Renowned Lithuanian football player and coach Benjaminas Zelkevičius has passed away at the age of 81, the Lithuanian Football Federation has announced.
Born on February 6, 1944, in Kaunas, Zelkevičius began his playing career with Inkars Kaunas and also represented Shakhtar Donetsk. However, the majority of his career was spent with Žalgiris Vilnius, where he made 331 appearances as a forward, scoring 50 goals. During his playing days, he was named Lithuanian Footballer of the Year twice, cementing his status as one of the country’s finest players.
After retiring from playing, Zelkevičius embarked on an illustrious coaching career that spanned nearly four decades. He served as head coach of the Lithuanian national team on three separate occasions and worked with clubs in Russia, Austria, and Latvia. He also enjoyed multiple spells as head coach of Žalgiris Vilnius, becoming one of the most influential figures in the club’s history.
During his four seasons in Latvia as head coach of FK Liepājas Metalurgs (2004–2007), Zelkevičius led the club to the Latvian Virslīga title in 2005, ending Skonto Riga’s 13-year dominance of Latvian football. It marked the first time during that era that a club other than Skonto had won the league championship.
From 2015, Zelkevičius served as Chairman of the Lithuanian Football Coaches’ Council, and in 2020, delegates at the LFF Conference unanimously voted to award him the title of Honorary President of the Lithuanian Football Federation.
In recognition of his outstanding sporting and managerial achievements, as well as his profound contribution to Lithuanian football, Benjaminas Zelkevičius was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas in 2024, one of Lithuania’s highest state honors.
Zelkevičius leaves behind a lasting legacy as a player, coach, mentor, and leader who shaped generations of Lithuanian football.
