Rokas Pukštas (born August 25, 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Croatian Football League club Hajduk Split.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rokas Pukštas[1] | ||
| Date of birth | August 25, 2004[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hajduk Split | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2018–2020 | Sporting Kansas City | ||
| 2020 | Barça Residency Academy | ||
| 2020–2022 | Hajduk Split | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022– | Hajduk Split | 41 | (9) |
| 2022 | → Solin (loan) | 5 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | United States U15 | 5 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | United States U20 | 14 | (2) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 17, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 4, 2023 | |||
Club career edit
Pukštas joined Sporting Kansas City's youth academy in 2018, and had a trial with Manchester United in 2019.[2] He moved to the Barça Residency Academy in January 2020, where he was a regular starter of their youth sides. He signed a professional contract with Hajduk Split on November 10, 2020, joining their U17 side.[3] He made his professional debut with Hajduk Split in a 2–1 Croatian First Football League win over Hrvatski Dragovoljac on April 29, 2022.[4]
International career edit
Pukštas is eligible to play for the United States and Lithuania. He represented the United States U15s in 2019.[5] He later represented the United States U20s in 2021[6] and at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup[7] where he scored a goal against New Zealand.[8] He was approached to represent the senior Lithuania national team in March 2022.[9]
Personal life edit
Pukštas was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma to a family of Lithuanian athletes. His father, Mindaugas Pukštas, was a Lithuanian marathon runner who came 74th in his discipline at the 2004 Summer Olympics.[10]
Career statistics edit
Club edit
- As of match played March 17, 2024
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hajduk Split | 2021–22 | 1. HNL | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 0 | 27 | 4 | |||
| 2023–24 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 41 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 9 | ||
| Solin (loan) | 2022–23 | 1. NL | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | |||
| Career total | 46 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 12 | ||
- ^ Includes Croatian Cup
- ^ Appearance in Croatian Super Cup
Honors edit
Hajduk Split
United States U20
References edit
- ^ a b c "Squad List – FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023: USA" (PDF). FIFA. May 18, 2023. p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ "Hajduku zanimljiv Rokas Pukstas". Dalmatinski portal.
- ^ "USYNT mid Rokas Pukstas signs in Europe | Club Soccer | Youth Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com.
- ^ "Slobodna Dalmacija – Rokas Pukštas upisao je debi za prvu momčad Bijelih: 'Osjećaj je bio sjajan, kao dijete sam sanjao da kao dio Hajduka budem pred navijačima'". slobodnadalmacija.hr. April 29, 2022.
- ^ Vaughn, Tyler (June 1, 2018). "OEFC's Pukstas captains U.S. U-15 National team". OKC Energy FC.
- ^ "Rinktinės treneris su techniniu direktoriumi parodė dėmesį jaunam futbolo talentui". tv3.lt.
- ^ https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2023/05/us-under-20-mynt-head-coach-mikey-varas-names-usa-roster-for-2023-fifa-u-20-world-cup-in-argentina
- ^ https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/669411
- ^ Tamulionis, Aurimas. "Futbolo rinktinės pristatyme graudinęsis V.Ivanauskas kirto Rusijai: "Jų sporto niekada nebebus"". 15min.lt/sportas.
- ^ "Kroatijos futbole gali atsirasti dar viena lietuviška pavardė, geriau žinoma JAV nei Lietuvoje". DELFI.
- ^ Henry Jr, Larry (May 24, 2023). "Rokas Pukstas wins Croatian Cup with Hajduk Split". SBI Soccer. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
External links edit
- Rokas Pukštas at Soccerway