8  
2003–04 UEFA Cup QR   Dyskobolia Grodzisk 0–2 1–4 1–6  
2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R   Spartak Moscow 1–0 0–2 1–2  
2005–06 UEFA Cup 1Q   Rhyl 3–2 1–2 4–4 (a)  
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 1Q   FC Differdange 03 0–1 3–1 3–2  
2Q   Shakhter Karagandy 0–0 0–3 0–3  
2015–16 UEFA Europa League 1Q   Beroe Stara Zagora 0–2 1–3 1–5  
2016–17 UEFA Europa League 1Q   HJK 0–2 1–1 1–3  
2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1Q   Kairat 0–6 1–2 1–8  

Staff edit

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

Managers edit

References edit

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

External links edit