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As predicted in football circles, last season's 8th place team in the Lithuanian "A Lyga" championship, Vilnius "Žalgiris," will be coached by Igoris Pankratjevas, with Viacheslav Sukristovas as his assistant. Today, this was officially confirmed by the new president of "Žalgiris," Arminas Narbekovas.
"The contract with I. Pankratjevas has not been signed yet, but everything is agreed upon, Igoris has already been confirmed as the head coach of the 'Žalgiris' team," said A. Narbekovas.
Since the beginning of the 2005 season until June 30, I. Pankratjevas coached the footballers of Klaipėda's "Atlantas." Under his leadership, the team from the port city performed quite well and were positioned much higher in the league table than they finished in the final standings. However, after a few unsuccessful matches, I. Pankratjevas decided to resign.
On August 5, I. Pankratjevas became the strategist of the "Kaunas" team. Since then, the team from Kaunas has defeated all opponents in the Lithuanian "A Lyga" championship, except for Panevėžys "Ekranas." I. Pankratjevas left the "Kaunas" club on November 9.
The forty-year-old A. Narbekovas, 41-year-old I. Pankratjevas, and soon to be celebrating his 45th birthday, V. Sukristovas, have all previously played together in the "Žalgiris" team.
