Valdas Dambrauskas leads Sabah FK to Champions League history

Valdas Dambrauskas has made history as the first Baltic manager to reach the UEFA Champions League league phase, guiding Azerbaijani club Sabah FK to the competition. The achievement follows Sabah FK's 6-4 aggregate victory over Hapoel Beer Sheva.

Dambrauskas' career is noted for its unconventional path. A former contestant on a Lithuanian television quiz show similar to ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’, he used his winnings in 2002 to fund his move to England to study Sports Science and Coaching at London Metropolitan University. Having never played professional football, he built his career through coaching qualifications and roles within the youth academies of Manchester United, Fulham, and Brentford.

After managing clubs in various countries including Bulgaria, Croatia, and Greece, Dambrauskas joined Sabah FK in 2025. Under his leadership, the club secured a domestic double and a national league title before qualifying for the Champions League. The club is set to face major European teams such as Arsenal, Manchester United, and Barcelona in the upcoming league phase.