Edgaras Jankauskas

Early years and Brugge

Born in Vilnius, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union, Jankauskas moved to local FK Žalgiris' youth ranks at 16, from neighbouring FK Panerys. In 1996 he joined CSKA Moscow, and later spent a further year in the Russian capital with Torpedo Moscow. Jankauskas signed with Club Brugge in 1997, and helped the club win the Belgian Pro League in his first season. However, in January 2000, he became the most expensive Lithuanian player of all time when Real Sociedad paid €2.4 million for his services. In 2000–01, Jankauskas initially struggled for goals, and was told by manager John Toshack that "a striker without goals is like a bar without beer". He broke a seven-game scoreless run with two goals in a 3–0 home win over Real Oviedo on the 29th matchday, taking La Real out of their long spell in relegation zone; they remained out of danger and he concluded the season with eleven goals. In the penultimate fixture, he opened a 3–1 win at rivals Athletic Bilbao in the Basque derby.

Portugal

After another half-season in San Sebastián, Jankauskas was loaned to Benfica for the remainder of the 2001–02 season, though the Lisbon side initially wanted his strike partner Darko Kovačević. He scored eight times in his spell, including on his debut in a 3–2 win over Varzim and twice in the next game for a 4–1 win at Salgueiros. Benfica did not take up their option to sign Jankauskas for €4.3 million during his loan, and instead he joined…

Jankauskas was an important part of the Lithuanian national side since 1991 when, at the age of just 16, he helped the country to the 1991 Baltic Cup, playing the last 30 minutes of the 4–1 final win against Estonia. He scored his first international goal on 5 October 1996, in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Iceland (2–0), and went on to net a further nine in 56 appearances, in eighteen years of play (he did not appear for the national team, however, from 1992 to 1995). On 12 January 2016, after a brief spell at club level with FK Trakai, Jankauskas replaced Igoris Pankratjevas at the helm of Lithuania. His debut on 23 March was a 1–0 friendly loss away to Romania, who were 16th in the FIFA Men's World Ranking. On 4 December 2018, he was dismissed, having won only three games – one competitive, against Malta in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – and been relegated to the bottom tier of the UEFA Nations League by losing all six games. Jankauskas returned to the national job in February 2023, on a one-year deal.

International goals

Scores and results list Lithuania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Jankauskas goal.

Žalgiris

A Lyga: 1991, 1992 Lithuanian Football Cup: 1991, 1993, 1994 Club Brugge

Belgian Pro League: 1997–98 Belgian Supercup: 1998 Porto

Primeira Liga: 2002–03, 2003–04 Taça de Portugal: 2002–03 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2003 UEFA Champions League: 2003–04 UEFA Cup: 2002–03 Hearts

Scottish Cup: 2005–06 Lithuania

Baltic Cup: 1991 Individual

Lithuanian Player of the Year: 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004