Benjaminas Zelkevičius
Lithuanian footballer (1944–2026)
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Benjaminas Zelkevičius (6 February 1944 – 12 January 2026) was a Lithuanian football coach and player. He was the manager of the Lithuania national team on three occasions – from 1990 to 1991, 1995 to 1997, and 2001 to 2002. He played as a striker, making 331 appearances and scoring 50 goals for Žalgiris Vilnius.
Date of birth
6 February 1944
Place of birth
Kaunas, Reichskommissariat Ostland
Date of death
12 January 2026 (aged 81)
Place of death
Vilnius, Lithuania
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 6 February 1944 | ||
| Place of birth | Kaunas, Reichskommissariat Ostland | ||
| Date of death | 12 January 2026 (aged 81) | ||
| Place of death | Vilnius, Lithuania | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Banga Kaunas | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1961–1962 | Banga Kaunas | 18 | (2) |
| 1963–1967 | Žalgiris Vilnius | 150 | (23) |
| 1968 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 19 | (3) |
| 1969–1973 | Žalgiris Vilnius | 181 | (27) |
| 1973–1975 | Pažanga Vilnius | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1973–1977 | Šviesa (assistant) | ||
| 1977–1983 | Žalgiris Vilnius | ||
| 1983–1985 | ShVSM Vilnius | ||
| 1985–1991 | Žalgiris Vilnius | ||
| 1990–1991 | Lithuania | ||
| 1992 | Austria Wien (assistant) | ||
| 1992–1996 | Žalgiris Vilnius | ||
| 1995–1997 | Lithuania | ||
| 1997 | KAMAZ-Chally | ||
| 1997–1998 | Metallurg Lipetsk | ||
| 1998 | Rotor Volgograd (assistant) | ||
| 1999 | Shinnik Yaroslavl | ||
| 2000 | Baltika Kaliningrad (consultant) | ||
| 2001–2003 | Lithuania | ||
| 2002–2003 | Baltika Kaliningrad | ||
| 2004–2007 | Liepājas Metalurgs | ||
| 2009 | Luch-Energiya Vladivostok | ||
| 2009–2010 | FM Ateitis (youth) | ||
| 2019–? | FM Ateitis (technical director) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Zelkevičius coached Žalgiris Vilnius and Russian club Baltika Kaliningrad. During his playing career, he played for Shakhtar Donetsk in the Soviet Top League and for Žalgiris Vilnius in the Soviet First League.[1]
Post-managing career
Honours
Manager
Lithuania
Liepajas Metalurgs
