Posters and banners in the stadium, chants, mood boycotts, or open letters to the club management – there are many ways for fans to demand the dismissal of their favorite club’s coach.
However, what the supporters of the Lithuanian first division club Žalgiris Vilnius have come up with to make it unmistakably clear to coach Vladimir Cheburin that they no longer think much of him is likely to have been a spectacle rarely seen before.
Before the kick-off of the home game against league leaders Žalgiris Kaunas on Monday evening, they threw around two dozen suitcases from the stands onto the pitch – and sent Cheburin an unmistakable message: “You can pack your bags and go home.”
The game could only be kicked off with a delay, as the luggage first had to be removed from the sacred pitch.
How the fans managed to bring so many suitcases into the stadium, nobody knows exactly.
So far, the clear message has been unsuccessful. The 60-year-old coach, who has been criticized for the elimination in the Conference League qualification and the current seventh place (out of ten) after 21 games, had only a little (mocking?) applause for the fans’ suitcase action. He has not resigned yet – although the game on Monday was lost 1-2.
One thing is certain now: should Vladimir Cheburin actually have to pack his bags soon, he would have enough suitcases by now to pack all his belongings.
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