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On November 10, M. Žaliūkas would have turned 37, but his soccer talent, famous for his physical qualities and aerial duels on the field, was suffocated by a particularly rare motor neuron disease.
The adult defender (190cm) began his career at eighteen at the native club Kaunas Inkaras, but quickly attracted the attention of the coaches of FBK Kaunas, who dominated in Lithuania at the time.
During Vladimir Romanov’s reign, the young defender had to play for the Šilutė team, which is closely related to the scandalous businessman, but in the middle of the last decade the talent of M. Žaliūkas became more and more pronounced, so that soon the young defender not only returned to Kaunas, but was also hired in Edinburgh. Team of hearts.
This was the first serious evaluation, because V. Romanov sent only the most outstanding students of FBK Kaunas to Scotland.
„Reuters“ / „Scanpix“ nuotr./Marius Žaliūkas
2006 was a memorable year for the 22-year-old defender, not least due to his move to the Scottish capital. In the same year, M. Žaliūkas received the attention of the coaches of the national team for the first time.
Algimantas Liubinskas, who led the team, invited a young Kaunas resident to friendly matches with Albania (2: 1) and Poland (1: 0).
“Then I had strong central defenders Tomas Žvirgždauskas and Andrius Skerl in the national team, but the young and promising footballer caught my attention and gave him a chance. One thing immediately impressed me and that image stayed in my memory forever. In training In soccer, we have such an exercise when the ball is passed from the edge and two forwards attack a defender and try to create an advantage. So, in these aerial duels, those two forwards had no chance of winning against Maria, he collected all the balls. I will turn 69 immediately, I have seen everything, but I no longer remember the footballer who fights so well in these duels. He was so subtle in his position and “cleaned up” everything that he even had to joke saying that I didn’t have normal attackers. He was the king on the second floor, “he said. 15 minutes A. Liubinskas recalled.
The first strategist who invited M.Žaliūkas to the national team called the defender a few years ago, but then the former footballer’s thoughts did not revolve around the sport.
“A few years ago, while coaching the Vilnius Vytis team, I called Maris, who had no club, and invited me to join, because at that time we were very short of defenses. We spoke with humanity and warmth, but he made no secret of the fact that he had no plans to return to the square. Soon I also found out about this disease. Young, very talented, especially human, sad when oak trees fall, and it was a real Lithuanian oak. It’s a shame for a boy and a shame for the family, but such luck “, A. Liubinskas did not spare his beautiful words to his student.
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Algimantas Liubinskas
After moving to Scotland, M. Žaliūkas found a whole group of compatriots on the Heart team. At first, local fans were particularly skeptical of V. Romanov’s newcomers who attracted troops from Kaunas, but in the end, the Lithuanians earned respect and Green He even became a favorite and captain of the Hearts fans.
The current Vilnius “Žalgiris” captain Saulius Mikoliūnas was one of those who traveled with M.Žaliūkas on the Kaunas-Edinburgh express, and at the same time played for the Lithuanian national team.
“Marius was a man of rare kindness and sincerity with an infinitely large heart. Even in difficult situations, he was able to remain calm and restrained. It has always been fun and positive. And on the field of play, the aerial duel was very popular. And he was an extremely loving person and dedicated to his family, ”he said. 15 minutes S. Mikoliūnas pointed out.
Sigismund Gedvila / 15min photo / Saulius Mikoliūnas
2012 is probably the most memorable year of M.Žaliūkas’ career. As captain of the Hearts, he lifted the long-awaited Scottish Cup trophy over his head, beating another team from the Hibernian city 5: 1 in the final.
Symbolic, but on Saturday Hearts played the same rival again in the Scottish Cup semi-final and won after extra time. “Mariau, this victory is for you,” the Scottish daily Mail Sport said in a headline.
Mail Sport case
In the same year, the defender scored his only goal, wearing the clothes of the Lithuanian team, when his head scored in the match at the LFF stadium with the Slovaks (1: 1).
| 2002-2004 | Kaunas Anchor |
|---|---|
| 2004-2007 | FBK Kaunas |
| 2004-2005 | → Šilutė (rental) |
| 2006-2007 | → “Heart of Midlothian” (nuoma) |
| 2007-2013 | Edinburgh “Heart of Midlothian” |
| 2013-2014 | “Leeds United” |
| 2014-2015 | Glasgow Rangers |
| 2016 | Vilnius “Žalgiris” |
Former Lithuanian national team leaders Tomas Danilevičius and Deividas Šemberas have no doubt that this is one of the saddest days in the history of Lithuanian football.
“This news has shocked the entire football community. For me personally, it was a huge shock, especially when I see Marie in my memory on the national team and in a Hearts jersey with a captain’s tie. Confident all the time, with a smile on his face, a calm square, and a true leader. Outside the stadium, he was an introvert. He struggled with the disease for about 4-5 years, but no one knew and Marius was not very open to anyone. I remember his goal in the Slovakian goal after a free kick. The feeling of being suspended in the air waiting for the ball to fly. It’s scary when young people leave us, and it’s even scarier that we can’t help them, “said Tomas Danilevičius, the most productive footballer on the national team and current LFF president, of the defeat.
Photo by Rokas Lukoševičius / 15min / Tomas Danilevičius
“I had to play with Marius alone in the national team, but the memories remained of the best: a true professional on the field, hard-working, responsible, combative. He was cheerful and friendly in life, always responsible. In my opinion, he had all the qualities of a true captain, both on and off the field. It is a pity that the royal personalities come out so soon, ”sighed Deividas Šemberas, one of the country’s most prominent footballers, who had spent several years in the Lithuanian team alongside M. Žaliūkas.
Sigismund Gedvila / 15min photo / David Šemberas
In Edinburgh, M. Žaliūkas even spent seven years and played 301 matches, during which he scored 18 goals.
“I remember Marius as a player with a character who waited patiently for his chance and got it. I was working as an assistant head coach in Edinburgh at the time and he had become a true team leader over the years. One thing that stuck in my memory was that when we traveled to Scotland by bus for a match, Marius always had a thick book of 500 pages or more on hand, usually written by more sophisticated authors, ”said Coachs at the 2012 Club. -2013. Edgaras Jankauskas, who worked at the headquarters and later coached the Lithuanian team.
Photo by Josvydas Elinskas / 15min / Edgaras Jankauskas
In 2013, the defender joined Leeds United, which this year returned to the English Premier League and at the time was playing second-tier, and returned to Scotland in 2014 to defend the colors of the famous Glasgow Rangers.
As a 32-year-old defender, he ended his career in 2016 in Vilnius “Žalgiris”.
“Although it was always a great pleasure to return to Lithuania for a short time – on vacation or for the national team – and for almost ten years abroad I was a little tired and already wanted to go home,” said the footballer.
The contract with M. Žaliūkas was signed by Mindaugas Nikoličius, a famous Lithuanian football coach who at that time was working as the sports director of “Žalgiris”, but who knew the defender well from “Hearts”, where he also spent several years.
“I will always remember Marius as a cheerful man, a man of character. When he moved to Scotland in 2006 after the FBK Kaunas match against Randers, many challenges awaited him, but with his stubbornness he managed to earn his place and prove himself. He always had his opinion, we were able to talk about various topics, he had a great sense of humor ”, M. Nikoličius, who currently works successfully with the HNK Gorica club in Croatia, shared his memories and wished the family strength.
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Mindaugas Nikoličius and Marius Žaliūkas
The loss of one of the best defenders of independent Lithuania shocked the current generation of footballers.
“Marius has always been a very positive, friendly, personable person and a great soccer player. This has always been the case for me and it will remain in my memory, ”said current national team captain Fyodor Chernych.
Nuotr./Fiodoras Černychas “Scanpix”
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