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On Sunday in Trakai, the end of the 2010 Lithuanian football season was ceremoniously celebrated and the winners were awarded. It was also announced that Darvydas Šernas was chosen as the best football player of the year in our country.
Works with perspective
Lithuanian Football Federation President Liutauras Varanavičius said that this year's achievements - already implemented or started works - have a long-term perspective.
"One of the most important achievements - we all together have prepared and have successfully started to implement the Lithuanian football strategy for the years 2010-2020. I believe that the planned work of all of us, clear goals, and set tasks will help us achieve our main goal - to make football the most popular and professionally organized sport branch, recognized by the community as the first choice for active leisure," - said the head of the LFF.
L. Varanavičius praised the start of the Lithuanian national team in the European Championship qualifiers and the impressive victory in the Czech Republic, three victories in the Baltic Cup, and also the results of the U-19 girls' team, which reached the next stage of the competition for the first time.
Another challenge awaiting the football community is the European U-19 Football Championship to be held in Lithuania in 2013. "We have a unique opportunity not only to demonstrate hospitality but also to prepare our youth to compete with the best European peers," - said the head of the LFF.
Team and individual prizes
The main highlight of the evening was the awarding of the winners of the Lithuanian championships. Prizes were received by the winners of the Lithuanian women's football A league, the Lithuanian Football Federation I league, LFF A league reserves, and the champions of the A league.
The winners of the individual prizes were also announced at the closing ceremony. Vilnius native Dovydas Sužiedėlis was named the best assistant referee in Lithuanian football, while Gediminas Mažeika from Kaunas was named the best field referee.
In the traditional LFF 2010 elections for the best players and coaches, new laureates triumphed. Overall, Darvydas Šernas was named the best Lithuanian football player of the year, with the prize in Lithuania going to Dominykas Galkevičius, the best young player being announced as Tadas Eliošius, and the best coach being Igoris Pankratjevas.
Four winners
In the 46th edition of the best Lithuanian footballers' selection, D. Šernas made an impressive leap from last year's sixth place and for the first time in his career was named the best football player in the country. The victory was determined by a solid margin of votes from the fans.
In the selection of the best Lithuanian football player playing in Lithuania, Panevėžys "Ekrantas" goalkeeper Dominykas Galkevičius was chosen, who this year became the country's champion with the team for the third consecutive time.
In the selection for the third time of the best young Lithuanian football player (up to 21 years old playing in Lithuania), the victory went confidently to Tadas Eliošius, who recently made his debut in the national team. The best strategist award will stay in the capital for the second year in a row - last year's title won by Vilnius "Vėtra" manager Virginijus Liubšys was awarded this year to Vilnius "Žalgiris" coach Igoris Pankratjevas.
In the traditional elections, almost two weeks every football fan could participate and a survey of specialists was conducted. The winners of the nominations were awarded subscriptions to the newspaper "Lietuvos Rytas". The best Lithuanian footballer has been selected for four decades - since 1965, the best player in the national championship - since 1992.
