Gintra have changed head coach. Finnish specialist Olli-Pekka Ojala, 37, replaces Kaloyan Petkov at the Lithuanian champions.
The club thank Petkov for his work and victories over the last two years and wish him success in his next chapter.
O. Ojala į Saulės miestą atvyksta iš gimtinės, kur nuo 2019-ųjų iki 2023-ųjų dirigavo Suomijos moterų futbolo čempionės Kuopio „KuPS“ komandos žaidimui. 2020 metais jo vadovaujama ekipa iškovodama bronzos medalius pirmą kartą tapo šalies čempionato prizininke. Jau kitą sezoną klubas perrašė istoriją pirmą kartą tapdamas lygos čempionu. Šis pasiekimas „KuPS“ organizacijai taip pat atvėrė duris debiutuoti UEFA moterų Čempionių lygoje, o debiutas buvo itin sėkmingas.
Gintra and KuPS met in that competition in 2022. At the qualifying tournament in Poland, Ojala's team beat Gintra 2–0 in the semi-final, then upset much more experienced RSC Anderlecht in the final.
The Finnish champions made further history by reaching the main Champions League round in their debut season. Facing Austrian champions St. Pölten in the round of 32, they exited after a fiercely contested 2–3 aggregate defeat.
Ojala will keep the same colours at his new club: both KuPS and Gintra play in yellow and black. Kuopio in central Finland is also similar in size and population to Šiauliai.
"Change brings something new, and we hope for the boost we need. Olli-Pekka is young, ambitious and experienced at a high-level women's club. Finnish women's football is growing, and his work contributed to that. We faced KuPS ourselves in Champions League qualifying. Although the season has begun, our main challenges remain ahead. We wish him a smooth start, interesting challenges and victories," said director Mantas Radavičius.
Having met the players and led his first session, Ojala welcomed a new challenge at a winning organisation.
"I'm happy and grateful for the opportunity to join a club with so many titles that remains hungry for more. I like its vision of developing local players and a full girls' and women's football pyramid. It's an admirable, ambitious goal, and I'll use my Finnish experience to help implement it sustainably. Arriving mid-season means quickly learning about every player and Lithuanian football. Every session matters. My immediate priorities are motivation, desire, energy and unity," he said.
Gintra began the A League with two difficult wins: 2–0 over newcomers TransINVEST and a hard-fought 2–1 home victory against MFA Žalgiris-MRU.
Their Baltic League season starts this Sunday, 14 April, at home to Estonian runners-up Saku Sporting. Kick-off at Gytariai Stadium is at 15:00. Come and support Šiauliai's team!
