2017 A Lyga Explained

Pixels:250
Competition:A Lyga
Season:2017
Winners:Sūduva
Continentalcup1:Champions League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:Sūduva
Continentalcup2:Europa League
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Žalgiris
Trakai
Stumbras
Matches:127
Total Goals:339
Biggest Home Win:
(2 August 2017)

(16 August 2017)

(11 October 2017)
Biggest Away Win:
(17 October 2017)
Highest Scoring:
(1 April 2017)

(15 November 2017)
Highest Attendance:
(19 November 2017)
Lowest Attendance:
(14 October 2017)

(22 October 2017)
Attendance:60,211
Average Attendance:478
Updated:19 November 2017
Prevseason:2016
Nextseason:2018

The 2017 A Lyga was the 28th season of the A Lyga, the top-tier association football league of Lithuania. The season began on 3 March 2017 and ended on 19 November 2017.[1]

All eight teams from the previous season remained and competed in the league, while Žalgiris Vilnius began the season as defending champions having won fourth consecutive league title last year.

Sūduva Marijampolė won the championship for the first time in their 96-year history, becoming the eighth club to win the league since its creation in 1991.

Teams

A total of eight teams should have contested the league, including six sides from the previous season, one promoted from the 2016 LFF I Lyga and the winners of the 2016 A Lyga Relegation play-offs.[2]

Utenis managed to withstand against I Lyga runners-up Palanga in the play-offs and for the 3rd consecutive season continued to play in the A Lyga.

2015 LFF I Lyga champions FK Lietava changed they name to FK Jonava after received permission from Lithuanian Football Federation.[3]

Kauno Žalgiris were relegated at the end of 2016 season and replaced by 2016 LFF I Lyga champions Šilas. It was going to be a debut in the top tier for Kazlų Rūda team.[4] [5]

Before the beginning of the season, newcomers Šilas were accused of match-fixing during a 2017 Virsligas Winter Cup match with FS METTA.[6] [7] Soon after Lithuanian Football Federation started an investigation to determine validity of these claims.[8] At the time all club trainings and friendly matches were revoked.[9] [10] [11] On 24 February, club chairman Audrius Raškauskas announced, that players received a permission to look for the new clubs while Šilas most probably will withdraw from the league into lower divisions of Lithuanian football.[12]

On 24 February 2017 Lithuanian Football Federation announced that Šilas withdrew from the league and will be replaced by last year participants Kauno Žalgiris, who were only non-participating team, which received a valid license for A Lyga.[13]

Clubs and locations

The following teams were competing in the 2017 championship:

ClubLocationStadiumTurfCapacity2016 position
KlaipėdaCentral Stadium of KlaipėdaNatural4,4284th
Klaipėda Artificial Football PitchArtificial1,000
JonavaCentral Stadium of JonavaNatural1,0086th
Jonava Artificial Football PitchArtificial558
KaunasDarius and Girėnas StadiumNatural9,1808th
NFA StadiumArtificial500
KaunasDarius and Girėnas StadiumNatural9,1805th
NFA StadiumArtificial500
MarijampolėARVI Football ArenaNatural6,2503rd
ARVI Football Indoor ArenaArtificial2,660
VilniusLFF StadiumArtificial5,0672nd
Sportima ArenaArtificial3,157
UtenaUtenis StadiumNatural3,0737th
VisaginasVisaginas Artificial Football PitchArtificial212
VilniusLFF StadiumArtificial5,0671st
Sportima ArenaArtificial3,157

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

TeamHead coachCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Atlantas Igoris Pankratjevas Andrius BartkusPuma[14]  —
Jonava Mindaugas Čepas Tadas EliošiusAdidas[15]  —
Kauno Žalgiris Johnny McKinstry Ignas DeduraHummel[16] BC Žalgiris
Stumbras Mariano Barreto Klaidas Janonis[17] HummelIbumetin
Sūduva Vladimir Cheburin Algis Jankauskas[18] JomaSumeda
Trakai Oleg Vasilenko Deividas ČesnauskisNikeEcoil
Utenis David Campaña Aurimas Tručinskas[19]
Guille Smitarello[20]
AdidasBaltijos polistirenas
Žalgiris Aleksandr Brazevich (interim) Egidijus VaitkūnasNikeTOP Sport

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Kauno Žalgiris Laimis BičkauskasResigned26 October 2016[21] Pre-season Vitalijus Stankevičius3 January 2017[22]
Jonava Robertas PoškusSacked14 December 2016[23] Donatas Vencevičius14 December 2016[24]
Trakai Serhiy KovaletsEnd of contract16 December 2016[25] Oleg Vasilenko19 January 2017[26]
Utenis Oleh BoychyshynEnd of caretaker spell9 January 2017[27] Zvezdan Milošević9 January 2017
Zvezdan MiloševićSacked26 April 2017[28] 5th Oleh Boychyshyn (caretaker)26 April 2017
Kauno Žalgiris Vitalijus StankevičiusMutual consent2 May 2017[29] 8th Laimis Bičkauskas (caretaker)2 May 2017
Utenis Oleh BoychyshynEnd of caretaker spell15 May 2017[30] 5th David Campaña15 May 2017
Atlantas Konstantin SarsaniaSigned by Zenit Saint Petersburg27 May 2017[31] 4th Sergej Savchenkov (caretaker)
Rimantas Žvingilas (caretaker)
28 May 2017[32] [33]
Rimantas Žvingilas
Sergej Savchenkov
End of caretaker spell21 July 2017[34] 4th Igoris Pankratjevas23 July 2017[35]
Kauno Žalgiris Laimis BičkauskasEnd of caretaker spell21 July 2017[36] 8th Johnny McKinstry21 July 2017
Jonava Donatas VencevičiusSacked1 August 2017[37] 6th Mindaugas Čepas2 August 2017[38]
Žalgiris Valdas DambrauskasResigned23 October 2017[39] 2nd Aleksandr Brazevich (interim)24 October 2017[40]

Regular season

Standings

Results

Second half of season

Championship round

Standings

Results

Relegation play-offs

The 7th placed team faced the runners-up of the 2017 LFF I Lyga for a two-legged play-off. The winner on aggregate score after both matches earned entry into the 2018 A Lyga.

Second leg

Stumbras won 5–1 on aggregate.

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological progress, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for matchday 13, but then postponed and played between days 16 and 17, it will be added to the standings for day 16.

Leader – Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round
Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round
Qualification to Europa League preliminary qualifying round
Qualification to relegation play-offs
Relegation to 2018 I Lyga
Team \ Round1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
413422332222222333333333322111111
141111111111111111111111111222222
224654444443333222222222233333333
366346667676566666666777766664444
752233223334444444444445444445555
535565555555655555555554555556666
8887777767677777777776666777
5778888888888888888888888888
Updated to games played on 15 November 2017

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank width=35pxPos. !width=180pxPlayer !Club Goals[41] width=60pxMinutes played !width=60pxAverage minutes per goal
1FW Darvydas ŠernasŽalgiris182246125
2FW Karolis LaukžemisSūduva142139153
3FW EliveltoŽalgiris122437204
4FW Andrei PanyukovAtlantas111113102
5FW Maksim MaksimovTrakai101350135
DF Semir KerlaSūduva1402141
7FW Maksym MarusychJonava82451307
MF Oscar DorleyTrakai2516315
9FW Diniyar BilyaletdinovTrakai7805115
FW Bahrudin AtajićŽalgiris1088156
FW Tadas LabukasTrakai / Atlantas1947279
Updated to games played on 19 November 2017

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date Ref
4–1 (H) 15 March 2017 [42]
3–1 (A) 12 April 2017 [43]
3–1 (H) 19 April 2017 [44]
3–0 (H) 21 June 2017 [45]
5–1 (A) 14 October 2017 [46]

Attendance

 — Official attendance statistic from one of the Kauno Žalgiris matches was not publicly released.

Awards

Yearly awards

Awards were presented at the LFF Awards ceremony, which was held on December 4. Finalists for voted awards were announced after the season and winners were presented at the award ceremony.[47]

2017 A Lyga awards
Award Recipient(s)
Player of the Year Karolis Laukžemis (Sūduva)
Young Player of the Year Oscar Dorley (Trakai)
Manager of the Year Vladimir Cheburin (Sūduva)
Golden Boot Darvydas Šernas (Žalgiris)

Quarterly awards

Player of the Round
PeriodPlayerRf
First Round (1–7)Andrei Panyukov (Atlantas)[48]
Second Round (8–14)Oscar Dorley (Trakai)[49]
Third Round (15–21)Darvydas Šernas (Žalgiris)[50]
Fourth Round (22–28)Wasn't announced
Coach of the Round
PeriodCoachRf
First Round (1–7)Valdas Dambrauskas (Žalgiris)
Second Round (8–14)Oleg Vasilenko (Trakai)[51]
Third Round (15–21)Oleg Vasilenko (Trakai)
Fourth Round (22–28)Wasn't announced

"Golden Heart" initiative

From 2016 season A lyga together with Lithuanian Football Federation decided to expand project "Bring you hearts to the stadium" and honor players who played 10 or more times for the Lithuania national team with golden heart on their shirts.[52] [53]

In 2017 season following players have had this evaluation:

Furthermore, Karolis Chvedukas was eligible to receive his "Heart" during the season, as he met qualification criterios.[53]

See also

Competitions
Team seasons

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2017 metų LFF A lygos čempionato tvarkaraštis. Lithuanian Football Federation. 16 February 2017. lt. 13 February 2017.
  2. Web site: 2017 m. LFF varžybų nuostatai. Lithuanian Football Federation. 16 February 2017. lt. 13 February 2017.
  3. Web site: "Lietava" keičia veidą ir kelia ambicingus tikslus. FK „Lietava“. 16 February 2017. lt. 6 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170216090507/http://www.fklietava.lt/naujiena/1227/lietava-keicia-veida-ir-kelia-ambicingus-tikslus. 16 February 2017. dead.
  4. Web site: Patvirtinti 2017 metų A lygos sezono kontūrai. Lithuanian Football Federation. 16 February 2017. lt. 13 February 2017.
  5. News: Remeika. Vilmantas. Kazlų Rūdos "Šilas" veržiasi į futbolo elitą. 16 February 2017. Lietuvos Žinios. 27 October 2016. lt.
  6. News: Suveizda. Agris. "Šilas" izslēgta no Ziemas kausa. 24 February 2017. Sportacentrs.com. 17 February 2017. lv.
  7. News: "Šilą" įtaria nešvariais žaidimais. 24 February 2017. Sportas.info. 17 February 2017. lt.
  8. Web site: Pradėtas tyrimas dėl kontrolinių rungtynių Latvijoje. Lithuanian Football Federation. 24 February 2017. lt. 17 February 2017.
  9. News: "Šilas" nesitreniruoja. Žaidėjai nežinioje. 24 February 2017. Futbolas.lt. 19 February 2017. lt.
  10. News: Bagdonas. Marius. Sukčiavimu įtariamą "Šilą" LFF stvėrė už gerklės, bet ar spės nubausti – dar neaišku. 24 February 2017. 15min. 21 February 2017. lt.
  11. News: Bagdonas. Marius. Sumaištis A lygoje – "Šilo" nebus. 24 February 2017. 15min. 24 February 2017. lt.
  12. News: Augustis. Mindaugas. Rėmėjo netekęs "Šilas" leido žaidėjams skirstytis. 24 February 2017. DELFI. 24 February 2017. lt.
  13. Web site: "Šilas" traukiasi iš A lygos, į ją priimtas "Kauno Žalgiris". Lithuanian Football Federation. 24 February 2017. lt. 24 February 2017.
  14. Web site: "Atlantas" stiprina vartininkų pozicijas . FK Atlantas . 22 February 2017 . lt . 22 February 2017.
  15. Web site: "Jonava" ir "Trakai" pasidalijo po tašką. FK Jonava. 17 March 2017. lt. 12 March 2017.
  16. Web site: A lygos starte "Kauno Žalgiris" nusileido "Atlantui". FK Kauno Žalgiris. 17 March 2017. lt. 11 March 2017.
  17. News: M.Barreto: "Šiandien nepatiko tik rezultatas". 3 March 2017. FutboloTV. YouTube. 3 March 2017.
  18. Web site: Marijampolės "Sūduva" 2017-aisiais kurso nekeičia. FK Sūduva. 2 March 2017. lt. 2 March 2017.
  19. Web site: Raktas į sėkmę – vienybė. FK Utenis. 2 May 2017. lt. 17 March 2017.
  20. Web site: "Utenio" kapitonui Utena – jau sava. FK Utenis. 6 September 2017. lt. 25 July 2017.
  21. News: Po nesėkmingo sezono traukiasi "Kauno Žalgirio" treneris . Futbolas.lt . 3 January 2017 . 26 October 2016 . lt.
  22. Web site: Naujasis "Kauno Žalgirio" futbolo komandos treneris – Vitalijus Stankevičius . FK Kauno Žalgiris . 3 January 2017 . lt . 3 January 2017.
  23. News: Rokiruotės "Lietavoje". R.Poškus atleistas, kontraktuoti tik du žaidėjai . Futbolas.lt. 22 December 2016. 14 December 2016. lt.
  24. Web site: "Lietavai" kitą sezoną vadovaus naujas strategas. FK Jonava. 22 December 2016. 14 December 2016. lt. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220142811/http://www.fklietava.lt/naujiena/1207/lietavai-kita-sezona-vadovaus-naujas-strategas. 20 December 2016. dead.
  25. News: Remeika. Vilmantas. Žiema klubų vadovams – darbymetis. Lietuvos Žinios. 16 February 2017. 16 December 2016. lt.
  26. Web site: "Trakai" turi naują vyriausiąjį trenerį . FK Trakai . 19 January 2017 . 19 January 2017 . lt . https://web.archive.org/web/20170131191629/http://fkt.lt/trakai-turi-nauja-vyriausiaji-treneri/ . 31 January 2017 . dead . dmy-all .
  27. Web site: "Utenyje" – nauji veidai. FK Utenis. 9 January 2017. 9 January 2017. lt.
  28. Web site: "Utenis" atsisveikino su treneriu. FK Utenis. 26 April 2017. 26 April 2017. lt.
  29. Web site: "Kauno Žalgiris" atsisveikino su V.Stankevičiumi. FK Kauno Žalgiris. 3 May 2017. 2 May 2017. lt.
  30. Web site: "Utenio" vairas – naujose rankose. FK Utenis. 15 May 2017. lt. 15 May 2017.
  31. Web site: Константин Сарсания назначен спортивным директором ФК "Зенит". FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. 27 May 2017. ru. 27 May 2017.
  32. Web site: K.Sarsanija grįžta į Rusiją. FK Atlantas. 28 May 2017. lt. 27 May 2017.
  33. News: A lyga: Žalgiris - Atlantas. 14 June 2017. Futbolo.TV. 14 June 2017. lt.
  34. Web site: Ketvirtadienį iš Klaipėdos klubo pasitraukė visi buvusio "Atlanto" vyriausiojo trenerio Konstantino Sarsanijos asistentai. Facebook. FK Atlantas. 27 July 2017. lt. 21 July 2017.
  35. Web site: Šeštadienį "Atlanto" treneriu iki 2018 metų pabaigos tapo Igoris Pankratjevas. Facebook. FK Atlantas. 27 July 2017. lt. 23 July 2017.
  36. Web site: "Kauno Žalgiris" turi naują vyriausiąjį trenerį. FK Kauno Žalgiris. 27 July 2017. 21 July 2017. lt.
  37. News: Skiriasi "Jonavos" ir Donato Vencevičiaus keliai. 15min.lt. 6 September 2017. 1 August 2017. lt.
  38. Web site: Pasikeitimai "Jonavos" trenerių štabe: vyr. trenerio pareigas perima M. Čepas. FK Jonava. 6 September 2017. 2 August 2017. lt.
  39. Web site: Prieš lemiamas kovas "Žalgiris" ryžosi permainoms. FK Žalgiris. 24 October 2017. lt. 23 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180704213741/http://www.fkzalgiris.lt/naujienos/n6950_pries_lemiamas_kovas_%E2%80%9Ezalgiris%E2%80%9C_ryzosi_permainoms.html. 4 July 2018. dead.
  40. Web site: Klubo vairas – BATE sporto direktoriaus rankose. FK Žalgiris. 24 October 2017. lt. 24 October 2017.
  41. Web site: Statistika . lt . A Lyga.
  42. Web site: "Stumbro" tvirtovę sugriovė trys A.Paniukovo bombos. FK Atlantas. 16 March 2017. lt. 15 March 2017.
  43. Web site: Svečiuose "Žalgiris" įveikė "Stumbrą", rungtynių herojumi tapo D. Šernas. A Lyga. 12 April 2017. lt. 12 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170413071415/http://alyga.lt/naujienos/informacija/sveciuose-zalgiris-iveike-stumbra-rungtyniu-herojumi-tapo-d-sernas. 13 April 2017. dead.
  44. Web site: Antrasis D.Šerno hetrikas pratęsė "Žalgirio" pergalių seriją. A Lyga. 20 April 2017. lt. 19 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170420235330/http://alyga.lt/naujienos/informacija/antrasis-d-serno-hetrikas-pratese-zalgirio-pergaliu-serija. 20 April 2017. dead.
  45. Web site: Trys M. Maksimovo įvarčiai nulėmė "Trakų" pergalę. A Lyga. 21 June 2017. lt. 21 June 2017.
  46. News: Čempioną persekiojanti "Sūduva" dar sykį įveikė "Kauno Žalgirį". 15min. 15 October 2017. 14 October 2017. lt.
  47. Web site: Apdovanojo metų geriausius žaidėjus ir trenerius. Lithuanian Football Federation. 5 December 2017. lt. 4 December 2017.
  48. Web site: Piečytė. Meda. Apdovanoti I rato geriausieji. A Lyga. 30 April 2017. lt. 30 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170505065619/http://alyga.lt/naujienos/informacija/apdovanoti-i-rato-geriausieji. 5 May 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  49. Web site: Pocius. Martynas. Geriausio II rato žaidėjo ir trenerio prizai atiteko "Trakų" atstovams. A Lyga. 22 June 2017. lt. 22 June 2017.
  50. Web site: Geriausias trečio rato žaidėjas - D. Šernas, treneris - O. Vasilenka. A Lyga. 6 September 2017. lt. 23 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033447/http://alyga.lt/naujienos/informacija/geriausias-trecio-rato-zaidejas-d-sernas-treneris-o-vasilenka. 7 September 2017. dead.
  51. Web site: II rato geriausias treneris O.Vasilenka. FK Trakai. 22 June 2017. lt. 22 June 2017.
  52. Web site: Lietuvos rinktinės futbolininkų marškinėlius puoš auksinės širdys. A Lyga. lt. 23 May 2016. 20 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160820201832/http://alyga.lt/naujienos/informacija/lietuvos-rinktines-futbolininku-marskinelius-puos-auksines-sirdys. 20 August 2016. dead.
  53. Web site: Laužadis. Almantas. Lithuanian National Team All Players. Almis Page. 29 March 2017.
  54. Web site: Šešiems žalgiriečiams – specialus įvertinimas. FK Žalgiris. lt. 14 June 2016. 20 August 2016.
  55. Web site: Piečytė. Meda. Dar trijų žalgiriečių marškinėlius puoš auksinės širdys. A Lyga. 20 April 2017. lt. 20 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170421093217/http://alyga.lt/naujienos/informacija/dar-triju-zalgirieciu-marskinelius-puos-auksines-sirdys. 21 April 2017. dead.
  56. Web site: "Auksinė širdis" puoš dar vieno "riterio" marškinėlius. A Lyga. lt. 14 June 2016. 20 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160820203631/http://alyga.lt/naujienos/informacija/auksine-sirdis-puos-dar-vieno-riterio-marskinelius. 20 August 2016. dead.
  57. News: T.Labukui įteikta auksinė širdis . Futbolas.lt. lt. 3 October 2016.
  58. Web site: Auksinė širdis papuošė sūduviškio V.Slavicko marškinėlius. A Lyga. lt. 21 September 2016. 22 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160923022731/http://alyga.lt/naujienos/informacija/auksine-sirdis-papuose-suduviskio-v-slavicko-marskinelius. 23 September 2016. dead.
  59. Web site: P.Leusui – "Auksinės širdies" marškinėliai. A Lyga. lt. 9 June 2016. 20 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160820203628/http://alyga.lt/naujienos/informacija/p-leusui-auksines-sirdies-marskineliai. 20 August 2016. dead.
  60. Web site: "Kauno Žalgirio" veteranams įteikti "Auksinės širdies" marškinėliai. A Lyga. lt. 19 June 2016. 20 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160820200750/http://alyga.lt/naujienos/informacija/kauno-zalgirio-veteranams-iteikti-auksines-sirdies-marskineliai. 20 August 2016. dead.