Kauno futbolo bendruomenės klubas, commonly known as FBK Kaunas, is a Lithuanian football club from the city of Kaunas.
History
Banga Kaunas 1960-1993
Originally the team was founded in 1960 as Banga Kaunas and played its first three years in the Soviet First League. Afterwards the club decided to play in the Lithuanian SSR Championship and they did so until 1993 when the club was restructured. In that period they won two Lithuanian SSR Championship's. One in 1986 and another in 1989.
FBK Kaunas 1993-2012 success & fall
The club was restructured in 1993, a baseball section added and the name changed to Kauno futbolo beisbolo klubas. The club had in its first years not such a great success and FBK Kaunas had to wait until 1999 before they could lift a trophy again. From 1999 to 2008, Kaunas won 8 championships, 4 Lithuanian cups, 4 super cups and 1 Baltic league title, but in the autumn of 2008 Kaunas dominance was once and for all broken when FK Ekranas won the championship in front of FBK Kaunas. After finishing second in 2008 A Lyga championship the club's president announced that the club were being demoted from the A Lyga in favour of LFF I Lyga, the 2nd tier of Lithuanian football system, but as conflict with LFF intensified, FBK Kaunas was relegated to LFF II lyga (consisting of amateur teams).
FBK Kaunas won II lyga championship in their first year in that division. Despite relegation FBK Kaunas also participated in the new UEFA Europe League as a vice-champ of Lithuania but did not advance past FK Sevojno. Despite drawing both games FBK Kaunas lost on away goals. FBK Kaunas won I Lyga in 2010 and was promoted to the 2011 A Lyga season. The 2011 season was a huge disappointment for Kaunas as they didn't manage to live up to the high expectations and eventually ended at a 10th place.
FBK Kaunas was not granted a 2012 A Lyga license because of financial problems and was due to play in the 2012 1 Lyga. However, due to the clubs increasing financial problems the chairman eventually decided to declare the club bankrupt. An era was over.
Kaunas have played Celtic, Rangers and Liverpool among others in Europa League and Champions League qualifying stages. On 5 August 2008, FBK Kaunas defeated Rangers, 2–1, to advance to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League for the first time. The game was won in dramatic circumstances as Kaunas had to come from behind and finally took the lead just four minutes from time. Linas Pilibaitis was the scorer.
FBK Kaunas was for many years (1993-2012) sponsored by Ūkio bankas, a bank which had Vladimir Romanov as its principal shareholder. In October 2005 Mr Romanov became the majority shareholder of Scottish Premier League side, Heart of Midlothian. Romanov since used Kaunas as a feeder club for Hearts by allowing the SPL side to loan many players, such as Edgaras Jankauskas, Bruno Aguiar, Andrius Velička, Nerijus Barasa, Marius Žaliūkas and Roman Bednář, the latter signing a permanent deal for Hearts on 31 August 2006.
FBK Kaunas 2012 - an new era
Unhappy with the boards decision to close the club, the supporters decided to form a new club in 2012. Kauno futbolo bendruomenės klubas. (Kaunas Football Community Club) FBK Kaunas. They are not playing on the old license as of 2015 but the club is still considered as being the 'old' FBK Kaunas by the fans
FBK Kaunas started the 2012 season at the 4th tier. It was a huge success as Kaunas managed to gain promotion to the 2013 II Lyga. Kaunas spend the next 2 seasons in the II Lyga and was eventually promoted to the 2015 I Lyga season when they won the II Lyga in 2014.
Players
Current squad
As of 31 March 2015. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. |
|
Position |
Player |
| 2 |
 |
DF |
Tadas Klimavičius |
| 3 |
|
DF |
Simoras Savukynas |
| 4 |
|
DF |
Karolis Zobiela |
| 5 |
 |
MF |
Kosha Shirzad |
| 7 |
|
MF |
Edgaras Prieskienis |
| 8 |
|
MF |
Aurimas Zulonas |
| 9 |
|
FW |
Paulius Sirotavičius |
| 10 |
 |
FW |
Josuetl Hernandez |
| 11 |
|
DF |
Marius Žukovas |
| 13 |
|
DF |
Aurimas Lipnevičius |
| 14 |
|
MF |
Justas Vilavičius |
| 15 |
|
DF |
Patrikas Kukta |
| 17 |
|
MF |
Luis Ramirez |
| 19 |
|
MF |
Mindaugas Zlatkus |
| 20 |
|
MF |
Lukas Turauskas |
|
|
| No. |
|
Position |
Player |
| 21 |
|
MF |
Rimvydas Lipnevičius |
| 22 |
|
DF |
Andrius Petraška |
| 23 |
|
DF |
Vitalijus Antonovas |
| 24 |
|
MF |
Kristijonas Gedgaudas |
| 28 |
|
MF |
Aleksas Samuščenko |
| 30 |
|
FW |
Andrius Alekna |
| 33 |
|
GK |
Gytis Vilimavičius |
| 40 |
|
DF |
Tomas Čeliauskas |
| 42 |
|
DF |
Darius Laugalys |
| 45 |
|
FW |
Edgaras Petkevičius |
| 71 |
 |
GK |
Nemanja Bjelan |
| 87 |
|
DF |
Laimonas Vaitekaitis |
| 88 |
|
MF |
Tomas Rakauskas |
| 96 |
|
DF |
Paulius Giedraitis |
| 99 |
|
GK |
Titas Vizgirda |
|
Personal
Honours
Domestic
- A Lyga
- Winners (8): 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007
- Runners-up (2): 2005, 2008
- Lithuanian Cup
- Winners (4): 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008
- Runners-up (2): 1998, 1999
- Lithuanian Super Cup
- Winners (4): 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007
- Runners-up (2): 2003, 2005
- Lithuanian SSR Championship
Continental
Season-by-season
- Lithuania
-
| Season |
Div. |
Pos. |
Pl. |
W |
D |
L |
Goals |
Pts |
Top Scorer |
Cup |
Supercup |
Baltic League |
Europe |
Notes |
| 1991 |
1st |
3 |
14 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
24–10 |
22 |
|
|
Not
contested |
Baltic
League
not
founded
until
2007 |
|
|
| 1991/92 |
1st |
4 |
25 |
11 |
10 |
4 |
26–15 |
32 |
|
|
|
|
| 1992/93 |
1st |
5 |
27 |
11 |
5 |
11 |
36–29 |
27 |
|
|
|
|
| 1993–94 |
1st |
5 |
22 |
12 |
4 |
6 |
31–18 |
28 |
|
|
|
|
| 1994–95 |
1st |
6 |
22 |
8 |
8 |
6 |
25–22 |
24 |
|
1/4 |
dnq |
|
|
| 1995–96 |
1st |
4 |
28 |
14 |
3 |
11 |
33–15 |
31 |
|
1/4 |
Not contested |
|
|
| 1996–97 |
1st |
4 |
28 |
15 |
5 |
11 |
48–35 |
41 |
|
1/2 |
dnq |
IC |
Group stage |
| 1997–98 |
1st |
5 |
30 |
18 |
4 |
8 |
63–19 |
58 |
Trakys |
Final |
Not
contested |
IC |
Group stage |
| 1998–99 |
1st |
3 |
23 |
18 |
3 |
2 |
57–14 |
57 |
Trakys |
Final |
|
|
| 1999 |
1st |
1 |
18 |
12 |
5 |
1 |
36–10 |
41 |
Kšanavičius |
1/4 |
UC |
1st Qualifying round |
| 2000 |
1st |
1 |
36 |
26 |
8 |
2 |
115–24 |
86 |
Velička |
1/2 |
CL |
2nd qualifying round |
| 2001 |
1st |
1 |
36 |
26 |
7 |
3 |
76–13 |
85 |
Pocius |
Winner |
CL |
1st qualifying round |
| 2002 |
1st |
1 |
32 |
24 |
6 |
2 |
85–20 |
78 |
Šlekys |
1/4 |
Winner |
CL |
1st qualifying round |
| 2003 |
1st |
1 |
28 |
21 |
5 |
2 |
64–20 |
68 |
 Opic |
1/2 |
Runner up |
CL |
2nd qualifying round |
| 2004 |
1st |
1 |
28 |
20 |
5 |
3 |
49–19 |
65 |
Velička |
Winner |
Winner |
CL |
2nd qualifying round |
| 2005 |
1st |
2 |
36 |
26 |
4 |
6 |
89–25 |
82 |
Beniušis |
Winner |
Runner up |
CL |
2nd qualifying round |
| 2006 |
1st |
1 |
36 |
28 |
4 |
4 |
85–30 |
88 |
Velička / Beniušis |
1/4 |
Winner |
UC |
2nd qualifying round |
| 2007 |
1st |
1 |
36 |
25 |
8 |
3 |
91–26 |
83 |
Grigalevičius |
Not contested |
Not
contested |
1/2 |
CL |
1st qualifying round |
| 2008 |
1st |
2 |
28 |
16 |
7 |
5 |
51–17 |
55 |
 Ledesma |
Winner |
Winner |
CL / UC |
3rd qualifying round / 1st round |
Relegated to II Lyga |
| 2009 |
3rd |
1 |
20 |
19 |
0 |
1 |
110–10 |
57 |
Macežinskas |
1/2 |
dnq |
dnq |
EL |
2nd qualifying round |
Promoted to 1 Lyga |
| 2010 |
2nd |
1 |
27 |
27 |
0 |
0 |
108–16 |
81 |
 Pehlić |
1/2 |
dnq |
|
|
Promoted to A Lyga |
| 2011 |
1st |
10 |
33 |
8 |
8 |
17 |
41–53 |
26 |
Razulis |
1/2 |
dnq |
dnq |
|
|
Relegated to II Lyga |
| 2012 |
4th |
2 |
15 |
7 |
6 |
2 |
40-20 |
27 |
Macežinskas |
1/4 |
dnq |
dnq |
|
|
| 2013 |
3rd |
6 |
24 |
9 |
4 |
11 |
52-47 |
31 |
 Sevilla |
1/64 |
dnq |
dnq |
|
|
| 2014 |
3rd |
1 |
26 |
20 |
3 |
3 |
69-19 |
63 |
Sevilla |
1/32 |
dnq |
dnq |
dnq |
|
Promoted to 1 lyga. |
|
| 2015 |
2nd |
12 |
34 |
10 |
7 |
17 |
44-64 |
37 |
Rea |
1/16 |
dnq |
dnq |
|
European cup history
| Season |
Competition |
Round |
Club |
Home |
Away |
Aggregate |
Scored |
| 1996–97 |
Intertoto cup |
Group stage |
 Lillestrøm SK |
1–4 |
|
|
Kirilovas |
|
|
|
 FC Nantes |
|
1–3 |
|
Žalys |
|
|
|
 Sligo Rovers |
1–0 |
|
|
Miknevičius |
|
|
|
 Heerenveen |
|
1–3 |
|
Gvildys |
| 1997–98 |
Intertoto cup |
Group stage |
 Samsunspor |
0–1 |
|
|
|
|
|
 Leiftur |
|
3–2 |
|
Buitkus Trakys Bezykornovas |
|
|
|
 Hamburger SV |
1–2 |
|
|
Bezykornovas |
|
|
|
 Odense |
|
2–2 |
|
Bezykornovas Trakys |
| 1999-00 |
UEFA cup |
Qual. round |
 Maccabi Tel Aviv |
2–1 |
1–3 |
3–4 |
Pacevičius-2 Papečkys |
| 2000–01 |
UEFA Champions League |
1st QR |
NK Brotnjo |
4–0 |
0–3 |
4–3 |
Kšanavičius-2 Žuta Puotkalis |
|
|
2nd QR |
 Rangers FC |
0–0 |
1–4 |
1–4 |
Žuta |
| 2001–02 |
UEFA Champions League |
1st QR |
 Sloga Jugomagnat |
1–1 |
0–0 |
1–1 |
Papečkys |
| 2002–03 |
UEFA Champions League |
1st QR |
 Dinamo Tirana |
2–3 |
0–0 |
2–3 |
Velička-2 |
| 2003–04 |
UEFA Champions League |
1st QR |
 Havnar Bóltfelag |
4–1 |
1–0 |
5–1 |
Beniušis-2, Kančelskis, Opic |
|
|
2nd QR |
Celtic |
0–4 |
0–1 |
0–5 |
| 2004–05 |
UEFA Champions League |
1st QR |
 Sliema Wanderers |
4–1 |
2–0 |
6–1 |
Sanajevas-2, Žutautas, Gedgaudas, Mikoliūnas, Žaliūkas |
|
|
2nd QR |
Djurgårdens |
0–2 |
0–0 |
0–2 |
| 2005–06 |
UEFA Champions League |
1st QR |
Havnar Bóltfelag |
4–0 |
4–2 |
8–2 |
Velička-3, Zelmikas-2, Rimkevičius-2,  Klimek |
|
|
2nd QR |
 Liverpool |
1–3 |
0–2 |
1–5 |
Barevičius |
| 2006–07 |
UEFA cup |
1st QR |
 Portadown |
1–0 |
3–1 |
4–1 |
 Manchkava, Pehlić, Velička, Ivaškevičius |
|
|
2nd QR |
Randers |
1–0 |
1–3 |
2–3 |
Juška, Velička |
| 2007–08 |
UEFA Champions League |
1st QR |
 Zeta |
3–2 |
1–3 |
4–5 |
Kvaratskhelia-2, Beniušis, Kšanavičius |
| 2008–09 |
UEFA Champions League |
1st QR |
 Santa Coloma |
3–1 |
4–1 |
7–2 |
Pilibaitis-4, Ledesma-2, Zelmikas |
|
|
2nd QR |
Rangers FC |
2–1 |
0–0 |
2–1 |
Radžius, Pilibaitis |
|
|
3rd QR |
Aalborg |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
|
UEFA Cup |
1st round |
 Sampdoria |
1–2 |
0–5 |
1–7 |
Zelmikas |
| 2009–10 |
UEFA Europa League |
2nd QR |
Sevojno |
1–1 |
0–0 |
1–1 |
Fridrikas |
Coaches
References
External links
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