Saulius Mikoliūnas

Saulius Mikoliūnas (born 2 May 1984) is a Lithuanian professional footballer who plays for Žalgiris Vilnius. He is a Lithuanian international and has played for Scottish Premier League club Hearts and FBK Kaunas. Mikoliūnas also represented Lithuania at under-21 level.

Not to be confused with Saulius Mikalajūnas.

Saulius Mikoliūnas
Personal information
Date of birth (1984-05-02) 2 May 1984
Place of birth Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Right winger
Club information
Current team
 Žalgiris Vilnius
Number 23
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Šviesa Vilnius 13 (1)
2003 Ekranas 16 (0)
2004–2009 FBK Kaunas 23 (0)
2005–2009 → Hearts (loan) 102 (11)
2009–2012 Arsenal Kyiv 78 (6)
2013–2014 Sevastopol 16 (0)
2014–2016 Shakhtyor Soligorsk 32 (4)
2016– Žalgiris Vilnius 89 (6)
National team‡
2004– Lithuania 74 (5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 March 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 26 March 2016

Club career
Mikoliūnas playing for Hearts in 2009

On 2 March 2005, during a match against Rangers at Tynecastle Stadium, Mikoliūnas received a double red card from referee Hugh Dallas. The player was initially sent off for barging linesman Andy Davis after a controversial penalty decision. He received a second card for later swearing at Dallas.[1] Since that incident, Mikoliūnas has been sent off twice more against Rangers, both as a second-half substitute.

Mikoliūnas was a regular in the first team for 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.[2]

The following month, Mikoliūnas states 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.[3]

Eventually, Mikoliūnas signed a three-year contract with Ukrainian side Arsenal Kyiv.[4]

On 9 May 2019, Mikoliūnas received a UEFA B coaching license.[5]

International career

Mikoliūnas has scored five times in his twelve-year international career. Having made his debut in 2004, he scored his first international goal in 2007 against Georgia. He followed that up a year later with a second goal, against Romania. On 11 October 2013, in 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification he scored his most recent goal, against Latvia in a 2–0 home victory.

Position

Mikoliūnas is a right-sided winger who sometimes plays in the right-back position.

Career statistics

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.2 June 2007S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas Georgia1–01–0UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
2.6 September 2008Gruia Stadium, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Romania2–03–0FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
3.25 March 2011S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas Poland1–02–0Friendly match
4.11 October 2013LFF stadium, Vilnius Latvia2–02–0FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifying
5.9 October 2014LFF stadium, Vilnius Estonia1–01–0UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying

Honours

FBK Kaunas

Hearts FC

FK Žalgiris

References
  1. Greechan, John. "Utter chaos". Daily Mail. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  2. "Hearts players become free agents". BBC Sport. 28 April 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  3. "Mikoliūnas doubtful about signing for Swansea". Futbolas.lt. 12 June 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  4. "Naujasis S.Mikoliūno klubas – Kijevo "Arsenal"". Futbolas.lt. 12 July 2009. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  5. ""Skrieja kamuolys" specialus epizodas: S.Mikoliūnas apie linksmas istorijas su V.Romanovu" (in Lithuanian). FK Žalgiris. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
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