VALDAS DAMBRAUSKAS: 'WE DESERVED THIS SUCCESS'

The year 2026 introduced a new name in Azerbaijani football. The perennial champions of recent years, Garabagh, ended the 2025/2026 season without any trophies. Meanwhile, Baku-based Sabah won both the Azerbaijan championship and the national cup. Thus, Sabah’s Lithuanian head coach Valdas Dambrauskas made history as the first foreign specialist to achieve the ‘golden double’ in Azerbaijan.

At the end of an intense season, we met with the Lithuanian coach. During our conversation, Dambrauskas spoke about Azerbaijani football, the results achieved and his future goals.

"First of all, congratulations. You have achieved the ‘golden double’, winning the Azerbaijan championship and the national cup. What is the secret of Sabah’s success?"

"It is very difficult to become champions for the first time. As you know, Sabah won the championship for the first time in the club’s history. And the fact that we also won the cup in the same season makes us truly happy. The secret of success lies in the good understanding between the players and the coaching staff. The management created all the necessary conditions for us. We worked as one team to finish the season in first place. In every match we thought only about victory—and that is precisely why we managed to win this long marathon. Tactical approach, match preparation and analysis of opponents also played an important role. Sabah has excellent facilities. And everyone contributed to the title—from ordinary staff members to the club’s management. Most importantly, the team fully deserved this success."

"When did you feel that you had already become champions of Azerbaijan?"

"After the Neftchi—Garabagh match on April 30, I was already calm. From a mathematical standpoint, it was practically impossible for Garabagh to catch us. It was after that game that we began to feel like champions."

"Which opponents were the toughest to play against?"

"Azerbaijani football has its own characteristics. But winning the Premier League here is no easy task. You have ambitious teams led by very experienced coaches. First of all, I must mention Garabagh, the unstoppable champions of recent years. Gurban Gurbanov continues to do tremendous work for the country’s football. Reaching the group stage of the Champions League and advancing to the round of 32 is a great achievement. Of course, playing against Garabagh was never easy.

"I can only speak well of Neftchi’s coach, Yuriy Vernydub. In a short time, he has transformed the team and raised its level of play. Moreover, you know the immense experience possessed by Turan Tovuz’s head coach, Gurban Berdyev. My team became champions in a league where specialists such as Gurbanov, Berdyev and Vernydub work. That is why I highly value our victory."

"Azerbaijani fans expect Sabah to deliver serious results in European competitions. You will represent the country in the Champions League for the first time. What will be the team’s main goal?"

"Victory always brings great responsibility. Now we will have to play against the champions of various countries. The Champions League is a completely different and very prestigious tournament. I do not want to predict how far we can go. We need to wait for the draw and take it step by step. We must work even harder on ourselves and carefully analyse the opponents’ performance."

"What do you think of the Azerbaijan championship?"

"I have a very good opinion of it. I am grateful to the opponents and their coaches, because competing against them helped me grow. I improved my skills and gained experience. Each round forced us to prepare very seriously for matches against our rivals. That is why we saw interesting games. Your championship has made me stronger."

"You have travelled around the regions of Azerbaijan. What impression do you have of the country?"

"Azerbaijan is the ninth country in my career. When there were breaks in the league, I tried to travel to the regions with my family. Seeing different countries and cultures, getting to know nature and local people—that is a huge experience for me. This is one of the best aspects of working in football. It gives a person much more than just winning a match.

"Once, during a break in matches, I went to Shahdagh. I visited the villages of Laza and Khynalyg. I come from Lithuania, where the landscape is mostly flat, so I have always had a special interest in mountains and heights. In Shahdagh I saw them in abundance. It was an unforgettable journey. Last year I also went to the mountains of Siyazan and to Gobustan National Park. Those trips also left me with wonderful impressions. Azerbaijan is a very beautiful country. And the people here are very hospitable and attentive to guests."

"How do you prefer to relax after intense matches?"

"For me, there is no better rest than travelling. The job of a head coach is both very difficult and very demanding. Every day you have to stand in front of 30–40 people, talk to them, guide them, motivate them, be a leader. Doing that for one or two days is not hard, but to keep it up for months, for an entire season—that is extremely tough. So you need to constantly develop so as not to leave a void inside yourself. I draw inspiration from different sources—books, people, films, theatre, music and many other things. Travel is one of those sources. By understanding local culture, history and traditions, I can better connect with the players and understand them."

"And finally, what would you like to say to the fans?"

"A huge thank you to the Sabah fans. And I thank all supporters in general. It is the fans who make championship matches brighter and more emotional. To our supporters, I want to say a big thank you for your backing. I hope they continue to support Sabah, and we will try to keep delighting them with new victories."