Rokas Pukštas has ended his career at HNK Hajduk Split with a heroic performance that secured European football for the club. The American-born Lithuanian international is moving to English Championship side Middlesbrough after playing all 120 minutes and scoring the decisive extra-time goal in his final match, as reported by Index.hr Sport. Hajduk currently sits 4th in the HNL with 7 points from four games, just two points behind leaders Dinamo Zagreb.
How did Pukštas perform in his farewell?
Rokas Pukštas marked his final appearance for the Whites with an outstanding display. At 22 years old, the young midfielder was the best player on the pitch in the crucial match for UEFA Europa Conference League qualification. His goal in extra time decided the tie and broke the tradition of early European exits that often occurred around the Feast of the Assumption. For Hajduk, he made 142 appearances, scored 27 goals, and provided 12 assists, with a Croatian Cup among his trophies. He was also part of the youth generation that reached the 2023 UEFA Youth League final.
"I couldn't leave my brothers, I would die for the team today," Pukštas said after the match. "Last match, an ending like this, I will remember this match the most from Hajduk." His move to Middlesbrough was agreed, with the English club wanting him there already last week. Hajduk will continue the season having scored 9 and conceded 5 league goals, giving them a +4 goal difference. The next challenge is a home match against NK Lokomotiva Zagreb on August 31st, which you can follow on our fixtures page.
What did father Mindaugas say?
An emotional message after his son's decisive match was sent by father Mindaugas Pukštas, a former Lithuanian marathon runner and Olympian from Athens 2004. On Facebook, he thanked Dalmatia, Hajduk, and Torcida. "Thank you Dalmatia! Thank you HNK Hajduk Split! Thank you Torcida Split! He came as a boy, he leaves as a warrior," wrote Mindaugas Pukštas, also using the abbreviation HŽV which stands for the club slogan 'Hajduk lives forever'.
This message symbolically closes a six-year cycle that Pukštas began as a teenager from the United States. He progressed through all the club's youth categories before breaking into the first team and becoming a regular member. His development can be tracked through statistics on our stats page.
What is Hajduk's situation now?
The departure of Pukštas leaves a gap in midfield, but Hajduk has had a solid start to the season. With two wins, one draw, and one loss, the team is right in the thick of the title race. They are currently second in the HNL, and a detailed table overview is available on standings. Losing a key player ahead of an important derby with Lokomotiva raises questions about squad reorganization.
Middlesbrough gets a player in peak form, while Hajduk looks to compensate for his attacking contribution. However, securing Europa Conference League qualification brings additional financial resources and an opportunity for further development. The rest of the squad, including possible replacements for Pukštas, can be seen in our squad overview. Rokas Pukštas's decisive goal secured European competition for Hajduk this autumn. Attention now turns to maintaining the good league start and preparing for new challenges.
