Mindaugas Kalonas
Birth date28 February 1984 (age 42)
Birth placeVarėna, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Height1.71 m
PositionMidfielder
Youthyears 11993–1998
Youthclubs 1Vilnius FM
Youthyears 21998–2001
Youthclubs 2FC Sportakademklub Moscow
Years 12001–2002
Clubs 1Dinamo Moscow
Caps 10
Goals 10
Years 22003–2004
Clubs 2Rubin Kazan
Caps 20
Goals 20
Years 32004
Clubs 3Braga
Caps 30
Goals 30
Years 42005–2007
Clubs 4Liepājas Metalurgs
Caps 468
Goals 418
Years 52007
Clubs 5Kuban Krasnodar
Caps 51
Goals 50
Years 62008
Clubs 6FK Riga
Caps 611
Goals 62
Years 72008
Clubs 7Bohemians
Caps 712
Goals 76
Years 82009–2011
Clubs 8FC Metalurh Zaporizhya
Caps 831
Goals 81
Years 92012–2013
Clubs 9Stomil Olsztyn
Caps 917
Goals 95
Years 102013
Clubs 10Ravan Baku
Caps 1013
Goals 108
Years 112013–2014
Clubs 11Baku
Caps 1117
Goals 116
Years 122014
Clubs 12→ Simurq (loan)
Caps 125
Goals 120
Years 132014
Clubs 13Hapoel Haifa
Caps 139
Goals 131
Years 142015
Clubs 14Skonto
Caps 146
Goals 141
Years 152015
Clubs 15Ravan Baku
Caps 150
Goals 150
Years 162015
Clubs 16Hapoel Nazareth Illit
Caps 161
Goals 160
Years 172016
Clubs 17Žalgiris Kaunas
Caps 175
Goals 171
Years 182016
Clubs 18Sioni Bolnisi
Caps 181
Goals 180

Mindaugas Kalonas (born 28 February 1984) is a Lithuanian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Kalonas played in the youth teams of Dynamo Moscow, then moved to Rubin Kazan, before having a spell at Portuguese club S.C. Braga.[1] But at neither club he made it through to the first team. He then moved to Latvia where he played with FHK Liepājas Metalurgs, who went on to win the 2006 Virslīga. In the following season, Kalonaswon the Latvian Cup with his team and placed second in the league.

After a spell with Kuban Krasnodar, he signed for FK Riga in January 2008. In July 2008, his club played against Bohemian F.C. in the UEFA Intertoto Cup, where Kalonas impressed Bohs manager Pat Fenlon.[2] On 31 July 2008, he signed a contract with Bohemian F.C. until the end of the season[3] and made his debut for the Gypsies in 3–0 win over Cobh Ramblers at Dalymount Park on 1 August. Kalonas adapted well to the League of Ireland and netted his first goal for Bohs in a 2–0 win over Galway United on 22 August. He quickly became a fan favourite, netting the winner in a game against rivals Shamrock Rovers and the deciding penalty in a shoot-out to claim The Double in the FAI Cup Final against Derry City. He also became the first Lithuanian to play in an FAI Cup Final.

In 2009, he signed a three-year contract with Metalurh Zaporizhya. In his two and a half years at the club, Kalonas played 31 games and scored one goal, which came against Metalurh Donetsk. On 23 July 2012, Kalonas joined Polish I liga side Stomil Olsztyn.

In January 2013, Kalonas joined Azerbaijan Premier League side Ravan Baku, scoring eight goals in 13 league games. At the end of the 2012–13 season Kalonas moved to FC Baku.[4] In November 2013, Kalonas was named Lithuanian Footballer of the Year 2013.[5] On 4 February 2014, Kalonas joined Simurq PIK on loan for the remainder of the 2013–14 season.[6]

On 10 June 2014, Kalonas joined Hapoel Haifa on a two-year contract.[7] After only six-months in Israel, Kalonas returned to Latvia, signing a one-year contract with Virslīga side Skonto FC.[8] Kalonas was released by Skonto FC in June 2015, just two months after arriving at the club.[9]

In August 2015, Kalonas signed for his former club Ravan Baku.[10] However, his contract was cancelled on 20 August 2015, only a few days after his arrival and without having played a match for the club, after manager Emin Quliyev was dissatisfied with his training.[11] In September 2015 he signed to Hapoel Nazareth Illit.

In February 2016, Kalonas signed with Kauno Žalgiris.[12] On 12 March 2016, he debuted for the club in a 0−2 defeat against FK Trakai, which also marked his first ever appearance in the highest league of his home country, the A Lyga. In May 2016, Kauno Žalgiris announced that the contract with Kalonas has been terminated.[13] In August 2016, Kalonas joined Umaglesi Liga side Sioni Bolnisi.[14]

On 1 March 2017, Kalonas joined Estonian Meistriliiga participants Sillamäe Kalev.[15] After two months at the club, his contract was terminated, with head coach Vadym Dobizha citing Kalonas' lacking fitness and discipline as the reasons for his departure.[16][17]

International career

Kalonas made his debut for the Lithuania national team on 1 March 2006 in a friendly match against Albania. Until 2010, he made 35 appearances for the national team,[18] before being re-called again in 2013. In total, he earned 49 caps for Lithuania, scoring three goals.

Career statistics

Club

[19][20][21]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liepājas Metalurgs2005Virsliga278–278
200624441285
2007176–176
Total6818417219
Kuban Krasnodar2007Russian Premier League10–10
Rīga2008Virsliga11262174
Bohemians2008League of Ireland1260–126
Metalurh Zaporizhya2008–09Ukrainian Premier League11100–111
2009–1012010–130
2010–118000–80
Total31110–321
Stomil Olsztyn2012–13I liga17511–186
Ravan Baku2012–13Azerbaijan Premier League13820–158
Baku2013–14Azerbaijan Premier League13510–145
Simurq (loan)2013–14Azerbaijan Premier League6000–51
Hapoel Haifa2013–14Israeli Premier League10153–154
Skonto2015Virsliga0000–00
Career total1824610410320253

International

[20]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Lithuania200660
2007110
2008101
200961
201020
201100
201200
201381
201410
Total443
Scores and results list Lithuania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kalonas goal.
List of international goals scored by Mindaugas Kalonas
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
16 September 2008Gruia stadium, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaRomania3–03–0FIFA World Cup 2010 qualification
214 October 2009Sūduva Stadium, Marijampolė, LithuaniaSerbia1–02–1FIFA World Cup 2010 qualification
318 November 2013Zimbru Stadium, Chișinău, MoldovaMoldova1–01–1Friendly

Honours

Liepājas Metalurgs

Bohemians

References

  1. ^ "Portugalijoje dar liko vienas Lietuvos futbolininkas" (in Lithuanian). delfi.lt. 2004-09-08. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  2. ^ "Intertoto spin-off sees Bohemians sign Kalonas". independent.ie. 2008-08-01. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  3. ^ "Fenlon signs Lithuanian". irishtimes.com. 2008-08-01. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  4. ^ "Mindauqas Kalonas went to Baku". azerisport.com/. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  5. ^ Januška, Vaidotas (15 November 2013). "Kalonas crowned as Lithuania's best". UEFA.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013.
  6. ^ ""Simurq" Kalonasla rəsmi müqavilə bağladı". Simurq PIK. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Oficialu: M.Kalonas tapo T.Kijansko bendraklubiu" (in Lithuanian). sportas.lt. 2014-06-12. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  8. ^ "Izraelyje neužsibuvęs Mindaugas Kalonas žais Latvijos klube Skonto" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Skonto FC pievienojas pieci futbolisti" (in Latvian). skontofc.com/. Skonto FC. 27 June 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  10. ^ ""Šiauliuose" žadėjęs žaisti Mindaugas Kalonas išvyko į Azerbaidžaną" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. 2015-08-05. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  11. ^ "Ряван распрощался с Калонасом" (in Russian). azerifootball.com. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  12. ^ ""Kauno Žalgiris" su nekantrumu laukia pirmųjų sezono rungtynių" (in Lithuanian). FK Kauno Žalgiris. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  13. ^ "A lygoje neužsibuvo: Mindaugas Kalonas paliko "Kauno Žalgirį"" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. 2016-05-13. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  14. ^ Sadagiani, Arturas (30 August 2016). "M. Kalonas rungtyniaus Gruzijoje" (in Lithuanian). sportas.info. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  15. ^ "Futbolo piligrimas M.Kalonas: Estija - ne paskutinė stotelė" (in Lithuanian). futbolo.tv. 9 March 2017. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Sillamäe Kalev loobus Aidara ja Kalonase teenetest" (in ee). sportas.info. 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  17. ^ "M.Kalono karjera Estijoje truko 145 minutes" (in ee). Futbolas.lt. 1 May 2017. Archived 2017-06-06 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  18. ^ Lauzadis, Almantas (29 October 2009). "Lithuania – Record International Players". RSSSF
  19. ^ "M. Kalonas". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  20. ^
  21. ^ "Mindaugas Kalonas" (in Ukrainian). FFU. Retrieved 17 March 2014.