Andrius Skerla

Football player infobox
playername = Andrius Skerla


fullname = Andrius Skerla
height = 1.85 m
dateofbirth = April 29, 1977
cityofbirth = Vilnius
countryofbirth = Soviet Union
currentclub = Jagiellonia Białystok
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1995-1996
1997-1999
2000-2005
2005-2006
2007
2007-2008
2008-Present
clubs = Žalgiris
PSV
Dunfermline
Tom Tomsk
Vėtra
Korona Kielce
Jagiellonia Białystok
caps(goals) = 41 (2)
25 (0)
167 (2)
31 (1)
22 (0)
21 (2)
nationalyears = 1999-
nationalteam = Lithuania
nationalcaps(goals) = 064 0(1)
pcupdate = June 6, 2008
ntupdate = May 27, 2008

Andrius Skerla (born April 29, 1977 in Vilnius) is a Lithuanian professional football defender, currently playing for Polish Orange Ekstraklasa club Jagiellonia Białystok.

Early career

Started his career at local club FK Žalgiris Vilnius in 1995, before Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven signed him in 1996. After an unsuccessful spell in Holland, Skerla signed for SPL side Dunfermline Athletic.

Dunfermline Athletic

Skerla's time at Dunfermline was his most successful period of football. He was signed for £200,000 [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/810238.stm|title=Pars to sign PSV defender|accessdate=January 29|accessyear=2008] by new manager Jimmy Calderwood and was immediately put into the starting line up. After a successful first season at Dunfermline he was linked with numerous clubs including Scottish club Glasgow Rangers [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/1280035.stm|title=No go for Flo says Murray|accessdate=January 29|accessyear=2008] , but Skerla insisted he wanted to stay at East End Park.

Skerla will most probably be remembered by the Pars fans, for scoring Dunfermline's only goal in the 2004 Scottish Cup Final against Celtic. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/3736209.stm|title=Larsson caps Celtic triumph|accessdate=January 29|accessyear=2008]

In March 2005, Skerla announced he wished to move back closer to Lithuania due to his father passing away. After Russian side Rubin Kazan had a bid failed because it did not meet Dunfermline's valuation of the player [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/4310825.stm|title=Skerla staying with Dunfermline|accessdate=January 29|accessyear=2008] , Skerla re-iterated his decision that he wanted to move [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/4348133.stm|title=Skerla anger at transfer collapse|accessdate=January 29|accessyear=2008] and eventually he moved to Tom Tomsk for £200,000. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/4171506.stm|title=Skerla leaves Pars for Russians|accessdate=January 29|accessyear=2008]

Eastern Europe

Since leaving Dunfermline for Russia, Skerla has played for Lithuanian side FK Vėtra and Polish Orange Ekstraklasa team Korona Kielce. Currently playing for Orange Ekstraklasa team Jagiellonia Białystok

International

Skerla marked his 50th appearance for Lithuania on October 7, 2006 with a first international goal against the Faroe Islands.

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=19760|name=Andrius Skerla