Marius Žaliūkas facts for kids
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Žaliūkas with Heart of Midlothian in 2011
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marius Žaliūkas | ||
| Date of birth | 10 November 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union | ||
| Date of death | 31 October 2020 (aged 36) | ||
| Place of death | Kaunas, Lithuania | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2004 | Inkaras Kaunas | 9 | (0) |
| 2004–2007 | FBK Kaunas | 31 | (2) |
| 2004–2005 | → FK Šilutė (loan) | 15 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | → Heart of Midlothian (loan) | 27 | (2) |
| 2007–2013 | Heart of Midlothian | 165 | (9) |
| 2013–2014 | Leeds United | 15 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Rangers | 19 | (2) |
| 2016 | Žalgiris | 11 | (1) |
| Total | 292 | (16) | |
| International career | |||
| 2004–2005 | Lithuania U21 | 10 | (0) |
| 2005–2016 | Lithuania | 25 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Marius Žaliūkas (born 10 November 1983 – died 31 October 2020) was a professional football player from Lithuania. He was known for playing as a centre back, which is a defensive position in football. He could also play as a defensive midfielder.
Marius started his football journey in his home country. He played for clubs like Inkaras Kaunas, FBK Kaunas, and FK Šilutė. In 2006, he moved to Scotland to play for Hearts, first on a loan, then permanently. He spent seven years with Hearts, playing 193 games and scoring 13 goals. He even became the team's captain and led them to win the Scottish Cup in 2012.
After his time at Hearts, Marius played for Leeds United in England and Rangers in Scotland. He then returned to Lithuania to play for FK Žalgiris before retiring in 2016. Marius also played for the Lithuanian national team 25 times between 2005 and 2016. Sadly, he passed away at the age of 36 from a serious illness called motor neurone disease.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting His Football Journey
Marius Žaliūkas began his football career at Inkaras Kaunas. In 2004, he moved to a rival team in the same city, FBK Kaunas. For the 2004-2005 season, he played for FK Šilutė on a loan, which means he played for them temporarily before returning to FBK Kaunas.
Playing for Heart of Midlothian
In August 2006, Marius was loaned to Hearts, a Scottish club. He was one of many Lithuanian players who joined Hearts because the club's owner, Vladimir Romanov, also owned FBK Kaunas. Marius played his first game for Hearts on 26 August, helping them win 4-1 against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He scored his first goal for the club on 2 December, which helped Hearts get a 2-2 draw against St Mirren.
During the 2008-2009 season, Marius showed great skill. However, he also received four red cards, which meant he was sent off the field. One of these red cards happened in a Scottish Cup game against Falkirk, where he had a moment of frustration. His manager, Csaba László, told him he needed to control his temper. Despite these issues, Marius signed a new contract with Hearts, staying until December 2010.
In July 2009, Marius was considered for the role of club captain. Even with his past disciplinary record, the manager trusted him to be a leader. He was named vice-captain, sharing leadership duties with Michael Stewart. When Stewart left, Marius became the official club captain. His future at Hearts was uncertain for a while due to contract talks, but in November 2010, he signed a permanent deal until the end of the 2013 season. A big moment came on 19 May 2012, when Marius lifted the Scottish Cup trophy after Hearts beat their rivals Hibernian 5-1 in the final.
Marius left Hearts in the summer of 2013 when the club faced financial difficulties. After leaving Hearts, he tried out for Rangers but decided not to sign with them. He then tried out for Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in England. However, when QPR delayed offering him a contract, Marius decided to try out for Leeds United instead.
Time with Leeds United
In October 2013, Marius began training with Leeds United. On 26 October, he officially signed a contract with the club until the end of the season. He made his debut for Leeds on 1 November 2013 against Yeovil Town. In a game against Watford on 7 December, Marius made a crucial block in the last minute, helping Leeds secure a 3-3 draw. His strong performances made him a key player for Leeds manager Brian McDermott.
In December 2013, Marius was involved in two games where opposing players received red cards for bad tackles on him. Because of his excellent form, Marius signed an extended contract with Leeds until the end of the 2014-2015 season. However, after some mistakes in a game against Sheffield Wednesday, he lost his regular spot in the team. On 30 June 2014, his contract with Leeds was ended by mutual agreement.
Playing for Rangers
After leaving Leeds United, Marius Žaliūkas joined Rangers on trial in July 2014. He later signed a two-year contract with the Scottish Championship club that same month. He played 28 games for Rangers and scored two goals. On 27 August 2015, Marius left Rangers by mutual agreement. His last game was a friendly match against Burnley.
Final Club: Žalgiris
In 2016, Marius Žaliūkas played for the Lithuanian club FK Žalgiris. He officially retired from professional football in January 2017.
International Career
Marius Žaliūkas first played for the Lithuanian national team in 2005. He scored his only international goal on 7 September 2012 against Slovakia during a qualifying match for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. His last game for the national team was in 2016.
Personal Life and Legacy
Marius Žaliūkas was married to Nora Žaliūkė, and they had a son, also named Marius, who was born in March 2020.
In 2013, Marius was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, a serious illness that affects the brain and nerves. The Lithuanian Football Federation confirmed that Marius passed away on 31 October 2020, at the age of 36. He was buried on 5 November 2020, after a service at St. George the Martyr Church in Kaunas.
To honor Marius, his former club Hearts retired the number 26 jersey for the 2021-2022 season. They also made MND Scotland, a charity supporting people with motor neurone disease, their sponsor for two years. This was a way to remember Marius and raise awareness for the illness.
Honours
Heart of Midlothian
- Scottish Cup: 2011–12
Žalgiris
- A Lyga: 2016
- Lithuanian Football Cup: 2015–16, 2016
- Lithuanian Supercup: 2016
Individual
- Scottish Premier League Player of the Month: December 2010
See also
In Spanish: Marius Žaliūkas para niños
