Marius Zaliukas dead at 36 as former Hearts and Rangers defender loses battle with illness
Hearts and Rangers defender Marius Zaliukas has passed away at the age of just 36. The centre-back spent much of his career in Scotland, becoming a Tynecastle hero after joining from Kaunas in 2006.Zaliukas had been quietly battling an unnamed condition, according to website 15min, and his wife announced on Saturday that the defender has passed away just 11 days shy of his 37th birthday.Nora Zaliuke wrote on social media: "He will rest peacefully in eternal silence."The heart of Marius Zaliukas stopped beating today." The centre-back made over 200 appearances for Hearts and was part of the side which won the Scottish Cup in 2012.