리투아니아

Edgaras is one of the most popular players in Lithuania where the fans have closely followed the expansive career of the former Zalgiris Vilnius striker.

The towering attacker had made the breakthrough as a teenager with Zalgiris and helped his local club to win the Lithuanian Championship in season 1991-92. Edgaras then went on to score 41 goals in 93 League games, including 25 in 27 matches in 1995-96 when he was the top marksman in Lithuania. By this time he was also an established international striker and Edgaras now has a total of 44 caps for his country.

The Lithuanian front man then had a successful spell in Russia, playing for CSKA Moscow in 1996 and then Torpedo Moscow in 1997. His form attracted the leading Belgian side, Club Brugge, and Edgaras hit 8 goals in 17 League matches as his new club won the League Championship in 1997-98.

In January 2000, Edgaras became the first Lithuanian to play at the top level in Spain when Real Sociedad paid 2.3 million Euro for his transfer. In January 2002, after scoring 19 goals in 56 League games, the big striker was on the move again, this time to Portugal. He joined the mighty Benfica and was there for six months before Jose Mourinho took Edgaras to FC Porto in June 2002 for another substantial fee.

He enjoyed great success over two years with Porto, winning the League Championship in seasons 2002-2003 and 2003-2004. He also helped Porto to beat Uniao Leiria in the Portuguese Cup Final in June 2003, although injury ruled Edgaras out of the UEFA Cup Final against Celtic that season.

The intelligent hit-man played a huge part in Porto's Champions League victory in 2004, although Edgaras was on the bench in the Final against Monaco and was not required as Mourinho's team comfortably won 3-0. He was, however, voted the Lithuanian Player of the Year.

Last season, with Porto under new management, the big target man went on loan to the French club, OGC Nice and in July 2005 Edgaras was recruited by FBK Kaunas on a three-year contract. He was immediately loaned to Hearts for twelve months and George Burley is delighted to have a man with such enormous experience in the Tynecastle squad.

The Lithuanian International will certainly score goals for Hearts and his physical presence and good touch will create chances for his colleagues. The intelligent striker has also delighted the fans with his tremendous work rate.