FK Riteriai is a Lithuanian football club based in Vilnius, Lithuania. The club has been a regular competitor in the A Lyga, Lithuania’s top football division, and has gained recognition for its participation in European competitions over the years.
History & Achievements
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Founded: 2005 (originally as FK Trakai, rebranded to FK Riteriai in 2019).
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League Performance: A consistent team in A Lyga since 2014.
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Club Identity: Known for developing young players and competing for European qualification spots.
Trophies & Honours
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A Lyga Runners-up 🥈 (2015, 2016, 2017) – Strong league finishes behind Lithuania’s dominant clubs.
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Lithuanian Cup Finalists 🏆 (2016, 2018) – Came close to winning domestic silverware.
Best Performances
Domestic Success
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Three consecutive 2nd-place finishes (2015-2017) – One of the club’s strongest periods in A Lyga.
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Regular European qualification – Finished in top positions often enough to secure UEFA tournament spots.
European Competitions
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First European Qualification (2015-16 UEFA Europa League) – Competed in European football for the first time.
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Best European Run: Reached the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League (2017-18).
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Notable Wins: Defeated St Johnstone (Scotland) in the Europa League qualifiers.
Notable Players & Coaches
Key Players
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Justas Lasickas – A talented Lithuanian international.
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Donatas Kazlauskas – One of the team’s most technical players.
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Bogdan Vaštšuk – A key midfielder during the club’s European campaigns.
Notable Coaches
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Oleg Vasilenko – Helped establish the club as a competitive force.
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Francisco Javier Martín – One of the more recent coaches focused on player development.
Current Status
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Recent Performance: Mid-table A Lyga team, no longer a consistent title challenger.
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2024 Season Goals: Aiming for a return to the top four and potential European qualification.
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Challenges: Competing with bigger clubs like Žalgiris Vilnius and FK Kauno Žalgiris.
Stadium – LFF Stadium
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Name: LFF Stadium
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Capacity: 5,067 spectators
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Location: Vilnius, Lithuania
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Surface: Artificial Turf
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Shared With: Lithuanian national team and FK Žalgiris.
FK Riteriai is a respected Lithuanian club, known for its European performances and strong finishes in the A Lyga during the mid-2010s. While they have struggled to maintain title-contending form, they remain an important club in Lithuanian football, focusing on developing young talent and returning to European competitions. Their LFF Stadium remains a key venue in Lithuanian football.
pic: transfermarkt
