Rokas Pukštas

Rokas Pukštas (born August 25, 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Croatian First Football League club Hajduk Split.

Rokas Pukštas
Personal information
Full name Rokas Pukštas[1]
Date of birth (2004-08-25) 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 25 (6)
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 October 21, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 4, 2023

Club career

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

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

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

Club
As of October 21, 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hajduk Split 2021–22 Prva HNL 10———10
2022–23 21450——264
2023–24 320000—32
Total 2565000—306
Solin (loan) 2022–23 Prva NL 5300——53
Career total 309500000359

    Honors

    Hajduk Split

    United States U20

    References
    1. "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.
    2. "Hajduku zanimljiv Rokas Pukstas". Dalmatinski portal.
    3. "USYNT mid Rokas Pukstas signs in Europe | Club Soccer | Youth Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com.
    4. "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.
    5. Vaughn, Tyler (June 1, 2018). "OEFC's Pukstas captains U.S. U-15 National team". OKC Energy FC.
    6. "Rinktinės treneris su techniniu direktoriumi parodė dėmesį jaunam futbolo talentui". tv3.lt.
    7. 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
    8. https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/669411
    9. Tamulionis, Aurimas. "Futbolo rinktinės pristatyme graudinęsis V.Ivanauskas kirto Rusijai: "Jų sporto niekada nebebus"". 15min.lt/sportas.
    10. "Kroatijos futbole gali atsirasti dar viena lietuviška pavardė, geriau žinoma JAV nei Lietuvoje". DELFI.
    11. Henry Jr, Larry (May 24, 2023). "Rokas Pukstas wins Croatian Cup with Hajduk Split". SBI Soccer. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
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