FBK Kaunas to Hearts

Loan moves from Lithuanian football club FBK Kaunas and Scottish Premier League club Hearts are very common, as both clubs are owned by businessman Vladimir Romanov. Many players have been signed by Kaunas, but have been immediately shipped off to Hearts on loan. Here are some examples:

Saulius Mikoliunas

Young Lithuanian winger Mikoliunas was one of the very first players to make the move, back in 2004.

Edgaras Jankauskas

At the same time, FC Porto had offloaded big Lithuanian striker Jankauskas to the Lithuanian club, but he was also immediately sent to the SPL club, in 2004.

Deividas Cesnauskis

In 2005, Cesnauskis was also loaned to the Scottish club.

Nerijus Barasa

Stocky right-back Barasa hardly featured for Hearts since his loan move, until he was put on from the start in a match against Rangers, in the final game of the SPL season, in 2006.

Jose Goncalves

Former FC Thun defender Goncalves joined Hearts in January 2006 on loan, after joining the Lithuanian champions.

Bruno Aguiar

Portuguese star Aguiar had just been transferred to Kaunas in January 2006, from Portuguese high-flyers Benfica, before he followed his fellow colleauges to Scotland.

2006 Summer Transfer Market

Marius Zaliukas and Andrius Velicka were both added from the club based in Lithuania in the summer of 2006. Yes, you guessed it, on loan!

2007 January Transfer Market

Many Kaunas players had joined Hearts on trial, but only Polish striker Arkadiusz Klimek and goalkeeper Eduardas Kurskis managed to join the club, on loan again! Also, towards the end of transfer window, Tomas Kancelskis, goalkeeper Arnas Lekevicius and Linas Pilibaitis all joined from the Lithuanian club, along with Terez Grozny winger Laryea Kingston.

The Owner's Dream

Mr. Romanov said that he wanted to see eleven Lithuanian footballers on the pitch for Hearts one day. Watch this space....