Edgaras Utkus and Cercle Brugge can breathe a sigh of relief after securing their place in the Belgian Pro League for another season. In a high-stakes relegation playoff, the Brugge-based side delivered a convincing 3–1 victory in the second leg against Patro Eisden, sealing an emphatic 8–2 aggregate triumph.
The 24-year-old Lithuanian defender played the full 90 minutes in the crucial second leg and picked up a yellow card in the process—evidence of his physical commitment on the pitch when everything was on the line.
This season’s dramatic escape stands in stark contrast to the 2023–2024 campaign, which had started on a high for Cercle Brugge. The club achieved a remarkable fourth-place finish in the Belgian Pro League, earning a ticket to the UEFA Conference League, where they impressed by finishing 8th out of 36 teams and reached the knockout-stage.
But any dreams of building on that success quickly crumbled. Cercle’s domestic form suffered a sharp decline this season, with inconsistent performances leading to a disappointing 13th-place finish and a tense fight for survival in the relegation playoff.
Despite the rocky road, Utkus has been a mainstay in the squad. He made 35 appearances across all competitions this season for Cercle Brugge.
