The Lithuanian champion FK „Žalgiris“ team this year will be led by a well-known specialist among Lithuanian football enthusiasts, Vladimiras Čeburinas. A contract was signed for the 2020 season with the coach who has been working in Lithuania for many years, originally from Kazakhstan, with the possibility of extending the contract. 55-year-old V. Čeburinas arrived in Lithuania in 2014 and became a vice champion with the modest Pakruojis team „Kruoja“. In 2016, the coach moved to Marijampolė's „Sūduva“ team. With „Sūduva“, he won three A league championship titles in 2017-2019, won the LFF Cup, Supercup twice, and also reached the UEFA Europa League playoffs fourth round for three consecutive seasons. For these achievements, V. Čeburinas was named the best coach of the year in Lithuania three times. The head coach position of „Žalgiris“ became vacant in the middle of last December when Aliaksejus Baga left the team. According to the club's manager Vilma Venslovaitienė, one of the main criteria in the search for a new strategist was accumulated experience. Intense negotiations took place with several specialists from different countries during a three-week selection process, and V. Čeburinas was chosen from among them. „The results of this coach speak for themselves in Lithuania, not only in the A league but also in UEFA tournaments. Also, his advantage is that he knows „Žalgiris“ and the whole A league championship, Lithuanian players very well, so we will be able to start productive work towards the highest goals from the first days this season. Appointing a new coach will allow us to activate the team's composition in the near future, to coordinate the preseason plan,“ said V. Venslovaitienė. V. Čeburinas himself was pleased to return to Lithuania after a year-long break and continue his coaching career in the ranks of Lithuanian champions. „In recent years, my plans have been adjusted due to the pandemic, but at the same time, I had the opportunity to spend more time with my family, which is very important to me, and recently I received an offer from „Žalgiris“. We talked to the club management and agreed to work together. I am very pleased that we were able to reach an agreement with „Žalgiris“. It is a club with deep traditions and high goals, with a good team spirit. I hope to add something new to what already exists in this team and preserve that winning spirit,“ said the coach. The name of V. Čeburinas was associated with a specific style of football for many football fans, but the coach assured that he will start his work at „Žalgiris“ from a new page. „Yes, I agree that a certain style of play was for „Kruoja“, a certain one for the „Sūduva“ team. But a new history awaits here. I don't think many changes will be needed - more improvement, adding something new, both in defense and offense. Anyway, the most important thing is not the style, but properly preparing the team and achieving results with it,“ emphasized the strategist. The first official matches of the new season are scheduled for February 27-28. In the matches for the LFF Supercup, A league champions „Žalgiris“ will face the cup winner „Panevėžys“.
