- Marius Žaliūkas
-
Marius Žaliūkas 
Personal information Full name Marius Žaliūkas Date of birth 10 November 1983 Place of birth Kuršėnai, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Playing position Centre back/Defensive midfielder Club information Current club Heart of Midlothian Number 26 Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2002–2004 Inkaras Kaunas 9 (0) 2004 FBK Kaunas 0 (0) 2004–2005 FK Šilutė 15 (0) 2005–2006 FBK Kaunas 31 (2) 2006– Heart of Midlothian 143 (8) National team‡ 2004–2005 Lithuania U21 9 (0) 2005– Lithuania 15 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 July 2011.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 September 2009Marius Žaliūkas (Big Zal) (born 10 November 1983 in Kuršėnai, Lithuanian SSR) is a Lithuanian footballer who is the captain of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. He plays as either a centre back or a defensive midfielder.
Contents
Club career
He started his career with Inkaras Kaunas before joining city rivals FBK Kaunas. He spent a season with FK Šilutė before returning to Kaunas to claim a regular first team position.
Hearts
Žaliūkas was loaned to Hearts in August 2006.[1] He made his competitive debut for Hearts on 26 August 2006 in a 4–1 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and scored his first goal for the Tynecastle club in a 2–2 draw against St. Mirren in December 2006. He earned hero status amongst Hearts fans on 1 April 2007 by scoring a late winner against Edinburgh derby rivals Hibernian at Easter Road.
He has made a positive effect in the centre of defence, replacing former captain Steven Pressley.[citation needed] Further to his impressive start to the 2008–09 season, it was reported by BBC Sport that major clubs in Moscow were willing to sign the defender.[2] Žaliūkas was sent off four times during the 2008–09 season, although one red card has been rescinded. The third of these dismissals came in a Scottish Cup tie against Falkirk, when he punched Falkirk's Carl Finnigan twice in the face. Manager Csaba László reacted angrily to Žaliūkas, and told him that he needs to change his attitude.[3] Two of the red cards came at Pittodrie against Aberdeen in separate matches. He ended speculation about his future by signing a new contract with Hearts, which will run until December 2010.[4]
In July 2009, following the departures of captain Robbie Neilson and vice-captain Christos Karipidis to Leicester City and AC Omonia respectively, László named Žaliūkas as one of the candidates to take the club captaincy, along with midfielders Michael Stewart and Laryea Kingston. László stated that despite Žaliūkas' poor disciplinary record, he would be willing to trust the defender with the responsibility of being a leader.[5] On 13 August 2009, Stewart was named club captain with Žaliūkas as vice-captain, although László stressed that they would share many of the responsibilities that come with the captaincy and said "I really have two captains".[6]
After Stewart left the club to join Gençlerbirliği, Žaliūkas was appointed club captain by new manager Jim Jefferies.[7] Soon afterwards, however, Žaliūkas' future at Hearts was put in doubt due to failed contract negotiations, which resulted in him being left out of the team. However he has since signed a permanent contract, ending his previous loan agreement from Kaunas, with which he has cemented his place as captain of Hearts.[7] Towards the end of the 2010-11 season he was once again left out of the team on the orders of club owner Vladimir Romanov.[8].
Personal awards and achievements
- Scottish Premier League Player of the Month: December 2010[9]
External links
- Marius Zaliukas career stats at Soccerbase
- Transfermarkt Profile
- Marius Žaliūkas at National-Football-Teams.com
- London Hearts profile
Reference
- ^ Kaunas' Zaliukas signs for Hearts, BBC Sport, 15 August 2006.
- ^ Zaliukas considers Hearts future, BBC Sport, 31 December 2008.
- ^ Laszlo blast for banned Zaliukas, BBC Sport, 10 February 2009.
- ^ Zaliukas extends Tynecastle stay, BBC Sport, 9 May 2009.
- ^ Hearts trio vying for captaincy, BBC Sport, 8 July 2009.
- ^ Michael and Marius appointed, heartsfc.co.uk, 13 August 2009.
- ^ a b "Marius Zaliukas's Hearts future in doubt over contract". BBC Sport. 1 September 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/8960789.stm. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- ^ "Hearts owner Romanov told manager to leave out Zaliukas". BBC News. 8 May 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13326819.stm. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ "December 2010 Award". http://www.cbfootball.co.uk/monthly.aspx?MonthID=12. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
Heart of Midlothian F.C. – current squad 1 Balogh · 2 Hamill · 3 Grainger · 4 Jónsson · 5 Barr · 6 Webster · 7 Suso · 8 Black · 9 Kyle · 10 Elliott · 11 Driver · 12 Templeton · 13 Obua · 15 Sutton · 16 Stevenson · 17 McGowan · 18 Novikovas · 19 Skácel · 21 Taouil · 22 Smith · 23 Glen · 25 Kello · 26 Žaliūkas · 27 Robinson · 30 MacDonald · 31 Mrowiec · 34 Stewart · 49 McHattie · 51 Holt · 52 Smith · C. Thomson · Manager: Sérgio
Categories:- 1983 births
- Living people
- People from Kuršėnai
- Lithuanian footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Scotland
- FBK Kaunas footballers
- Association football defenders
- Heart of Midlothian F.C. players
- Heart of Midlothian F.C. captains
- Lithuanian expatriate footballers
- Lithuania international footballers
- Scottish Premier League players
- FK Inkaras Kaunas players
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