REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Michael Carrick wants to be a Champions League-winning manager with Manchester United, but one of his upcoming managerial opponents has achieved his dream after winning Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
The Red Devils return to Europe's top-tier competition for the first time since the 2023-24 campaign and have found out who awaits them in the league phase. Carrick's troops have been handed a tricky fixture list, including hosting Bayern Munich, a trip to Atletico Madrid, and encounters with AS Roma, RB Leipzig, and Villarreal.
Carrick's path to the Old Trafford hot seat came after a trophy-laden playing career, which saw him win the Champions League in 2008. He seemed destined to become a manager after hanging up his boots, a story that contrasts with that of a coach who will oversee one of this year's debutant teams.
Who Wants to Be a Football Manager? - Dambrauskas' Story
REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov
One of the weaker opponents United have been drawn against are Azerbaijani minnows Sabah FK, a club founded back in September 2017. Last season, the Owls won their domestic league for the first time in their history, and Valdas Dambrauskas played an instrumental role.
The Lithuanian tactician achieved a domestic double, also guiding the youngest club in Champions League history to the Azerbaijani Cup. His journey to football management has all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster, having not played professionally before starting his coaching career.
Dambrauskas instead won Lithuania's version of 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' back in 2002, handed 4,000 Lithuanian litas (£2,500) in prize money. He opted to use his winnings to start his dream job, moving to England and studying Sports Science and Coaching at London Metropolitan University.
The 49-year-old is familiar with United, one of three Premier League clubs he spent time coaching at youth level. He took up similar roles at Fulham and Brentford after finishing up at University.
After a spell in charge of ninth-tier outfit Kingsbury London Tigers, he headed back to Lithuania to coach more youth sides before traveling around Europe to gain more managerial experience. He eventually landed first-team coaching roles at Bulgarian side Ludogorets Razgrad, Croatian outfit Hadjuk Split, and Cypriot minnows Omonia before taking charge of Sabah last year.
Dambrauskas proved that not every manager has to play the sport to be a success in the dugout, becoming the first manager in the Baku side's history to deliver a domestic double. He's exceeded expectations in Europe, taking his Owls from the first qualifying round to the league phase of the Champions League, the only coach to do so.
Sabah embarked on a remarkable run, first beating Welsh champions the New Saints before claiming upset victories over Finland's KuPS and Denmark's Aarhus. Their final playoff game came against Hapoel Beer-Sheva and Dambrauskas oversaw an astonishing comeback victory over the Israeli club.
After trailing 2-1 on aggregate from the first leg, the Azerbaijani outfit conceded two more goals in the second leg in Baku. The hosts clawed back two goals of their own before Tellur Mutallimov's last-gasp volley in the 90+4th minute sent the tie to extra time.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men after Djibril Diop's sending off, and Dambrauskas' men capitalised on their one-man advantage. Orphe Mbina and Joy-Lance Mickels both netted to seal a thrilling 5-2 victory (6-4 aggregate) at Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium.
'Found a Way' - Dambrauskas on His Coaching Journey
REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov
Dambrauskas is living his dream as he takes Sabah to the Champions League proper and United aren't the only European powerhouse his side will battle. In probably one of the toughest draws imaginable, the Azerbaijani champions also face Barcelona, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund and Napoli.
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|Sabah FK's Champions League draw|
|Opponent|Venue|
|---|
|Barcelona|Bank Respublika Arena, Masazir|
|Borussia Dortmund|Bank Respublika Arena, Masazir|
|Napoli|Bank Respublika Arena, Masazir|
|Slavia Prague|Bank Respublika Arena, Masazir|
|Arsenal|Emirates Stadium|
|Manchester United|Old Trafford|
|Villarreal|Estadio de la Ceramica|
|Viking FK|Viking Stadion|
Their coach will be dreaming of a giant-killing and further making a name for himself in football management. He confirmed in an interview with FlashScore that he aspired to become a coach during his childhood:
"I went to this show to compete and to have a good time. Since I was 12 years old, when I realised I will not be a professional player, I knew I wanted to be a football coach. It happened that the possibility to move to England arrived."
He added: "I went there for a better life, but with a clear idea to try to get on the football coaching ladder. I am very happy I can work in football and make it my profession. I cannot guess what would have happened without this game, but I believe I would have found a way to achieve my dream."
Champions League trophy
Champions League trophy
Every now and again, a newcomer arrives in the Champions League and captures the imagination of fans. This year's fairytale story is Dambrauskas and Sabah, who head to Old Trafford and the Emirates in the months to come.