A seismic shift has struck Lithuanian association football as long-time FK Žalgiris director Vilma Venslovaitienė announced her resignation from the reigning Lithuanian champions today, bringing an abrupt end to a 16‑year tenure marked by unprecedented success and recent internal turmoil.
In a statement distributed to the media, Venslovaitienė outlined her reasons for stepping down, citing a desire to de‑escalate growing tensions both within the club and surrounding her role. “I inform you that in order to avoid further escalation regarding FK Žalgiris and myself, I have made the decision to resign from my positions as director and board member of both the public enterprise football club Žalgiris and its academy. I communicated this decision today to the club’s stakeholders and board,” she wrote.
Venslovaitienė, who dedicated nearly two decades of her life to the green‑and‑white institution, expressed pride in the club’s evolution under her stewardship. “I lived entirely to the rhythm of Žalgiris for the last 16 years, devoting all of my time to the club without counting the hours. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together: since 2010, Žalgiris has won 8 A Lyga championships, 9 LFF Cups, and 8 LFF Super Cups – a total of 25 trophies in 16 years. That is a historic achievement for all of us.”
She also highlighted the club’s transformation into a full‑fledged sporting institution, including the acquisition of its own football academy to develop the next generation of Žalgiris talent. Alongside reflections on sporting milestones, Venslovaitienė extended thanks to the leadership of the City of Vilnius, expressing particular gratitude to former mayor Vilius Navickas. She credited him with sparking a “Christmas miracle” in 2009 by backing the club’s revival during a period when finances were scarce but moral support proved decisive.
In a poignant message to the current team and staff, she urged strength and unity in the face of adversity. “To the team – I believe in you and in your coach. Be strong and learn from this situation. Many of you are future coaches yourselves. Today, I wish for you to remain ambitious fighters for the truth – to me, you were always the best.”
She closed her address with heartfelt appreciation to the club’s office staff for their professionalism, dedication, and teamwork across years filled with both triumphs and tribulations. “Today I say to you all – thank you for the lessons,” she concluded.
Her resignation comes in the wake of a major scandal triggered by the release of a previously unseen document. On August 6, devoted Žalgiris fan group “Pietų IV” published a letter from club shareholder Eleonora Kasperūnienė, unveiling allegations that a 2010 agreement—initially thought null—had been revived by Venslovaitienė in 2025 to claim transfer of one of Kasperūnienė’s ownership shares. Kasperūnienė insisted that the contract had never taken effect, no money had changed hands, and no proper agreement or modern institutional formalities were respected: “the document doesn’t reflect today’s reality – it uses old‑format Lithuanian currency, invalid addresses, and an outdated legal name,” she wrote .
Fan outrage quickly followed. The community voiced its discontent under the rallying cry “Vilma Out,” denouncing what they viewed as an act of fraud and demanding accountability. As one statement openly declared, “Žalgiris isn’t Vilma—and Vilma isn’t Žalgiris… our club cannot tolerate those who resort to deceit to usurp power” .
At the time, Žalgiris’ ownership was distributed among 14 shares: Venslovaitienė held 4, Mindaugas Nikoličius had 3, the Vilnius city municipality and entities tied to Oleg Radionov each had 2, while Mindaugas Kasperūnas, his wife Eleonora, and Vytautas Čepas each held 1 share .
This explosive combination of alleged misconduct and fan-led backlash appears to have precipitated Venslovaitienė’s swift exit. As the dust settles, FK Žalgiris now faces the challenge of restoring legitimacy, healing communal rifts, and navigating a leadership transition—all while striving to uphold its on-field ambitions.
Source: https://www.15min.lt/m/id/sportas/futbolas/eros-pabaiga-vilma-venslovaitiene-traukiasi-is-vilniaus-zalgirio-24-2502662
https://www.15min.lt/m/id/sportas/futbolas/zalgirio-fanai-paviesino-skandalinga-dokumenta-ir-reikalauja-venslovaitienes-pasitraukimo-24-2501406
