Lithuanian champions Kauno Žalgiris have appointed experienced Croatian coach Željko Sopic as their new head coach, replacing Eivinas Černiauskas, who had been in charge for the past year and a half.
The 51-year-old arrives in Kaunas with an extensive coaching résumé across several European leagues, having previously managed clubs in Croatia, Azerbaijan and Poland, while also working in the United Arab Emirates. Before moving into coaching, Sopic enjoyed a professional playing career in Croatia, Israel and Germany, featuring for several clubs, including Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach.
After retiring as a player with Lokomotiva Zagreb in 2011, he immediately joined the club’s coaching staff before taking his first senior managerial role at Rudeš in 2014.
He later spent several years within Dinamo Zagreb’s academy system, coaching the reserve side before briefly taking charge of the Croatian giants’ first team. During his time with Dinamo he also managed the club in a UEFA Champions League group-stage fixture.
In 2019 Sopić moved to the United Arab Emirates to work with Al Ain before returning to Europe, where he took charge of Sabah in Azerbaijan and later Gorica in the Croatian top flight.
His biggest success came during the 2023/24 season with Rijeka, guiding the club to a runners-up finish in the Croatian league while also leading them to the Croatian Cup final. At the beginning of 2025, Sopić became head coach of Polish Ekstraklasa side Widzew Lodz before later returning to Croatia to manage Osijek.
“This coach has worked at strong clubs and in competitive leagues, coached high-level footballers and possesses extensive experience. His teams have always played intensive, aggressive attacking football, and these were exactly the qualities we were looking for because his football philosophy matches the identity of our club,” Kauno Žalgiris sporting director Darius Šinkūnas said following the appointment.
Alongside Sopic, analyst Josip Paušic and fitness coach Ivan Čukovic, who have previously worked with the Croatian coach, will also join the Kauno Žalgiris coaching staff. Čukovic replaces Rimantas Česnulis, who has departed the club.
The remainder of the coaching staff will stay unchanged, with assistant coach Algis Jankauskas, goalkeeping coach Audrius Ramonas and analyst Rokas Pranaitis all remaining with the Lithuanian champions.
Source: https://zalgiris.lt/naujienos/fk-kauno-zalgirio-vaira-perima-strategas-is-kroatijos
