LFF I Lyga
Founded1991 (1991)
CountryLithuania
Number of teams14
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toA Lyga
Relegation toII Lyga
Current championsFK Transinvest (1st title)
(2023)
TV partnersFutbolo.tv, Init
Websitewww.1lyga.lt

The I Lyga, LFF I Lyga, Pirma Lyga, is the second tier of professional Lithuanian football championship.

Format

Organized by the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF), I Lyga is contested by 16 teams, with the top team gaining promotion to A Lyga and replaced by the lowest-placed team in top division. The second-placed team qualifies to a promotion play-off with A Lyga's second to last team. Bottom 2 clubs are relegated to the II Lyga, and 3rd last team plays a play-off with the 3rd placed team in II Lyga. The final list of participants often does not correlate to the final results of the previous season, as the participation is finalized through the Lithuanian Football Federation league licensing process. Number of participants also fluctuate due to frequent club collapses.

History

There were 15 teams competing in the 2017 season. At the end of this season, three teams withdrew from the league.

In 2018, there were 14 teams that started the championship. However, FK Koralas Klaipėda withdrew in the mid-season. After the end of the season, two more teams have withdrawn from participation in the next season.

The 2019 season saw 16 teams starting the championship. In June FC Stumbras ran into financial difficulties, its license was withdrawn from the A Lyga, along with Stumbras B license in the I Lyga. In July Stumbras B was removed from the league, with all results annulled as the team played less than half of all season games. At the end of the season I Lyga side FC Kupiškis was found to be involved in match-fixing, and subsequently fined and demoted to II Lyga.

Although the 2019 I Lyga winners FC Džiugas Telšiai won promotion to A lyga, the club failed to meet 2020 A Lyga licensing criteria, and had their promotion was forfeited. Only FK Banga Gargždai had advanced to A Lyga.

The 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and was shortened to 1.5 rounds. 14 teams participated in the tournament, with four teams offered promotion to A Lyga.

2021 season ran in full despite some COVID-19 threats. As four teams advanced to the A Lyga, and one club withdrew, five teams joined from the II Lyga. Previous season winner FK Jonava were denied A Lyga license because of allegations of match-fixing. The league consisted of 14 teams, with an expectation to expand the league to 16 the next season.

2022 season featured stable 16 team tournament and a fierce fight for the promotion to A lyga. Eventually, DFK Dainava secured the promotion, returning to A lyga after one season.

Current Season

2023 season features 16 teams: eleven clubs and five B teams.

Past Seasons

Season Champion Topscorer Goals
1990 Panerys Vilnius
1991 Žalgiris-2 Vilnius
1991–92 Žalgiris-2 Vilnius
1992–93 Azotas Jonava
1993–94 Mūša Ukmergė
1994–95Geležinis Vilkas VilniusIgoris Verbovikas (Lokomotyvas Vilnius)13
1995–96Ranga-Politechnika Kaunas Svajūnas Česnulis (Laisvė Šilutė)19
1996–97Klevas ŠiauliaiSvajūnas Česnulis (Laisvė Šilutė)23
1997–98Dainava AlytusJevgenijus Medvedevas (Lietava Jonava17
1998–99Lietava JonavaMarijus Kursevičius (Atletas Kaunas)20
1999Kauno Jėgeriai Ruslanas Kirsanovas (Geležinis Vilkas Vilnius)15
2000Vėtra RūdiškėsŠarūnas Litvinas (Pieno Cechas Kalvarija)32
2001Polonija VilniusTomas Radzinevičius (Sūduva Marijampolė)33
2002Vėtra RūdiškėsDenisas Vasilkovas (Interas Visaginas, Vėtra Rūdiškės)27
2003Polonija VilniusVytautas Zaboras (Polonija Vilnius)27
2004KFK ŠiauliaiGvidas Juška (Babrungas Plungė, Kauno Jėgeriai)21
2005Alytis Alytus Kęstutis Nepas (Vėtra-2 Vilnius, Alytis Alytus)22
2006Kauno Jėgeriai Ramūnas Timinskas (Kruoja Pakruojis)22
2007Alytis Alytus Rimantas Cepovas (Rodiklis Kaunas)25
2008Tauras TauragėMartynas Karalius (Glestum Klaipėda)19
2009ŠilutėGvidas Juška (Šilutė)21
2010FBK Kaunas Arsenij Buinickij (Lietava Jonava)28
2011REO VilniusAivaras Lyberis (Nevėžis Kėdainiai)24
2012Lietava JonavaAivaras Lyberis (Nevėžis Kėdainiai)24
2013Klaipėdos GranitasAivaras Lyberis (Nevėžis Kėdainiai)
Edgaras Mastianica (Klaipėdos Granitas)		18
2014Stumbras KaunasArtūras Rimkevičius (Stumbras Kaunas)26
2015Lietava JonavaLaurynas Stonkus (Lietava Jonava)30
2016Šilas Kazlų RūdaArtur Skuratovič (Vilniaus Vytis)31
2017PalangaGvidas Juška (Palanga)31
2018PanevėžysEvaldas Kugys (Nevėžis Kėdainiai)20
2019Džiugas TelšiaiEvaldas Kugys (Nevėžis Kėdainiai), Jose Luis Balanta (DFK Dainava)19
2020Nevėžis KėdainiaiEvaldas Kugys (Nevėžis Kėdainiai)16
2021FA ŠiauliaiRičardas Beniušis (FK Šilas)22
2022DFK DainavaYevheniy Mohil (FK Nevėžis), Alessandro Pinheiro Martins Júnior "Juninho" (FK Babrungas)16
2023FK TransinvestHenrique Devens (FK Transinvest)22

References

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