FK Žalgiris Vilnius have appointed one of Lithuania’s most prominent football specialists, Andrius Skerla, as the new head coach of its men’s team. The move marks a symbolic return, as Skerla comes back to his hometown and the very first club of his player career.
A significant portion of Skerla’s professional journey has been related to Žalgiris. This will be his fourth time representing the club. The Vilnius native both began and concluded his playing career in the green-and-white jersey, and later spent several seasons as part of the coaching staff.
“Andrius knows our city, the club, its history, and the high standards we set. We believe his experience and authority will help the team return to where Žalgiris belongs,” said club director Mindaugas Kasperūnas.
For Skerla, the return carries personal meaning: “Vilnius is my city. This is where I was born, where my family lives. Coming back to Vilnius always feels special. The opportunity to coach this legendary club is a dream for any coach in Lithuania,” he said.
Currently 48, Skerla has also been serving as head coach of Lithuania’s U-21 national team since the beginning of 2026. An agreement between FK Žalgiris and the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) allows him to continue in that role until the end of the year.
“We understand this is a major challenge, but Andrius expressed a strong desire to take on this role and return to daily coaching work. We trust him and have found a solution that works for all sides,” said LFF president Edgaras Stankevičius. “His daily work at club level will also benefit the U-21 national team.”
FK Žalgiris president Andrius Tapinas highlighted the mutual enthusiasm behind the appointment: “Žalgiris truly wanted to work with Andrius Skerla and Andrius wanted to work with Žalgiris even more. This cooperation between club and federation will only strengthen Lithuanian football.”
Skerla began his head coaching career with FC Hegelmann, where he led the team to three Lithuanian Cup finals and secured two runner-up finishes in the national championship. In 2024, he was named the best coach of the A Lyga season.
As a player, Skerla earned 84 caps for the Lithuanian national team and enjoyed a notable international career, including a spell at Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, where he worked under renowned coaches such as Dick Advocaat, Bobby Robson, and Eric Gerets, and won the Dutch championship. He also played in Scotland, Poland, and other countries.
Skerla began his playing career in Vilnius and won the Lithuanian Cup with Žalgiris in 1997, repeating the achievement upon his return in 2012. In his final season, the experienced defender helped the club reclaim the national title after a 14-year gap.
Between 2014 and 2017, he served as an assistant coach with the first team and worked with the reserve squad. During that period, Žalgiris won three league titles, four domestic cups, and four Super Cups.
Following his departure, Skerla worked with Lithuania’s youth and senior national teams before joining FC Hegelmann in 2021.
This season, FK Žalgiris was coached by Rolandas Džiaukštas, with Nerijus Mačiulis stepping in as interim manager after his departure.
Pending final formalities, Skerla is expected to make his debut as head coach on Friday, April 17, in a match against Banga Gargždai.
Source: https://fkzalgiris.lt/zalgirio-komandos-vaira-perims-i-vilniu-griztantis-a-skerla/?
