by Mantas Aliukonis
“Time heals all wounds,” says the proverb — but not in this case. For Andrius Markevičius, the head of Jonava’s Be1 club, the memory of what he calls a great injustice still lingers: a referee’s decision that, in his words, changed the course of his young team’s future.
“Our team last year had a historic chance,” he recalled. “We were the youngest side in the history of the Pirma Lyga [Lithuania’s second tier] that could realistically reach the A Lyga and play there. What happened to us was wrong — and from injustice no justice can arise.”
Speaking with the Be1 founder and Pirma Lyga board chairman is always illuminating — his reflections on transfers, player development, and the game’s governance are rarely cautious. Amid a packed schedule, Markevičius again made time to talk — not only about football and Be1 NFA’s triumph in the Lithuanian U18 Elite League, but also to reveal the behind-the-scenes story of last winter’s failed merger with FK Riteriai.
Andrius Markevičius has become one of the more outspoken figures in Lithuanian football — respected for his independent judgment and unfiltered critique of the system’s shortcomings. Known for blending administrative insight with grassroots experience, he remains a key advocate of a self-sustaining football model rooted in local academies rather than quick-fix solutions.
Building from youth success
In June, Be1 NFA won the Lithuanian U18 championship, earning a place in the UEFA Youth League. “It was a big step for us as an organization,” Markevičius said. “Our academy is based in Kaunas, but the club is registered in Jonava. Competing internationally gave our players invaluable experience — and motivation.”
Facing Finnish champions HJK, Be1 drew 1–1 in Kaunas before narrowly exiting the competition. “The boys played admirably and gained a lot. These matches helped them grow,” he said. The club received about €35,000 in participation funding, which covered travel costs. “It was a real learning experience — and it showed what level we were up against.”
A risky commitment to youth
Markevičius described Be1’s senior team as “the youngest in the league,” with the oldest player only 21 before the summer window. When the market opened, they brought in several foreign players to add experience.
“Everyone told me we needed an older centre-back — ideally two,” he said. “But I still believed in our youth and stuck to that line.”
After missing promotion, he made another unconventional choice: appointing 28-year-old Edmundas Pukys, fresh from winning the U18 title, as head coach. “It was a risk, but I believe in people. The only way young coaches and players grow is together.”
Soon after, Be1 parted ways with its sporting director and goalkeeping coach. “Edmundas was left almost alone,” Markevičius said. “But he handled it.”
Balancing club and national duties
Pukys also took charge of Lithuania’s U16 national team this year — a dual role that stretched his capacity. “Combining both was difficult,” admitted Markevičius. “That was my decision and perhaps my mistake. Still, I’m proud that two Be1 NFA coaches now work with national youth teams.”
On the field, the mix of youth and experience fluctuated. “Sometimes it’s hard for our players to switch between the League and U18 matches,” he said. “They might lose on penalties one week, then win 7–0 the next.” The summer additions — including midfielder Nikita Pavlovsky from Pafos Academy and returning goalkeeper Ishan — stabilized the team and ensured Pirma Lyga survival.
Coaching change and Polish influence
In May, Pukys was succeeded by 33-year-old Polish coach Mikołaj Raczyński, who had experience in Poland’s lower divisions. “Usually, when a new coach arrives, the previous one leaves — ego and ambition get in the way,” Markevičius said. “But Edmundas stayed as his assistant. That decision showed his loyalty to the club over personal career. It’s rare in football.”
Raczyński’s youth background and strong recommendations convinced the club. “He’s worked in respected academies and has the drive to grow with our organization,” Markevičius said.
The merger that never happened
One of the more intriguing revelations concerned last winter’s talks with Riteriai.
“The main reason the merger failed was financial,” Markevičius said. “People think a club can be bought in a month — but assessing commitments built over 15 years takes time.”
He wanted then-owner Jan Nevoina to stay on during a transition. “My wish was for him to remain for a few years, to hand things over gradually. But Jan wanted to end it immediately,” he explained. “We simply couldn’t align our timing or vision.”
Markevičius confirmed they had discussed purchasing the club in parts, but no agreement was reached. Rumours of Riteriai moving to Jonava, he said, were exaggerated. “Three clubs in one city is unrealistic. Even in Kaunas, three teams are too many. If Be1 one day earns promotion on merit, it would make little sense to have Riteriai representing the same city.”
On Riteriai, finances, and Lithuanian football culture
Asked about Riteriai’s future, Markevičius credited businessman Gintaras Staniulis, whose company sponsored the A Lyga and helped the struggling club finish the season. “It gave them a chance to survive and the young players to keep playing. But who guarantees what happens next? This was a one-time rescue.”
He warned against a culture of dependency. “Too many still think others must ‘give’ them money. That’s a relic of the communist mindset. Go start your own business, sacrifice your time, work 24/7, and then decide who you want to support,” he said.
One of Markevičius’s long-standing critiques concerns the Lithuanian Football Federation’s imported development projects — most notably the now-defunct partnership with Belgium’s Anderlecht academy.
“The idea itself wasn’t bad,” he explained, “but its implementation in Lithuania completely missed the mark. You can’t just copy a foreign model and expect it to work the same way here. It led to wasted time and money because there was no adaptation to our conditions. What we need is a structure built for Lithuania — sustainable, local, and realistic.”
The project, once presented as a flagship reform, ultimately became for him an example of how well-intentioned initiatives can collapse when driven by image rather than substance. “Development has to come from inside, not from borrowed templates,” he added.
UEFA funding and stricter oversight
Markevičius also welcomed tighter financial controls from FIFA and UEFA over solidarity payments. “In the past, clubs could spend the money however they liked. Now every euro must go to youth development — and it’s audited,” he said. “We transfer all solidarity payments directly to our academy to avoid any questions.”
He noted that not all clubs will receive the funds: “Only those meeting the new standards. Many A Lyga and Pirma Lyga clubs won’t qualify this year.”
On refereeing and discipline
The bitterness of that playoff against Sūduva has not faded — and neither has the controversy surrounding referee Robertas Valikonis. After awarding what Be1 considered an unjust 11-meter penalty, Valikonis was quietly absent from A Lyga assignments at the start of the following season, returning only as a fourth official and VAR assistant before regaining full refereeing duties in late April.
“Yes, because of that incident he was suspended from A Lyga at the start of the season,” Markevičius confirmed.
The Be1 director used the case to highlight deeper structural issues. Clubs, he explained, pay into the referee development system to attract and train new officials, but “there are serious problems — from young people’s lack of interest to some referees’ questionable decision-making.” He cited repeated injuries to Be1 players following unpunished fouls as examples of how officiating affects both fairness and safety.
“For a club like ours, every player in the starting lineup matters,” he said. “When key players are sidelined by those mistakes, it’s not just bad luck — it distorts the competition.”
Markevičius added that Be1 and other clubs contribute financially to referee education [around €5,000 annually for Pirma Lyga clubs, and €15,000 for A Lyga sides], while the federation covers match officiating costs. Still, he argued those funds would be better invested in youth development: “I don’t think clubs can’t afford referee expenses. But I believe the money the federation now allocates to cover officiating should go to developing young players instead.”
Looking ahead
With one round left, at the time of the interview, Be1 sits 11th. “A bit lower than expected, but all our goals are met,” Markevičius said. “We won the U18 Elite League, played in the UEFA Youth League, integrated our academy players into senior football, and stayed in the Pirma Lyga. Three goals out of three — that means it was a good season. Next year, stronger and more mature, we’ll aim higher.”
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