FK Panevėžys

Futbolo klubas Panevėžys is a professional football club based in Panevėžys, Lithuania. The club was established at the beginning of the 2015 season to fill the void left by one of the most successful clubs in the city, FK Ekranas, which had won the Lithuanian league seven times but lost its eligibility to compete in the A Lyga due to financial issues.

After three unsuccessful years in Lithuanian football’s second division, the team appointed Moldovan manager Alexandru Curtianu before the 2018 season. Under his leadership, FK Panevėžys achieved a historic milestone by winning the second division for the first time and securing promotion to the A Lyga.

In their inaugural season in the A Lyga, Panevėžys finished in a commendable fifth place. The following year, under new coach Joao Luis Martins, they achieved their first major success by winning the Lithuanian Cup in 2020, defeating FK Sūduva in a penalty shootout.

Panevėžys consistently performed well in subsequent seasons, finishing no lower than fifth and earning a spot in European competitions yearly. Their standout year came in 2023 when they won their first-ever A Lyga title. It was an impressive campaign, with the team losing only one league match throughout the season, which earned them their first trip to the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.

However, after winning the league in 2023, the team struggled to replicate that success in the 2024 season. They fell short of reaching the UEFA Conference League Phase and spent much of the season battling to avoid relegation. Fortunately, in the final matchdays, they secured their status in the A Lyga, finishing in eighth place for the 2024 season.

In 2025, under the leadership of German coach Roland Vrabec, the club finished 6th, struggling mid-table for most of the season but managed to win the Lithuanian Cup in a 1-0 final against Hegelmann.