Danny Grainger: From dancing in underpants to lifting the cup, Marius Zaliukas loved every day at Hearts

From dancing around in his underpants to lifting the Scottish Cup, Marius Zaliukas loved everything about playing for Hearts.

Hearts players including Marius Zaliukas, Rudi Skacel and Danny Grainger celebrate winning the 2012 Scottish Cup.

The 2012 cup-winning captain’s untimely death at the age of 36 has shocked the Gorgie community.

For Danny Grainger, a goalscorer in that famous 5-1 final win against Hibs eight years ago, there are memories of a jovial giant who adored every day at Riccarton.

‘That was Zal’

“People saw Marius as a very quiet person but when you got to know him he was such a laugh. Every day at training he would come in and be bouncing around like he was on Duracell,” Grainger told the Evening News.

“He was just such a happy-go-lucky guy around the dressing room, especially when the music was on.

“If he was going for a shower he was jumping around in his underpants. If he was coming out of the shower he had a towel around him jumping around like a lunatic.

“That was Zal. Sometimes you get lads who come into a dressing room, sit in the corner and sit by themselves. Maybe they’re having a bad day.

“Zal never had any of those days. He was always upbeat and positive. Then, when you got onto the training pitch, it was work time.

“I’ve been around captains who are so serious, giving it: ‘You must be switched on 24/7.’ Zal was almost the opposite. He was so laid-back and upbeat in the dressing room.

“He was always messing about at Riccarton but as soon as you went onto the pitch, you saw his standards. He was never a shouter, he was just a leader.

“One of the best moments you can see from his time at Hearts is when he’s walking up the stairs at Hampden. You see the emotion and disbelief that he is finally getting his hands on the Scottish Cup.

“That’s what it meant to him. He bought into everything about Hearts and we will miss him dreadfully.”

How I found out

Grainger, now managing the English Northern Premier League club Workington, recalled how he learned of the Lithuanian’s passing.

“I didn’t know he was unwell. One of our lads, who is a Leeds fan, showed me something breaking on one of the Leeds fans’ forums on Saturday.

“I contacted Ian Black and Webby [Andy Webster]. Blackie was trying to get in touch with Arvydas [Novikovas] but then the Lithuanian FA put out a statement.

“It’s never something you are ready to hear. You know how close that dressing room was at Hearts with everything going on behind the scenes. Big Zal was one of the leaders in that group along with the likes of Webby and Rudi [Skacel].

“Hearts meant so much to Zal. Not many foreign lads will come into a club like Hearts and buy into the club the way he did. I think that’s what made him such a fans’ favourite.

“He genuinely did have such a passion for Hearts. Even after he left, he was always welcomed back with open arms. The place meant so much to him.

“It’s tragic and I just want to pass my condolences on to his family.”

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