Saulius Mikoliūnas (born 2 May 1984) is a Lithuanian former professional footballer who played as a right winger for the Lithuania national team. He has previously played for Scottish Premier League club Heart of Midlothian and Ukrainian Premier League club Arsenal Kyiv. With 101 caps, Mikoliūnas is also the Lithuania national team's most-capped player.
 Mikoliūnas playing for Arsenal Kyiv in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 May 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Right winger | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2003 | Šviesa Vilnius | 13 | (1) |
| 2003 | Ekranas | 16 | (0) |
| 2004–2009 | FBK Kaunas | 23 | (0) |
| 2005–2009 | → Heart of Midlothian (loan) | 102 | (11) |
| 2009–2012 | Arsenal Kyiv | 78 | (6) |
| 2013–2014 | Sevastopol | 16 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Shakhtyor Soligorsk | 32 | (4) |
| 2016–2023 | Žalgiris | 162 | (11) |
| Total | 442 | (33) | |
| International career | |||
| 2003–2006 | Lithuania U21 | 7 | (0) |
| 2004–2022 | Lithuania | 101 | (5) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Mikoliūnas was a right-sided winger who sometimes played in the right-back position.
Club career
edit
In January 2005, Mikoliūnas moved to Scottish club Heart of Midlothian on loan from FBK Kaunas. He was a regular in the first team for the hearts, however inconsistency always dogged his Hearts career. He silenced many critics with the winner at Tynecastle versus city rivals Hibernian on 26 December 2006. Mikoliūnas announced on 2 December 2008 that he wanted to leave the Edinburgh club after the 2008–09 season, to take up a new football challenge after spending four years at the club. On 27 April 2009, it was confirmed with immediate effect that the midfielder and his Lithuanian colleague Deividas Česnauskis had left Hearts.[1]
The following month, Mikoliūnas stated he was to sign for Swansea City on a free transfer during the summer transfer window, but the move broke down after Swansea manager Roberto Martínez moved to Wigan Athletic.[2] Eventually, Mikoliūnas signed a three-year contract with Ukrainian side Arsenal Kyiv.[3]
In January 2013, Mikoliūnas moved to Ukrainian First League side FC Sevastopol.[4] At the end of the season, his team achieved promotion to the Ukrainian Premier League. In August 2014, he signed for Belarusian club Shakhtyor Soligorsk. In December 2015, Lithuanian club Žalgiris Vilnius announced that Mikoliūnas will join the club for the 2016 season.[5]
At the age of 39, Mikoliūnas announced his retirement from professional football in October 2023.[6] He played his last match on 12 November 2023, on the last matchday of the 2023 A Lyga (12 November). Across all competitions, he has appeared in 221 games for Žalgiris, won the A Lyga title four times, and lifted the Lithuanian cup five times with his team.[7]
International career
editMikoliūnas made his debut for the Lithuania national team on 5 June 2004 in a friendly match against Portugal, and scored his first international goal in 2007 against Georgia. He followed that up a year later with a second goal against Romania. On 9 October 2014, in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match, he scored the most recent goal of his five international goals, against Estonia in a 1–0 home victory.
After appearing in a Nations League match against Kazakhstan on 4 September 2020, Mikoliūnas attained his 85th cap for his country and thus became the most capped player for Lithuania, surpassing previous record holder Andrius Skerla.[8] On 25 September 2022, he became the first Lithuanian player to reach 100 caps for the national team after playing in the Nations League match against Luxembourg.[9]
Off the Pitch
editOn 9 May 2019, Mikoliūnas received a UEFA B coaching license.[10]
Career statistics
edit- Scores and results list Lithuania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mikoliūnas goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 June 2007 | S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas, Lithuania |  Georgia |
1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 2 | 6 September 2008 | Gruia Stadium, Cluj-Napoca, Romania |  Romania |
2–0 | 3–0 | FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying |
| 3 | 25 March 2011 | S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas, Lithuania |  Poland |
1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 11 October 2013 | LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania |  Latvia |
2–0 | 2–0 | FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifying |
| 5 | 9 October 2014 | LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania |  Estonia |
1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying |
Honours
editFBK Kaunas
- Lithuanian A Lyga: 2004
- Lithuanian Cup: 2004
- Lithuanian Super Cup: 2004
Heart of Midlothian
- Scottish Cup: 2005–06
FK Žalgiris
- Lithuanian A Lyga: 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Lithuanian Cup: 2016 (2x), 2018, 2021, 2022
- Lithuanian Super Cup: 2016, 2017, 2020, 2023
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Hearts players become free agents". BBC Sport. 28 April 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
- ^ "Mikoliūnas nebesitiki žaisti "Swansea City"" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ "Naujasis S.Mikoliūno klubas – Kijevo "Arsenal"". Futbolas.lt. 12 July 2009. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ^ "S.Mikoliūnas perėjo į "Sevastopol" gretas" [S. Mikoliūnas moved to the ranks of 'Sevastopol']. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 21 January 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ "Vilniaus "Žalgiris" prisiviliojo Saulių Mikoliūną" [Vilnius 'Žalgiris' attracted Saulias Mikoliunas]. 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). 18 December 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ ""Žalgirio" kapitonas skelbia karjeros pabaigą" [The captain of 'Zalgiris' announces the end of his career]. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 31 October 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ ""Žalgiris" nesugadino Mikoliūno atsisveikinimo rungtynių" ['Žalgiris' did not spoil the farewell match of Mikoliūnas]. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 12 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Tautų lygos starte nusileista Kazachstano rinktinei" [At the start of the League of Nations, Kazakhstan lost] (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Football Federation. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ "Istorija, trukusi 18 metų: Saulius Mikoliūnas jau pasiruošęs paskutiniam šokiui" [A 18-year history: Saulius Mikoliunas prepare for the last dance]. 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). 25 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ ""Skrieja kamuolys" specialus epizodas: S.Mikoliūnas apie linksmas istorijas su V.Romanovu" (in Lithuanian). FK Žalgiris. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
External links
edit- Saulius Mikoliunas at Soccerbase
- Saulius Mikoliūnas at Soccerway
- Saulius Mikoliūnas at National-Football-Teams.com
- Saulius Mikoliūnas – UEFA competition record (archive)
