Capital: Vilnius
Population: 3.7 million
Currency: Litas
Official Language: Lithuania
Borders: Latvia (North), Belarus (East), Poland (South/West), Russia (South/West)
GNP per Capita: $2,260 (82th in world)
Main Airport: Vilnius International - Vilnius

Lying on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, Lithuania still shares a broder with Russia in terms of Kaliningrad to the south west, although it wasn't until 1993 that the Soviets actually withdrew all of its troops.  Tourism is becoming more important to the small country.

The A Lyga is the top division of professional football in Lithuania. It is organized by NFKA (Lithuanian: Nacionalinė futbolo klubų asociacija). There are 10 teams in the competition. The new season kicks off in April of every year because of the harsh climate there are no games in winter.  The last 10 Championships have been won by:-

1998 : Žalgiris Vilnius
1999 : FBK Kaunas
2000 : FBK Kaunas
2001 : FBK Kaunas
2002 : FBK Kaunas
2003 : FBK Kaunas
2004 : FBK Kaunas
2005:  Ekranas Panevėžys
2006:  FBK Kaunas
2007:  FBK Kaunas
2008:  Ekranas 

For more details on football in Lithuania go to About a Ball.  The new league starting in April 2008 will contain the following teams:-

FK Atlantas from Klaipeda - Lithuanian Champions in 1978, 1980, 1981 and 1984.  They play at the 5,000 Capacity Zalgiris Stadium. 

FK Ekranas from Panevezys - Lithuanian Champions in 1985, 1993, 2005 and 2008.  They play at the 9,900 Capacity Aukstaitija Stadium (Pictured left)

Interas-AE Visaginas from Visaginas.  Last season was thier first in the top league.  They ground share the Zalgiris Stadium in Vilnius.

FBK Kaunas from Kaunas - Most successful team in Lithuanian Football - play at the national stadium in Kaunas.  Click here for details on Kaunas.

FK Sūduva from Marijampole - Last season's league runners up - play at the Suduva Stadium which holds 4,000.

FK Šiauliai from Siauliai - 2004 Champions.  Play at the tiny Savivaldybe 2,400 capacity stadium.

FK Šilutė from Silute.  Thier highest ever finish was 3rd in 2003.  They play at the 3,000 seater Silute stadium.

FK Vetra Vilnius are from Vilnius.  They play at the 6,000 seater Vetra Stadium.  Click here for details on Vilnius.  The stadium is pictured left.

FC Vilnius from Vilnius.  They ground share with FK Vetra. Click here for details on Vilnius.

FK Zalgiris Vilnius are from Vilnius.  League champions in 1991, 1992 and 1999.  They play at the 15,000 Zalgiris Stadium Click for here details on Vilnius.

For a more graphical view of football in Lithuania, click here to access Footiemap.com's excellent website and their page on football in the country.