Sabah coach Valdas Dambrauskas has recounted his remarkable journey from arriving in London with limited English on a student visa to managing his team in the Champions League. Dambrauskas, who knew by age 12 he wouldn't become a professional player, was driven by a desire to stay connected to football.
Arriving in London in August 2002 at 25, his early years were marked by extensive work and study. He pursued a sports science and coaching degree at London Metropolitan University, which began in 2004. Concurrently, he volunteered with the Access to Sports Project, assisting underprivileged children in Finsbury Park. His involvement deepened with London Tigers, a community organization supporting teams from junior to semi-professional levels.
Over five years, Dambrauskas progressed from a volunteer to managing the first team in non-league football, participating in competitions like the FA Cup and FA Vase. He became the first Lithuanian to earn a UEFA coaching license through the London Football Association. Dambrauskas actively sought knowledge by attending numerous courses, conferences, and meetings of the London Football Coaches Association, stating, "Everywhere I could go just to gain some information, some knowledge, some extra diploma, extra course."
His first opportunity at a professional club came in 2004 when Manchester United Soccer Schools offered him a coaching role. He spent five years coaching on residential courses in the UK and Europe, describing it as "the best thing that could happen in my life." He expressed deep gratitude to John Shiels, the foundation's chief executive, for the opportunity despite his lack of prior professional experience.
Following a brief period with Fulham, Dambrauskas moved to Brentford. He credits academy director Ose Aibangee for significantly influencing his career and pushing his boundaries. Throughout this period, Dambrauskas juggled his coaching aspirations with supporting his family by working multiple jobs.
"I was a gardener, a handyman, doing newspaper rounds at the beginning, also polishing floors in a pub," Dambrauskas recalled. "So many jobs. Working in retail, and then as a sports development officer, then a sports development manager, and the central YMCA. I was doing two, three, sometimes four jobs."
Sabah's Champions League fixtures include a match against Arsenal, scheduled for January. This return to play at a major London club holds particular significance for Dambrauskas, as one of the buildings at London Metropolitan University, where he studied, overlooked Emirates Stadium.
Reflecting on his time in England, Dambrauskas's demeanor brightens. "When I hear this word 'England', it for me sounds like opportunities," he said. "It was really amazing. England gave me all this and I'll forever be grateful."