Lithuanian striker Nerijus Valskis took the Indian Super Super (ISL) by storm in the last season. He won the ISL Golden Boot by scoring 15 goals for Chennaiyin FC and the most surprising part is that all of his goals came through open play.
Apart from his goal scoring abilities he also has the vision of a playmaker as he provided 6 assists last season and helped Chennaiyin FC to reach the finals. Although they lost to ATK (now ATK Mohun Bagan FC) in the finals, Valskis has caught the eye of the Indian clubs.
ISL club Jamshedpur FC has now signed the 33-year-old on a two season deal.
We are proud to welcome this Lithuanian star and champion forward, @NValskis to our @IndSuperLeague Season 2020-21 squad today. Johar, Nerka!
— Jamshedpur FC (@JamshedpurFC) August 21, 2020
Know more about this new addition to the team 👉 https://t.co/3uWhCdHtmI#JamKeKhelo #NamasteNerka pic.twitter.com/I1NlbOXBJp
Valskis has played across clubs in Lithuania, Israel, Belarus, Latvia, Romania, and Poland, scoring plenty of goals. He also has 26 international caps for Lithuania. His last international appearance was against Serbia in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers and He has also played in the UEFA Nations League.
The striker said after joining Jamshedpur FC: “I am thrilled to be playing for a football-crazy city like Jamshedpur. The city has a huge legacy in football, and I want to help add silverware by winning the coveted ISL trophy for the fans. It is unfinished business for me, and I hope to work hard towards contributing and making Jamshedpur FC Champion of India! This club has huge ambition, and I can’t wait to kick-start an exciting future.”
🔵 🛫 ➡️ 🛬🔴
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) August 21, 2020
The Maruti Suzuki Golden Boot holder is 🆁🅴🆄🅽🅸🆃🅴🅳 with the head coach!#HeroISL pic.twitter.com/v3hNUx89z0
Jamshedpur FC head coach, Owen Coyle, was thrilled to be working with Valskis again. He said: “Nerka is a seasoned striker with goalscoring prowess and hunger to attack the opposition at all times. His link-up play, agility, and finishing is of the highest order, probably the best in the league, and he was the Golden Boot winner for a reason. His performances last season were so powerful and lethal, that his mere presence in the dressing room and the pitch automatically lifted everyone around him. I look forward to working with him and have another successful season.”
Valskis also spoke about continuing his journey in India under the tutelage of Owen Coyle. He said: “We worked wonders as he lifted and motivated a squad that was struggling, resulting in a turnaround that helped us reach the final. I am looking forward to achieving more success with him.”
Now, Coyle and Valskis will once again try to recreate their last season’s from and hopefully win the ISL title for Jamshedpur FC this season.
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