After a disappointing season, FK Panevezys announced that they had parted ways with Belgian specialist Stijn Vreven, but now, a month later, they have found a replacement — German specialist Roland Vrabec has been appointed as the new manager of FK Panevezys. He has signed a contract that will last until the end of the 2025 season.
The 50-year-old manager began coaching in his hometown of Frankfurt. He managed the under-17 and under-19 teams at FSV Frankfurt for several years. He then served as a youth manager and chief scout within the MSV Mainz 05 organization.
Vrabec’s first significant breakthrough came in 2013 when he was named caretaker manager for St. Pauli, a team in the 2. Bundesliga. During his time as caretaker, he won four out of six matches, earning him a contract. However, after a poor start to the following season, he was released from his position.
Since then, Vrabec has managed various clubs across Europe, including FC Vaduz, with whom he won two Liechtenstein Cup titles; the Luxembourg side Progres Niederkorn; Danish club Esbjerg fB; Greifswalder FC in Germany; and most recently, another Luxembourg team, Swift Hesperange.
Vrabec also previously visited Lithuania in 2018, when he managed FC Vaduz; they were drawn against Vilnius Žalgiris in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round. Vaduz lost in Vilnius 0:1. A week later, they played a draw, and on aggregate, Vaduz lost – 1:2 and were eliminated from the competition.