DFK Dainava
ClubnameDainava
FullnameDzūkija futbolo klubas Dainava
Founded1935[1][2]
2016 (last refounded)
GroundAlytus Stadium
Capacity3,790
ChairmanŽydrūnas Lukošiūnas
MgrtitleHead coach
ManagerMikołaj Raczyński
LeagueI Lyga
Season2025
PositionA Lyga, 10th of 10 (relegated)
Websitehttp://www.dfkdainava.com/
Pattern b 1_legeastrasburgo1rn
Leftarm 1FF0000
Body 1FF0000
Rightarm 1FF0000
Shorts 1000044
Socks 1000044
Pattern b 2_legeastrasburgo1yb
Leftarm 2FFEE00
Body 2FFEE00
Rightarm 2FFEE00
Shorts 2000000
Socks 2FFEE00

Dzūkija Futbolo Klubas Dainava, also. Known as DFK Dainava, is a Lithuanian profesional football club from Alytus. The club was established in 2016 as a phoenix club after FK Dainava Alytus was dissolved in 2014.

History

The modern DFK Dainava was established after "Auska" and "Dzūkų tankai" were merged in 2016.

In 2015, FK Auska were playing in the Pirma Lyga. In 2016 the Lithuanian Football Federation allowed the club to change its name and allowed them to play in the Pirma Lyga (second tier).

In 2016, DFK Dainava came in ninth place[3] and in 2017 they came in fourth place in the Pirma Lyga.[4]

In the 2018 season, DFK Dainava were runners-up in the Pirma Lyga. In the relegation/promotion play-off match, they lost 0–3 to FK Palanga.[5][6][7][8] On 3 November 2018, they lost the second match in Gargždai 0–2. FK Palanga won 5–0 on aggregate and saved their place in the 2019 A Lyga.[9]

DFK Dainava sought promotion to the A Lyga in the 2019 season, but were unable to get sponsorship required for the league from the municipality of Alytus. As a result, the club remained in the I Lyga.[10][11] They have finished 2019 LFF I Lyga in fourth position, and attempted to obtain a licence for A Lyga again in the 2020 season. The application was again declined.

In March 2021 before the start of the football season in Lithuania, DFK Dainava applied for a licence to play in the highest Lithuanian league tier of A Lyga in the 2021 season. The application was declined by the Lithuanian Football Federation as the club could not find a solution with stable finance and organise a women's football team. At the time, A Lyga had nine qualified teams who got permits and were able to compete in the league. DFK Dainava's application was granted by the Lithuanian Football Federation to play and compete in Lithuania's top-tier league as a 10th team, as DFK Dainava subsequently fixed all of the issues regarding sponsorship and stable finance. For the first time in DFK Dainava club history since re-creation in 2016,[12] Alytus town will yet again have a men's football team competing in Lithuanian top-tier football league A Lyga. DFK Dainava started the season with -3 points as regulations and laws via the Lithuanian Football Federation. The first match for DFK Dainava in A Lyga was played on 6 March in Marijampolė against also newly promoted team FK Nevėžis, due to the city having a full sized indoor football ground and it is closest to Alytus.

In 2022, DFK Dainava were the league winners and were promoted to the 2023 A Lyga.[citation needed]

Turkmenistani coach Mergen Orazov was appointed on 24 June 2025.[13][14][15]

Recent seasons

SeasonLevelDivisionPositionLinkMovements
20162.I Lyga9.[16]
20172.I Lyga4.[17]
20182.I Lyga2.[18]
20192.I Lyga4.[19]
20202.I Lyga6.[20]Promoted to 2022 A Lyga
20211.A Lyga9.[21]Relegated to I Lyga
20222.I Lyga1.[22]Promoted to 2023 A Lyga
20231.A Lyga8.[23]
20241.A Lyga4.[24]
20251.A Lyga10.[25]Relegated to I Lyga

Kit evolution

DFK DainavaDFK Dainava
Kits

Stadium

Main article: Alytus Stadium

DFK Dainava plays in the Alytus Stadium. It is a multi-use stadium in Alytus, Lithuania and holds 3,790 people. The stadium was renovated in 2010.

Managers

References

  1. ^ "Po pergalingo sezono DFK "Dainava" klubas apžvelgė visus metus ir ateities planus". 13 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Legendinio Alytaus futbolo klubo "Dainava" pradžia: 1935-ieji". 18 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Lithuania 2016". RSSSF. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Lithuania 2017". RSSSF. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  5. ^ "A lygos link: "Dainava" namuose mes iššūkį "Palangos" futbolininkams – DFK Dainava". dfkdainava.com. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Dainava Alytus - Palanga 0:3". www.flashscore.com. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  7. ^ "Pereinamosiose rungtynėse – užtikrinta "Palangos" pergalė - A Lyga - Aukščiausia Lietuvos futbolo lyga". alyga.lt. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  8. ^ "Pereinamosios rungtynės: DFK "Dainava" – "Palanga"". A lyga TV. 28 October 2018. Archived 2021-12-19 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 December 2018. – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "Palanga - Dainava Alytus 2:0". flashscore.com. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  10. ^ "2019 m. LFF A lygos sezono licencijų sieks 10 futbolo klubų". LFF.lt. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  11. ^ "Ketvirtą sezoną iš eilės "Dainava" startuos LFF I lygoje – DFK Dainava". 28 January 2019.
  12. ^ DFK Dainava was established after "Auska" and "Dzūkų tankai" merged in 2016
  13. ^ Vitols, Janis (2025-06-24). "Official: DFK Dainava names Mergen Orazov as new manager - Baltic Football News". Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  14. ^ Vitols, Janis (2025-06-24). "New era begins in Alytus: Dainava claim first win of the season under coach Orazov - Baltic Football News". Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  15. ^ "DFK "Dainava" pristato naująjį vyriausiąjį trenerį – Mergen Orazov – DFK Dainava"
  16. ^ "Lithuania 2016"
  17. ^ "Lithuania 2017"
  18. ^ "Lithuania 2018"
  19. ^ "Lithuania 2019"
  20. ^ "Lithuania 2020"
  21. ^ "Lithuania 2021"
  22. ^ "Lithuania 2022"
  23. ^ "Lithuania 2023". RSSSF
  24. ^ "Lithuania 2024"
  25. ^ "Lithuania 2025". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  26. ^ "DFK "Dainavą" treniruos norvegas K. Rønningstad – DFK Dainava". 7 February 2019.
  27. ^ ""Dainavos" naujuoju treneriu paskirtas italas F.Mazzone"
  28. ^ ""Dainavos" vairą perėmė T. Ražanauskas | A Lyga | Aukščiausia Lietuvos futbolo lyga"
  29. ^ "DFK "Dainavą" treniruos portugalas". 11 February 2022.
  30. ^ sportas.lt; traukiasi treneriai
  31. ^ "Trenerių pasikeitimų pasiutpolkė – po G.Stahlio pasitraukimo traukiasi ir "Jonavos" bei "Dainavos" strategai"
  32. ^ „Dainavos“ vairą perima strategas iš Turkmėnistano
  33. ^ "Mikołaj Raczyński trenerem Dainavy Alytus" (in Polish). 90minut.pl. 19 March 2026. Retrieved 19 March 2026.