Valdas Dambrauskas, the first Baltic coach to reach the Champions League main round, is leading Azerbaijan’s Sabah FC, a club that was just a dream nine years ago, into an exciting new chapter. Yes, you heard it right! This club, founded in 2017 in Baku, is now gearing up to face giants like Arsenal, Manchester United, and Barcelona. Can you believe it? Just a few years ago, they were still finding their footing, and now they are stepping onto the European stage with the best of the best.
Dambrauskas’s journey to this incredible moment began in 2002 when he won a fortune on the Lithuanian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” He recalled, “Sometimes it was difficult. I had to work hard, and sometimes to believe when myself and those around me were doubting.” Fast forward to now, and that belief is paying off big time! This season, Sabah FC has already clinched the Azerbaijan Cup and followed it up with the league title, breaking Qarabağ FK’s dominance in the process. What a turnaround!
The excitement doesn’t stop there, as Dambrauskas and his team prepare for epic matches against clubs like Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, and Slavia Prague, all set to visit Baku. Think about it: fans who once struggled to fill the stands now have a front-row seat to top-tier football. “It gives me a greater sense of responsibility and extra motivation rather than excitement,” said team captain Mutallimov, who thanked the loyal supporters for sticking with the club through thick and thin.
Dambrauskas isn’t alone in this venture; he’s joined by Valerio Zuddas, a seasoned Italian coach with experience across ten countries. Zuddas expressed his satisfaction with how players have embraced their team principles, saying, “The biggest satisfaction for Valdas as head coach and for us as coaching staff is that we can clearly see how the players are into our team principles and how they believe in them.” It’s clear that this coaching duo knows how to get the most out of their players.
Interestingly, Magsud Adigozalov, the club president, highlighted that their journey to the Champions League was built on analytics rather than heavy spending. “We are proud of the system, the culture, and the work that has gone into this over the last nine years,” he explained. It’s not just about money; it’s about the heart and soul that goes into building a competitive team. Adigozalov believes that a young boy or girl watching these matches might start dreaming differently about football, and that’s a powerful thought, isn’t it?
So, what does the future hold for Sabah FC? With matches against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United on the horizon, the stakes are higher than ever. Fans are buzzing with anticipation, and the whole country is rallying behind their team. Will they pull off an upset? Or will they fall short against these footballing giants? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the dream that started on a quiz show has turned into a thrilling reality.
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber