2016 A Lyga

Summary

The 2016 A Lyga, also known as SMSCredit.lt A Lyga for sponsoring purposes was the 27th season of the A Lyga, the top-tier association football league of Lithuania. The season began on 2 March and ended on 26 November 2016.[3] Žalgiris Vilnius were the defending champions.

A Lyga
Season2016
ChampionsŽalgiris
RelegatedKauno Žalgiris
Champions LeagueŽalgiris
Europa LeagueTrakai
Sūduva Marijampolė
Atlantas
Matches played129
Goals scored358 (2.78 per match)
Top goalscorerAndrija Kaluđerović
(20 goals)
Biggest home winSūduva 6–1 Stumbras
(22 October 2016)
Biggest away winStumbras 0–5 Žalgiris
(24 June 2016)
Highest scoringStumbras 3–6 Žalgiris
(12 March 2016)
Longest winning runŽalgiris
(9 games)
Longest unbeaten runŽalgiris
(16 games)
Longest winless runKauno Žalgiris
(16 games)
Longest losing runUtenis
(6 games)
Highest attendance1,500[1]
Žalgiris 2–0 Trakai
(2 March 2016)
Lowest attendance50[2]
Kauno Žalgiris 1–3 Utenis
(22 April 2016)
Total attendance63,515
Average attendance501
2015
2017

Teams edit

FK Šiauliai failed to obtain a license to play in the A Lyga and were relegated alongside FK Kruoja, which withdrew and FK Klaipedos Granitas, which was disqualified. They were replaced by FK Lietava Jonava, which will make its debut at the top level. FK Spyris Kaunas changed its name to FK Kauno Žalgiris.[4]

Changes from 2015 edit

The league reduced its number of teams from ten sides down to eight. As a consequence, each team will play every other four times, twice at home and twice away with the top six then playing an additional round against each other.[3]

Clubs and locations edit

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2016 A Lyga teams

The following teams are competing in the 2016 championship:[5]

Club Location Stadium Turf Capacity 2015 position
Atlantas Klaipėda Central Stadium of Klaipėda Natural 4,428 3rd
Klaipėda Artificial Football Pitch[6] Artificial 1,000
Kauno Žalgiris Kaunas Darius and Girėnas Stadium Natural 9,180 5th
NFA Stadium[7] Artificial 500
Lietava Jonava Central Stadium of Jonava Natural 1,008 I Lyga, 1st
KaunasSL NFA Stadium[8] Artificial 500
KėdainiaiSL Kėdainiai Stadium[9] Artificial 3,000
Stumbras Kaunas Darius and Girėnas Stadium Natural 9,180 7th
NFA Stadium[10] Artificial 500
Sūduva Marijampolė ARVI Football Arena Natural 6,250 4th
ARVI Football Indoor Arena[11] Artificial 2,660
Trakai Vilnius LFF Stadium Artificial 5,067 2nd
Sportima Arena[12] Artificial 3,157
Utenis Utena Utenis Stadium Natural 3,073 6th
VisaginasSL Visaginas Artificial Football Pitch[13] Artificial 212
Žalgiris Vilnius LFF Stadium Artificial 5,067 1st
Sportima Arena[14] Artificial 3,157

^ Stadium location

Personnel and kits edit

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(es) Captain(s) Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Atlantas   Konstantin Sarsania   Andrius Bartkus Jako  —
Kauno Žalgiris   Laimis Bičkauskas   Ignas Dedura Joma BC Žalgiris
Lietava   Robertas Poškus[15]   Laurynas Stonkus Joma[16] Achema
Stumbras   Darius Gvildys
  Mariano Barreto[17]
  Artūras Rimkevičius
  Nerijus Mačiulis
Hummel Novecorum Group
Sūduva   Aleksandar Veselinović
  Eivinas Černiauskas (caretaker)
  Vladimir Cheburin[18] (interim)
  Tomas Radzinevičius Joma Sumeda
Trakai   Valdas Urbonas
  Albert Rybak (interim)
  Serhiy Kovalets[19]
  Deividas Česnauskis Nike Ecoil
Utenis   Mindaugas Čepas
  Oleh Boychyshyn (interim)
  Valentin Jeriomenko
  Robertas Freidgeimas
Adidas[20] Baltijos polistirenas[20]
Žalgiris   Valdas Dambrauskas   Egidijus Vaitkūnas Nike[21] TOP Sport[22]

Regular season edit

Table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Žalgiris Vilnius 28 21 3 4 62 22 +40 66 Qualification to Championship round
2 Trakai 28 18 4 6 47 22 +25 58
3 Sūduva Marijampolė 28 15 6 7 42 32 +10 51[a]
4 Atlantas 28 15 6 7 38 25 +13 51[a]
5 Lietava Jonava 28 7 8 13 28 44 −16 29
6 Stumbras Kaunas 28 7 6 15 35 52 −17 27
7 Utenis Utena (O) 28 4 4 20 24 47 −23 16 Qualification to Relegation play-offs
8 Kauno Žalgiris 28 2 9 17 23 55 −32 15 Relegation to I Lyga cancelled
Source: 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.[23]
(O) Play-off winners
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head record: Sūduva–Atlantas 1–0, Atlantas–Sūduva 1–2, Sūduva–Atlantas 3–3, Atlantas–Sūduva 2–1.

Results edit

Championship round edit

Top six will play each other once.[3]

Table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Žalgiris Vilnius (C) 33 24 4 5 74 29 +45 76 Qualification to Champions League second qualifying round[a]
2 Trakai 33 20 7 6 55 26 +29 67 Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round
3 Sūduva Marijampolė 33 17 7 9 55 41 +14 58
4 Atlantas 33 16 8 9 42 32 +10 56
5 Stumbras Kaunas 33 8 9 16 43 63 −20 33
6 Lietava Jonava 33 8 8 17 35 58 −23 32
Source: UEFA Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-off (only if deciding champion); 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Head-to-head matches won 7) Goal difference; 8) Goals scored; 9) Matches won.[24]
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Žalgiris Vilnius qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2016 Lithuanian Football Cup. However, since they qualified for European competition based on their league position, the spot awarded to the cup winners was passed down the league.

Results edit

Home \ Away ATL JON STU SŪD TRA ŽAL
Atlantas 2–1 0–0
Jonava 3–2 1–4
Stumbras 1–1 3–1
Sūduva 3–1 6–1 1–3
Trakai 3–1 1–1 1–1
Žalgiris 2–0 2–2 1–3
Source: A Lyga
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Relegation play-offs edit

The 7th placed team will face the runners-up of the 2016 LFF I Lyga for a two-legged play-off. The winner on aggregate score after both matches will earn entry into the 2017 A Lyga.

First leg edit

Palanga2–3Utenis Utena
Navikas   74'
Bagužis   90+5'
Report Poruchynskyy   2', 44'
Vereshchak   54'
Palanga Stadium, Palanga
Attendance: 250
Referee: Robertas Valikonis

Second leg edit

Utenis Utena0–1Palanga
Report Juška   33'
Visaginas Artificial Football Pitch, Visaginas
Attendance: 120
Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas

3–3 on aggregate. Utenis won on away goals.

Season statistics edit

Attendance edit

Team GP Total High Low Average
Žalgiris 17 13,394 1,500 350 788
Sūduva 17 13,190 1,200 500 776
Atlantas 16 9,850 1,200 100 616
Lietava 16 7,864 1,100 100 492
Utenis 14 4,957 670 150 355
Kauno Žalgiris 14 4,740 850 50 339
Stumbras 16 5,320 620 100 333
Trakai 17 4,200 430 100 248
Total 127α 63,515 888[31] 284[32] 501

^  — Official attendance statistic for the play-off matches wasn't publicly released.

Awards edit

Yearly awards edit

Awards were presented at the LFF Awards ceremony, which was held on November 28. Finalists for voted awards were announced after the season and winners were presented at the award ceremony.[33]

2016 A Lyga awards
Award Recipient(s)
Player of the Year Mantas Kuklys (Žalgiris)
Young Player of the Year Eligijus Jankauskas (Sūduva)
Manager of the Year Valdas Dambrauskas (Žalgiris)
Golden Boot Andrija Kaluđerović (Žalgiris)
Goal of the Season Matija Ljujić (Žalgiris)
Fair Play Award Trakai

Quarterly awards edit

"Golden Heart" initiative edit

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.[40]

In 2016 season these players have had this evaluation:

Team of the Week edit

References edit

^  — The match between FK Žalgiris and FK Sūduva Marijampolė was postponed due to the Champions League qualification match happening that week, so neither club's players were considered for the award.

  1. ^ "Čempionato starte – pergalingas B. Atajičiaus dublis". A Lyga. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  2. ^ ""Utenis" nustūmė į dugną "Kauno Žalgirį"". A Lyga. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Lietuvos futbolo federacija". Archived from the original on 2016-05-12. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  4. ^ "Peštynės dėl pavadinimo baigtos: Kauno "Spyris" bus perkrikštytas į "Kauno Žalgirį"" (in Lithuanian). 15min. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  5. ^ "A Lyga". Soccerway. Perform. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  6. ^ Used as home ground in rounds 1-9 and 30
  7. ^ Used as home ground in rounds 1-8
  8. ^ Used as home ground in rounds 1,4&6
  9. ^ Used as home ground in round 3
  10. ^ Used as home ground in rounds 2-8 and 30-33
  11. ^ Used as home ground in rounds 2-8 and 31
  12. ^ Used as home ground in rounds 31-32
  13. ^ Used as home ground in rounds 1-6
  14. ^ Used as home ground in rounds 1-5 and 32-33
  15. ^ ""Lietava" klubo trenerių štabe – naujas treneris" (in Lithuanian). FK Lietava. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-03-24. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  16. ^ "VšĮ "Jonavos futbolas" pasirašė sutartį su sportinės aprangos ir avalynės kompanija" (in Lithuanian). FK Lietava. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  17. ^ Arūnas Karaliūnas (21 June 2016). "Kauno "Stumbro" futbolo klubą įsigijo investuotojai iš užsienio" (in Lithuanian). Lietuvos Rytas. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  18. ^ "Iki sezono pabaigos "Sūduvą" treniruos Vladimiras Čeburinas" (in Lithuanian). FK Sūduva. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  19. ^ ""Trakų" futbolininkams pristatytas naujas vyriausiasis treneris" (in Lithuanian). FK Trakai. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Sezono pradžią lydi naujovės" (in Lithuanian). Utenos Utenis. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  21. ^ Suslavičius, Martynas. "Juodame futbolo fone – Vilniaus "Žalgiris" ir Lietuvos svajonė" (in Lithuanian). Lietuvos Rytas. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  22. ^ ""Žalgiris" rado pagrindinį rėmėją: klubo biudžetas viršys du milijonus" (in Lithuanian). Alfa.lt. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  23. ^ "A Lyga 2016 - Season rules" (PDF). Lithuanian Football Federation. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  24. ^ "A Lyga 2016 - Season rules" (PDF). Lithuanian Football Federation. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  25. ^ "Statistika" (in Lithuanian). A Lyga.
  26. ^ "Žalgiris back to top of the league". FK Žalgiris.
  27. ^ "Andrija scores three once more". FK Žalgiris.
  28. ^ "Trakai 4 : 3 Utenis" (in Lithuanian). A Lyga. Archived from the original on 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  29. ^ "Vilniaus "Žalgiris" sutrypė "Lietavą" – Bahrudinas Atajičius įmušė tris įvarčius" (in Lithuanian). 15 min. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  30. ^ "Įvarčių skonį prisiminęs A.Kaludjerovičius nukalė pergalę" (in Lithuanian). FK Žalgiris.
  31. ^ Week 1
  32. ^ Week 31
  33. ^ "Sezono apdovanojimų šventėje – prizai geriausiems" (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Football Federation. 28 November 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  34. ^ "Geriausiu pirmo rato žaidėju pripažintas N. Valskis". Alyga.lt (in Lithuanian). 2016-04-20. Archived from the original on 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  35. ^ "Geriausio antro rato žaidėjo laurus susižėrė dar vienas "Trakų" lyderis". Alyga.lt (in Lithuanian). 2016-06-28. Archived from the original on 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  36. ^ a b ""Žalgirio" duetas – geriausias trečiame rate". Alyga.lt (in Lithuanian). 2016-08-25. Archived from the original on 2016-09-10. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  37. ^ a b "Klaipėdoje buvo apdovanoti ketvirto rato geriausieji". Alyga.lt (in Lithuanian). 2016-11-07. Archived from the original on 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  38. ^ "Geriausiu pirmojo rato treneriu išrinktas V.Urbonas". Futbolas.lt (in Lithuanian). 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  39. ^ ""Sūduvos" strategas atsiėmė geriausio antro rato trenerio prizą". Alyga.lt (in Lithuanian). 2016-07-22. Archived from the original on 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  40. ^ a b c d "Lietuvos rinktinės futbolininkų marškinėlius puoš auksinės širdys" (in Lithuanian). A Lyga. 23 May 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  41. ^ a b c d e f "Šešiems žalgiriečiams – specialus įvertinimas" (in Lithuanian). FK Žalgiris. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  42. ^ ""Auksinė širdis" puoš dar vieno "riterio" marškinėlius" (in Lithuanian). A Lyga. 14 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  43. ^ "T.Labukui įteikta auksinė širdis" (in Lithuanian). Futbolas.lt. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  44. ^ "Pasibaigusi A lyga. Pliusai ir minusai" (in Lithuanian). Futbolas.lt. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  45. ^ a b ""Kauno Žalgirio" veteranams įteikti "Auksinės širdies" marškinėliai" (in Lithuanian). A Lyga. 19 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  46. ^ ""Kauno Žalgirio" veteranas gavo "Auksinės širdies" marškinėlius" (in Lithuanian). A Lyga. 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  47. ^ ""Auksinė širdis" – ir ant "Sūduvos" veterano marškinėlių" (in Lithuanian). A Lyga. 22 July 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  48. ^ "Auksinė širdis papuošė sūduviškio V.Slavicko marškinėlius" (in Lithuanian). A Lyga. 21 September 2016. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  49. ^ ""Auksinė širdis" – ant atlantiečio A.Jokšo marškinėlių" (in Lithuanian). A Lyga. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  50. ^ "P.Leusui – "Auksinės širdies" marškinėliai" (in Lithuanian). A Lyga. 9 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  51. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 1)". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  52. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 2)". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  53. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 3)". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  54. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 4)". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  55. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 5)". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  56. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 6)". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  57. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 7)". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  58. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 8)". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  59. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 9)". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  60. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 10)". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  61. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 11)". Archived from the original on 2016-05-22. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  62. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 12)". Archived from the original on 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  63. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 13)". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  64. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 14)". Archived from the original on 2016-08-06. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
  65. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 15)". Archived from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  66. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 16)". Archived from the original on 2016-08-14. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  67. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 17)". Archived from the original on 2016-07-20. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
  68. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 18)". Archived from the original on 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
  69. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 19)". Archived from the original on 2016-08-07. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  70. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 20)". Archived from the original on 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  71. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 21)". Archived from the original on 2016-08-20. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  72. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 22)". Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  73. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 24)". Archived from the original on 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2016-09-21.
  74. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 25)". Archived from the original on 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2016-09-21.
  75. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 26)". Archived from the original on 2016-10-03. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  76. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 27)". Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  77. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 28)". Archived from the original on 2016-10-22. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  78. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 29)". Archived from the original on 2016-10-28. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  79. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 30)". Archived from the original on 2016-11-07. Retrieved 2016-11-06.
  80. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 31)". Archived from the original on 2016-11-21. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  81. ^ "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 32)". Archived from the original on 2016-11-27. Retrieved 2016-11-26.