After winning a Lithuanian game show in 2002 to fund his move to England, Valdas Dambrauskas has risen from grassroots coaching to managing Sabah in the Champions League.
Key facts
- •Dambrauskas won the Lithuanian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2002.
- •He spent eight years in London working various jobs and earning coaching badges.
- •His early coaching roles included sessions at the Access to Sports Project and Manchester United Soccer Schools.
- •He managed clubs including Zalgiris Vilnius, Hajduk Split, and Ludogorets before joining Sabah.
- •Sabah secured their Champions League spot after winning the Azerbaijani league title.
Valdas Dambrauskas, the head coach of Azerbaijani club Sabah, is set to lead his team in their Champions League debut at Old Trafford. His unconventional path began in 2002 when he won approximately £725 on the Lithuanian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, using the funds to move to London to pursue a coaching career. Dambrauskas spent eight years working various jobs in London while earning his coaching qualifications before returning to manage in Lithuania and across Europe.
By the numbers
Early Struggles and London Coaching
Upon moving to London, Dambrauskas worked multiple jobs simultaneously, including as a gardener, salesman, and handyman, while studying sports science and coaching at London Metropolitan University. He gained his first coaching experience with the Access to Sports Project in Finsbury Park and later worked with Manchester United Soccer Schools, an experience he credits with providing a significant boost to his confidence.
A Career Across Europe
Dambrauskas returned to Lithuania in 2010 to join Ekranas as an assistant manager, later becoming head coach of Zalgiris Vilnius. His career subsequently took him to clubs in Latvia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, and Hungary. He took charge of Sabah in 2025, leading the club to an Azerbaijani league title and a subsequent spot in the Champions League qualifiers.
Timeline
- 2002Dambrauskas appeared on the Lithuanian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and moved to London.
- 2010He returned to Lithuania to work as an assistant manager for Ekranas.
- 2014He became the head coach of Zalgiris Vilnius.
- 2025He took over as head coach of the Azerbaijani club Sabah.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian Football.
