2009 A Lyga
# 2009 A Lyga

The Lithuanian A Lyga 2009 was the 20th season of top-tier football in Lithuania. The season started on 4 April 2009 and ended on 31 October 2009. Ekranas successfully defended their title.

## Promotion and relegation

Šilutė were relegated to the I Lyga after finishing the 2008 season in last place. They were replaced by I Lyga champions Tauras.

## Pre-season controversy

The Lithuanian top football division was shaken to its core after FBK Kaunas and Atlantas withdrew their participation on 20 March 2009. Both teams cited serious differences with the Lithuanian Football Federation over the way the league has been led in the past as a reason. This was the second blow to the league within two weeks after Žalgiris were denied a license for this season because of excessive financial problems on 6 March 2009.

As a consequence, the chairman of the National Football Clubs' Association (NFKA), Gintaras Ugianskis, resigned from his post. Further, the organization of the league was put into the hands of the LFF.

The 2009 A Lyga consists of eight teams chosen from all teams of both A Lyga and I Lyga. Teams with a higher 2008 season rank had a preference to enter. Clubs being interested in a participation could submit their application until 26 March 2009.

On 27 March 2009, the LFF announced the three replacement teams. Banga Gargždai, LKKA ir Teledema Kaunas and Kruoja Pakruojis were appointed to the league. Further, the LFF classified FBK Kaunas and Atlantas to play in the third-tier II Lyga because of "unethical conduct and other irregularities" while Žalgiris were granted a license for the second-level I Lyga.

## Clubs

| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Current manager |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Banga | Gargždai | Gargždai Stadium | 800 | Vytautas Jančiauskas |
| Ekranas | Panevėžys | Aukštaitija Stadium | 4,000 | Valdas Urbonas |
| Kruoja | Pakruojis | Pakruojis Stadium | 1,000 | Aidas Dambrauskas |
| LKKA ir Teledema | Kaunas | Kaunas LŽŪU stadium | 1,000 | Viačislavas Novikovas |
| Sūduva | Marijampolė | Sūduva Stadium | 6,260 | Gedeminas Jarmalavičius |
| Šiauliai | Šiauliai | Savivaldybė Stadium | 2,430 | Deivis Kančelskis |
| Tauras | Tauragė | Vytauto Stadium | 1,600 | Jurijs Popkovs |
| Vėtra | Vilnius | Vėtra Stadium | 5,300 | Virginijus Liubšys |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Ekranas (C) | 28 | 18 | 9 | 1 | 58 | 20 | +38 | 63 | Qualification to Champions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Vėtra | 28 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 55 | 22 | +33 | 57 | |
| 3 | Sūduva | 28 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 55 | 22 | +33 | 53 | Qualification to Europa League second qualifying round |
| 4 | Šiauliai | 28 | 13 | 3 | 12 | 40 | 34 | +6 | 42 | Qualification to Europa League second qualifying round |
| 5 | Tauras | 28 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 26 | 22 | +4 | 38 | Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round |
| 6 | Banga | 28 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 25 | 49 | −24 | 27 | |
| 7 | LKKA ir Teledema | 28 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 19 | 63 | −44 | 15 | |
| 8 | Kruoja | 28 | 2 | 7 | 19 | 24 | 70 | −46 | 13 | |

* 1 2 3 Vėtra were denied the UEFA license for the 2010–11 season and therefore will not represent Lithuania in the UEFA Europa League. Since the finalists of the 2009–10 Lithuanian Football Cup are Vėtra and Champions League-qualified Ekranas, all Europa League spots were awarded to teams based on their league positions. Therefore, Sūduva and Šiauliai qualified for the second, while Tauras qualified for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.

## Results

Every team will play each other four times, twice at home and twice on the road, for a total of 28 games.

## Top goalscorers

Last updated: 26 October 2009; Source: futbolas.lt (in Lithuanian)

| Pos. | Player | Club | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Valdas Trakys | Ekranas | 20 |
| 2 | Tadas Kijanskas | Vėtra | 11 |
| 2 | Mantas Kuklys | Šiauliai | 11 |
| 2 | Ričardas Beniušis | Sūduva | 11 |
| 5 | Egidijus Varnas | Ekranas | 10 |
| 6 | Povilas Lukšys | Sūduva | 9 |
| 6 | Mindaugas Grigalevičius | Vėtra | 9 |
| 8 | Israel Awenayeri Douglas | Banga | 8 |
| 8 | Igoris Morinas | Kruoja | 8 |
| 8 | Andrius Urbšys | Sūduva | 8 |
