FK Panevėžys is facing a significant off-season overhaul following the exit of head coach Toni Korkeakunnas. The Finnish manager announced his departure after finishing the domestic campaign with a 1-2 home loss against the in-form FA Šiauliai.
The Finnish specialist is heading back to his home country to assume the position of sports director at Veikkausliiga team Gnistan, which achieved a notable fifth-place finish in the top flight of Finland this year. Korkeakunnas departs Panevėžys after leading the team to a seventh-place standing in the Toplyga, accompanied by a competitive European campaign that included a strong performance against Kazakh club Tobol during the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.
The time spent by Korkeakunnas in Aukštaitija proved memorable right from the beginning. Recognized for his energetic behavior on the sideline, the Finnish coach received a red card during his very first game in charge of the squad. Aside from his fiery character, he received praise for incorporating new talent into the team, particularly for developing young full-back Dovydas Balsys, who subsequently won the Toplyga Young Player of the Month award for September and October.
During his final press conference following the loss to Šiauliai, Korkeakunnas shared his thoughts on his experience in Lithuania.
He expressed frustration over not concluding the season in the desired manner, noting that the team had advanced considerably over the preceding three months. He added that once the roster was assembled and players Bizoza and Keita arrived, the squad transformed into an entirely different group.
He extended sincere gratitude to the supporters who stood by the team throughout the entire year, even when outcomes fell short of expectations, emphasizing that fan support consistently provides the players with extra energy.
He mentioned that the residents of Panevėžys received him very warmly, describing the period as a pleasant time filled with both highs and lows, and expressed appreciation to everyone. He stated his belief that in every single match, the team demonstrated the ability to fight for a victory, while expressing regret that they could not accomplish it in that final game.
SOURCE NAME: balticfootballnews.com
Source: balticfootballnews.com
