2017 A Lyga

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]

A Lyga
Season2017
ChampionsSūduva
RelegatedKauno Žalgiris
Champions LeagueSūduva
Europa LeagueŽalgiris
Trakai
Stumbras
Matches played127
Goals scored339 (2.67 per match)
Top goalscorerDarvydas Šernas (18 goals)
Biggest home winŽalgiris 5–0 Utenis
(2 August 2017)
Žalgiris 5–0 Jonava
(16 August 2017)
Sūduva 5–0 Kauno Žalgiris
(11 October 2017)
Biggest away winJonava 0–5 Sūduva
(17 October 2017)
Highest scoringJonava 5–2 Kauno Žalgiris
(1 April 2017)
Žalgiris 5–2 Utenis
(15 November 2017)
Longest winning run11 games
Sūduva
Longest unbeaten run13 games
Sūduva
Longest winless run13 games
Kauno Žalgiris
Longest losing run6 games
Kauno Žalgiris
Highest attendance4,489
Sūduva v Žalgiris
(19 November 2017)
Lowest attendance70
Kauno Žalgiris v Sūduva
(14 October 2017)
Stumbras v Utenis
(22 October 2017)
Total attendance60,211
Average attendance478
← 2016
2018 →
All statistics correct as of 19 November 2017.

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.[3]

2015 LFF I Lyga champions FK Lietava changed they name to FK Jonava after received permission from Lithuanian Football Federation.[3][4]

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.[3][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 withdrew 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
Locations of the 2017 A Lyga teams

The following teams were competing in the 2017 championship:

Club Location Stadium Turf Capacity 2016 position
Atlantas Klaipėda Central Stadium of Klaipėda Natural 4,428 4th
Klaipėda Artificial Football Pitch Artificial 1,000
Jonava Jonava Central Stadium of Jonava Natural 1,008 6th
Jonava Artificial Football Pitch Artificial 558
Kauno Žalgiris Kaunas Darius and Girėnas Stadium Natural 9,180 8th
NFA Stadium Artificial 500
Stumbras Kaunas Darius and Girėnas Stadium Natural 9,180 5th
NFA Stadium Artificial 500
Sūduva Marijampolė ARVI Football Arena Natural 6,250 3rd
ARVI Football Indoor Arena Artificial 2,660
Trakai Vilnius LFF Stadium Artificial 5,067 2nd
Sportima Arena Artificial 3,157
Utenis Utena Utenis Stadium Natural 3,073 7th
Visaginas[note 1] Visaginas Artificial Football Pitch Artificial 212
Žalgiris Vilnius LFF Stadium Artificial 5,067 1st
Sportima Arena Artificial 3,157

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.

Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Atlantas Igoris Pankratjevas Andrius Bartkus Puma[14]  —
Jonava Mindaugas Čepas Tadas Eliošius Adidas[15]  —
Kauno Žalgiris Johnny McKinstry Ignas Dedura Hummel[16] BC Žalgiris
Stumbras Mariano Barreto Klaidas Janonis[17] Hummel Ibumetin
Sūduva Vladimir Cheburin Algis Jankauskas[18] Joma Sumeda
Trakai Oleg Vasilenko Deividas Česnauskis Nike Ecoil
Utenis David Campaña Piquer Aurimas Tručinskas[19][note 2]
Guille Smitarello[20]		 Adidas Baltijos polistirenas
Žalgiris Aleksandr Brazevich (interim) Egidijus Vaitkūnas Nike TOP Sport

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Kauno Žalgiris Laimis Bičkauskas Resigned 26 October 2016[21] Pre-season Vitalijus Stankevičius 3 January 2017[22]
Jonava Robertas Poškus Sacked 14 December 2016[23] Donatas Vencevičius 14 December 2016[24]
Trakai Serhiy Kovalets End of contract 16 December 2016[25] Oleg Vasilenko 19 January 2017[26]
Utenis Oleh Boychyshyn End of caretaker spell 9 January 2017[27] Zvezdan Milošević 9 January 2017[27]
Zvezdan Milošević Sacked 26 April 2017[28] 5th Oleh Boychyshyn (caretaker) 26 April 2017[28]
Kauno Žalgiris Vitalijus Stankevičius Mutual consent 2 May 2017[29] 8th Laimis Bičkauskas (caretaker) 2 May 2017[29]
Utenis Oleh Boychyshyn End of caretaker spell 15 May 2017[30] 5th David Campaña Piquer 15 May 2017[30]
Atlantas Konstantin Sarsania Signed by Zenit Saint Petersburg 27 May 2017[31] 4th Sergej Savchenkov (caretaker)
Rimantas Žvingilas (caretaker)		 28 May 2017[32][33]
Rimantas Žvingilas
Sergej Savchenkov		 End of caretaker spell 21 July 2017[34] 4th Igoris Pankratjevas 23 July 2017[35]
Kauno Žalgiris Laimis Bičkauskas End of caretaker spell 21 July 2017[36] 8th Johnny McKinstry 21 July 2017[36]
Jonava Donatas Vencevičius Sacked 1 August 2017[37] 6th Mindaugas Čepas 2 August 2017[38]
Žalgiris Valdas Dambrauskas Resigned 23 October 2017[39] 2nd Aleksandr Brazevich (interim) 24 October 2017[40]

Regular season

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Sūduva 28 17 8 3 65 28 +37 59 Qualification to Championship round
2 Žalgiris 28 17 7 4 51 22 +29 58
3 Trakai 28 15 9 4 45 22 +23 54
4 Atlantas 28 8 9 11 33 33 0 33
5 Utenis 28 8 8 12 24 41 −17 32
6 Jonava 28 8 7 13 29 45 −16 31
7 Stumbras[lower-alpha 1] (O) 28 4 10 14 23 42 −19 22
Qualification to Relegation play-offs
Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round
8 Kauno Žalgiris (R) 28 3 6 19 19 56 −37 15 Relegation to I Lyga
Source: A Lyga (in Lithuanian), UEFA, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head matches won; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Matches won.[41]
(O) Play-off winner; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Stumbras qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2017 Lithuanian Football Cup.

Results

Championship round

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Sūduva (C) 33 21 8 4 73 31 +42 71 Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round
2 Žalgiris 33 20 7 6 62 31 +31 67 Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round
3 Trakai 33 18 10 5 53 27 +26 64 Qualification to Europa League preliminary round
4 Jonava 33 10 8 15 40 53 −13 38
5 Atlantas 33 8 12 13 39 43 −4 36
6 Utenis 33 8 9 16 30 56 −26 33
Source: A Lyga (in Lithuanian), UEFA, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head matches won; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Matches won.[42]
(C) Champion.

Results
Home \ Away ATL JON SŪD TRA UTE ŽAL
Atlantas — — — — 2–2 0–3
Jonava 2–2 — — — 3–0 —
Sūduva 1–0 2–1 — — — 3–0
Trakai 2–2 2–1 1–0 — — —
Utenis — — 1–2 1–3 — —
Žalgiris — 2–4 — 1–0 5–2 —
Source: A Lyga (in Lithuanian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

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.

First leg
Banga1–2Stumbras
Krušnauskas  11' (pen.) Report Armanavičius  4'
Almeida  67'
Attendance: 600
Referee: Edmundas Gaigalas

Second leg
Stumbras3–0Banga
Villela  39', 73'
Barauskas  50'		 Report
NFA Stadium, Kaunas, Lithuania
Attendance: 200
Referee: Robertas Valikonis

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 \ Round 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233
Sūduva413422332222222333333333322111111
Žalgiris141111111111111111111111111222222
Trakai224654444443333222222222233333333
Jonava366346667676566666666777766664444
Atlantas752233223334444444444445444445555
Utenis535565555555655555555554555556666
Stumbras8887777767677777777776666777
Kauno Žalgiris5778888888888888888888888888

Updated to games played on 15 November 2017

Season statistics

Attendance
Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Sūduva 18,506 4,489 300 1,089 +40.3%†
2 Žalgiris 12,200 1,750 200 718 −8.9%†
3 Utenis 7,245 1,100 92 453 +27.6%†
4 Atlantas 7,100 1,300 200 444 −27.9%†
5 Jonava 5,350 550 120 335 −31.9%†
6 Trakai 4,630 1,000 75 273 +10.1%†
7 Stumbras 2,880 420 70 206 −38.1%†
8 Kauno Žalgiris 2,300 300 70 177 −47.8%†
League total 60,211 4,489 70 478 −4.6%†

Source: A Lyga, LFF

^  — 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.[49]

2017 A Lyga awards
AwardRecipient(s)
Player of the YearKarolis Laukžemis (Sūduva)
Young Player of the YearOscar Dorley (Trakai)
Manager of the YearVladimir Cheburin (Sūduva)
Golden BootDarvydas Šernas (Žalgiris)

Quarterly awards

"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.[54][55]

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.[55]

Notes
  1. Stadium location
  2. Player left the club in the middle of the season.
  3. Labukas also played for Trakai during the season.

See also

References
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  2. "2017 m. LFF varžybų nuostatai" (PDF) (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Football Federation. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  3. "Patvirtinti 2017 metų A lygos sezono kontūrai" (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Football Federation. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  4. "„Lietava" keičia veidą ir kelia ambicingus tikslus" (in Lithuanian). FK „Lietava“. 6 February 2017. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  5. Remeika, Vilmantas (27 October 2016). "Kazlų Rūdos "Šilas" veržiasi į futbolo elitą". Lietuvos Žinios (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  6. Suveizda, Agris (17 February 2017). ""Šilas" izslēgta no Ziemas kausa". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  7. ""Šilą" įtaria nešvariais žaidimais". Sportas.info (in Lithuanian). 17 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  8. "Pradėtas tyrimas dėl kontrolinių rungtynių Latvijoje" (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Football Federation. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  9. ""Šilas" nesitreniruoja. Žaidėjai nežinioje". Futbolas.lt (in Lithuanian). 19 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  10. Bagdonas, Marius (21 February 2017). "Sukčiavimu įtariamą „Šilą" LFF stvėrė už gerklės, bet ar spės nubausti – dar neaišku". 15min (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  11. Bagdonas, Marius (24 February 2017). "Sumaištis A lygoje – „Šilo" nebus". 15min (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  12. Augustis, Mindaugas (24 February 2017). "Rėmėjo netekęs „Šilas" leido žaidėjams skirstytis". DELFI (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  13. ""Šilas" traukiasi iš A lygos, į ją priimtas "Kauno Žalgiris"" (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Football Federation. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  14. ""Atlantas" stiprina vartininkų pozicijas" (in Lithuanian). FK Atlantas. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
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  34. "Ketvirtadienį iš Klaipėdos klubo pasitraukė visi buvusio „Atlanto" vyriausiojo trenerio Konstantino Sarsanijos asistentai". Facebook (in Lithuanian). FK Atlantas. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  35. "Šeštadienį "Atlanto" treneriu iki 2018 metų pabaigos tapo Igoris Pankratjevas". Facebook (in Lithuanian). FK Atlantas. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
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  42. "A Lyga 2017 - Season rules" (PDF) (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Football Federation. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
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