Žalgiris Parts Ways with Key Figure as Club Faces Uncertain future
Vilnius, Lithuania – Vilnius Žalgiris has seen a meaningful shift in leadership with the departure of Vladimir Cheburin, a figure closely linked to former club manager vilma Venslovaitienė.The move comes amid a challenging season for the defending A League champions, who currently hold fifth place-a position that excludes them from international competition next season.
Žalgiris experienced a sluggish start to the season, briefly falling to seventh place in the ten-team league. While the team has climbed to fifth, failing to secure a higher ranking carries substantial consequences, jeopardizing their participation in upcoming UEFA tournaments. Fan dissatisfaction has centered on team composition decisions, for which both Venslovaitienė and Cheburin bore responsibility.
A widely discussed, though unconfirmed, close relationship between venslovaitienė and cheburin had drawn scrutiny from supporters, alongside concerns about the Kazakhstan coach’s frequent press conference appearances. Venslovaitienė stepped down from her managerial role weeks ago, and Mindaugas Kasperūnas was appointed as the new club director one week later.
Despite no longer serving as manager, Venslovaitienė remains a shareholder in Žalgiris and continues in a management capacity at the Žalgiris stadium.
