Mankowski outlines vision for Žalgiris after taking on sporting director role

New Žalgiris sporting director Grzegorz Mańkowski says his immediate priority is planning the squad changes ahead of the 2027 season, with a number of player contracts due to expire. The club has begun initial negotiations and individual meetings as it considers departures and potential signings.

Mańkowski said talks with the Vilnius club began in September. After meeting club officials during a Lithuania-Croatia youth international, he was invited to present a plan for building a stronger team. The proposal was accepted, and he joined after further discussions.

He brings experience from scouting roles in England, including work at Aston Villa, where he identified players for the under-23 side and, in part, the first team. At Jagiellonia, he helped establish the scouting department, became chief scout in 2022 and took charge of player recruitment at the start of this season.

Before officially joining Žalgiris, Mańkowski presented the club with a list of 120 potential recruits. He said the search was focused on players who could improve the current squad, but added that negotiations with players and their clubs would be needed, particularly where contracts remain in force.

Two scouts from Jagiellonia have joined him. Piotr Rutkowski will lead and coordinate the scouting department, while Piotr Sidorowicz will focus on detailed player analysis. The club also plans to recruit local specialists to watch matches and report on promising players in Lithuania.

Mańkowski said developing young players would remain central to his work, with opportunities for academy graduates dependent on earning their place. He added that the club would need to accept some mistakes as part of their development.

Season tickets for Žalgiris’ 2027 campaign are now on sale.

Source: fkzalgiris.lt