Faustas Steponavičius Explained

Faustas Steponavičius
Fullname:Faustas Steponavičius
Birth Date:2004 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Panevėžys, Lithuania
Height:1.89 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Botev Plovdiv
Clubnumber:14
Youthyears1:–2020
Youthclubs1:Panevėžys
Years1:2019–2021
Clubs1:Panevėžys
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–2022
Clubs2:Genoa
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2022
Clubs3:Jarun (loan)
Caps3:7
Goals3:0
Years4:2023
Clubs4:RFS
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2023
Clubs5:Tukums 2000 (loan)
Caps5:15
Goals5:8
Years6:2023–
Clubs6:Botev Plovdiv
Caps6:19
Goals6:1
Nationalyears1:2019–2020
Nationalteam1:Lithuania U17
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2021
Nationalteam2:Lithuania U18
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2021–
Nationalteam3:Lithuania U19
Nationalcaps3:13
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2022–
Nationalteam4:Lithuania U21
Nationalcaps4:3
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2023–
Nationalteam5:Lithuania
Nationalcaps5:2
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:11:03, 18 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:22:35, 14 October 2023 (UTC)

Faustas Steponavičius (born 8 June 2004) is a Lithuanian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bulgarian First League club Botev Plovdiv and the Lithuania national team.

Club career

Steponavičius began his career with hometown club FK Panevėžys. From 2019 through 2021 he made 54 appearances for the club's youth and reserve sides, scoring 23 goals.[1] He made his debut for the first-team in an A Lyga match against FK Kauno Žalgiris during the 2020 season. For the 2022 season he scored eleven goals for the reserve side.

In July 2022 Steponavičius went on a two-week trial with Genoa of Italy's Serie A. The following month it was announced that he had signed a one-year contract to initially join the youth academy.[2] [3] In summer 2022, he went on loan to NK Jarun of Croatia's second-tier league. He went on to make seven appearances for the club before departing in search of more first-team playing time.[4] [5]

In 2023 Steponavičius returned to the Baltics, joining FK RFS and going out on loan to FK Tukums 2000 for the 2023 Latvian Higher League season. He went on to score eight goals in fifteen matches in his breakout season en route to becoming one of the top scorers in the league.[6] In June 2023 it was announced that a club from Bulgaria had purchased the player from FK RFS.[7] The club who had activated Steponavičius's buyout clause was soon revealed to be Botev Plovdiv.[8] The club reportedly paid 200,000 for the player.[9]

International career

Steponavičius has been a regular member of Lithuania's youth national sides since the under-15 level.[10] [2] In March 2022 he scored in a 3–1 victory over Malta in 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.[11] Three months later he scored for the national under-19 side in a 1–2 defeat to Estonia in the 2022 Under-19 Baltic Cup.[12]

Steponavičius received his first call-up to the senior national team in June 2023 ahead of UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Bulgaria and Hungary.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lietuvos Fubolas profile . lietuvosfutbolas.lt . 28 June 2023 . Lithuanian.
  2. Web site: Karjeros šuolis: talentas iš Panevėžio persikėlė į Italijos "Serie A" klubą . 15min.lt . 28 June 2023 . Lithuanian.
  3. Web site: F. Steponavicius Pasirese Kontrakta su CFC "Genoa" . FK Panevėžys . 28 June 2023 . Lithuanian.
  4. Web site: F.Steponavičius žaidė Kroatijoje, V.Slivka ir T.Milašius žaidė draugiškose rungtynėse . sportas.lt . 28 June 2023 . Lithuanian.
  5. Web site: F.Steponavičius treniruojasi su RFS klubu . sportas.lt . 28 June 2023 . Lithuanian.
  6. Web site: Gustas . Tomas . Kaimynystėje – naujas Lietuvos futbolo deimantas: įkvėptas C. Ronaldo tikisi žengti Neymaro pėdomis . lrytas.lt . 28 June 2023 . Lithuanian.
  7. Web site: Latvijoje rezultatyvumu išsiskyręs Steponavičius keliasi į Bulgariją . osportas.lt . 28 June 2023 . Lithuanian.
  8. Web site: Ботев Пловдив взима литовски талант . actualno.com . 28 June 2023 . Bulgarian.
  9. Web site: Bulgarijos klubas už Lietuvos rinktinėje kojas apšilusį puolėją sumokėjo šimtatūkstantinę išpirką . delfi.lt . 1 July 2023 . Lithuanian.
  10. Web site: U15s beat Lithuania: 6-2 . Turkish Football Federation . 28 June 2023.
  11. Web site: Lithuanians Too Strong for Malta U21 . Malta FA . 28 June 2023.
  12. Web site: VAATA JÄRELE: U19 koondis lõpetas Balti turniiri võiduga . soccernet.ee . 28 June 2023 . Estonian.