Valdas Dambrauskas is set to step onto the pitch at Old Trafford this Thursday, marking a significant milestone in his career as the manager of Azerbaijani club Sabah in the Champions League. For the 49-year-old, the occasion represents a full-circle moment, occurring roughly two decades after he began his coaching journey with Manchester United Soccer Schools.
Reflecting on the upcoming fixture, Dambrauskas expressed his disbelief, noting that while he visited Old Trafford many times with children during his early career, returning as a manager is beyond his imagination. His path to this stage has been defined by a nomadic career across Europe, fueled by a relentless determination to succeed.
The story of his rise is often linked to a 2002 appearance on the Lithuanian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Dambrauskas won 4,000 litas—approximately £725—which he used to fund his initial coaching qualifications. While he acknowledges the public interest in this anecdote, he emphasizes that the money was merely a tool to gain the knowledge and diplomas necessary to pursue his ambition.
Dambrauskas, who realized at age 12 that he would not succeed as a professional player, moved to London in August 2002 at age 25 on a student visa. His early years in England involved a rigorous schedule of juggling multiple roles, including working as a gardener, a handyman, a newspaper delivery person, and a floor polisher in a pub. He also enrolled in a sports science and coaching course at London Metropolitan University in 2004.
His dedication led him to volunteer with the Access to Sports Project and later work with London Tigers, where he eventually managed the first team. He became the first Lithuanian to earn a UEFA coaching license through the London Football Coaches Association. His professional breakthrough came when Manchester United Soccer Schools hired him, an experience he describes as the best thing that could have happened to him, providing him the opportunity to learn from high-caliber personalities.
Following his time at Manchester United and a brief stint at Fulham, he moved to Brentford, crediting academy director Ose Aibangee for his support. His career then took him back to Lithuania to join Ekranas, followed by a successful tenure at Zalgiris Vilnius, where he secured two league titles, three Lithuanian Cups, and two Super Cups. His career trajectory continued with roles in Latvia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Cyprus, accumulating 13 trophies across five countries.
Dambrauskas joined Sabah in the summer of 2025, the 10th club of his career, and immediately led them to a league and cup double. Sabah, founded in 2017 and celebrating its ninth anniversary this Tuesday, plays at the Bank Respublika Arena, which has a capacity of under 9,000 and does not meet UEFA regulations. Despite these limitations, Dambrauskas remains optimistic about his ambitious, hungry squad.
To reach the Champions League, Dambrauskas navigated four knockout rounds, defeating Welsh side TNS, Finland’s KuPS, Denmark’s Aarhus, and Israel’s Hapoel Beer-Sheva. His influence on the team is described as profound, with players maintaining a fighting spirit even in difficult moments. As Sabah prepares for their group stage matches, including a return to London to face Arsenal, Dambrauskas views his time in England as a period of immense opportunity that he remains forever grateful for. The report also notes that some 20 years since he made his first steps into coaching with Manchester United Soccer Schools, the Lithuanian’s career will come full circle. The report also notes that this only scratches the surface of Dambrauskas’ remarkable story. The report also notes that how a game show gave Dambrauskas his break. The report also notes that unbeknownst to Dambrauskas he was becoming a social media star, as Sabah’s players and staff celebrated reaching the Champions League two weeks ago. The report also notes that this is so long ago,” said Dambrauskas with a wry smile. The report also notes that and now suddenly everybody is speaking about this.
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