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The 40-year-old from Klaipėda already held a similar position at his hometown club “Neptūnas” in 2017-2019.
When the port city team pitted in the early 2020s, D. Zavackas was forced to leave the job together with head coach Tomas Rinkevičius.
During his two decades of professional career, D. Zavackas has played in Poland, France, Belgium, Italy, Ukraine, Germany and Latvia.
In his homeland, the tall man represented Neptūnas (1996-1998, 2006 and 2014-2016), Šiauliai (2007-2008) and Rytas (2008-2010). Wearing the Vilnius team jersey, he won the European Cup and two-time champion of Lithuania, in 2008 he was recognized as the most useful basketball player in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).
According to unofficial information, together with Mr. Zavackas, two foreigners applied for the position of “Rytas” sports director, but the leadership of the Lithuanian vice-champions wanted to give a chance to a Lithuanian who knows the local market best.
“I am delighted and I appreciate this opportunity. I have many feelings and good memories at the club in the capital, so I am happy to be here. Of course, it will take a lot of effort to be able to do useful work for the benefit of the Ryto Club,” he said. quotes D. Zavackas in the official Rytas media report.
Donatas Zavackas (Photo: bcneptunas.lt)
It is true that it is possible that in the future the club’s administration will be supplemented by a specialist from abroad.
“There are not many people with that experience in Lithuania. I mean not only basketball knowledge, but also daily black work from morning to night. Many of our former basketball players and coaches worked at a high level, but here we also need some specific skills, experience and determination to work day and night. Not only will it be necessary to take care of one team, but the whole youth pyramid is behind it. I can’t make that choice for one season, long-term planning is needed here .
To date, we have a limited number of Lithuanians and foreigners on the candidate list. We conduct interviews with applicants, including those who are highly experienced and willing and able to join Rytas. Choosing a Lithuanian would be useful in the short term, as it would be easier for a local to enter the dressing room, see the training process, plan the necessary changes this season. In the long run, it is more important that a person comes from a large organization with extensive experience. These things must be weighed. Sure, another factor is financial opportunities, but I’m sure there shouldn’t be much savings in this place.
One of the main criteria for choosing a sports director is experience in a basketball club with its own youth system: broad, real and functional. Another criterion is the reliability and the name in the basketball market. The sports director needs to communicate with the players, the agents; this requires a certain weight, communication. It is also important to know basketball, the ability to recognize talents, help them grow, follow the training process. Well, the desire to work in the morning is ideal if it will be a dream job for the candidate, if he wants to identify with this organization and work in Vilnius for a long time “, – last week’s interview Delphi Darius Gudelis, president of the club’s board of directors, said about the search for the sporting director.
He then promised to introduce the club’s rookie in mid-February.
Rytas needed to be added to management after Donaldas Kairys was fired in mid-January due to poor results, serving not only as head coach but also as athletic director.
Last October, the same fate befell the former club director Rolandas Jarutis.
“Rytas”, who left the FIBA Champions League and the King Mindaugas Cup tournament, is left with one performance from LKL this season, which continues with Vilnius residents under the direction of Giedrius Žibėnas, who worked as D Kairis. assistant.
The new athletic director may need to make adjustments to the team later this season. Although Rytas officially shook hands with 22-year-old forward Rapolas Ivanauskas last weekend, he may soon have to find a reserve midfielder, as Keith Benson’s short-term contract will only run until the end of January and is unlikely to be renewed.
Donatas Zavackas
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