UC Sampdoria right-back Marius Stankevičius has been named as Lithuania's Player of the Year for the first time following a poll of local football experts, with the 27-year-old saying: "I never expected to win this vote."

Self-effacing winner
Players, pundits and supporters helped Stankevičius earn 722 points in the vote, leaving him ahead of international team-mates Tomas Danilevičius, with 606 points, and Deividas Šemberas, on 515 points. AS Livorno Calcio striker Danilevičius won the 2006 and 2007 polls, but Stankevičius was self-effacing as he received his award. "I never expected to win this vote. There are a few people in our national team that deserved to receive this title."