Manchester United begin their Champions League campaign against Sabah, the champions of Azerbaijan, who have a unique history
Valdas Dambrauskas celebrating with his Sabah team
Sabah came through four qualifying rounds to reach the league phase of the Champions League(Image: Getty Images)
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Sabah FK didn’t even exist as a football club 10 years ago. But tonight they will make their Champions League debut against Manchester United.
The Azerbaijan Premier League champions have already faced a long journey just to make it into the league phase. That’s nothing compared to the story of manager Valdas Dambrauskas, who turned a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire prize into a managerial career, which also saw him work with United.
Sabah, who were established in 2017, won their first-ever league title last season. They have come through four rounds of qualifying, beginning with a victory over Welsh champions TNS.
Finnish side KuPS and AGF of Denmark were also put to the sword before the Azeri side won a dramatic play-off against Israeli title holders Hapoel Be’er Sheva. They left it very late, though, scoring in the fourth minute of added time to force extra-time before clinching a 6-4 aggregate victory.
Their Lithuanian boss Dambrauskas cut his managerial teeth in England after winning £725 on ‘Millionaire’ in 2002 - equivalent to six months' wages in his homeland at the time - and putting it towards his studies at London Metropolitan University. He studied sports science and coaching on the Holloway Road, a short walk from Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, where he will return with his team in January.
"From the day I arrived, it was all about the dream to become a football coach," he told Flashscore in August. "It went in stages. First to learn the language. Then to sign up for the Level 1 Coaching course. Then to the Level 2 Coaching course. Then to gain experience with my first coaching session in youth football. Then to get a job in some pro or semi-pro club academy. Then a Sports Science and Coaching degree at university.
Valdas Dambrauskas managing Sabah
Sabah boss Valdas Dambrauskas coached in England at the start of his career(Image: Getty Images)
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"I went to every possible course or conference to improve myself. Then I started to dream and plan how to get a job in professional football. I knew in England it would be impossible, but I would get a chance in my home country."
Early in his career, Dambrauskas took on youth coaching roles with a number of English clubs, including a spell at United’s soccer schools. The 49-year-old then won titles in Lithuania and Bulgaria before leading Sabah to a domestic double in his first season.
He credits a spell working with Brentford for helping set him on the path for success. “I understood that to be a professional football coach in England and move up, to be a head coach or manager, was impossible," he said
“With my Lithuanian passport, with the country’s name that nobody can pronounce, with my surname that nobody can pronounce and, on top of that, I was never a professional player. But I knew that my experience from Brentford, as well as my coaching badges, could give me a chance somewhere else."
Joy-Lance Mickels playing for Sabah against Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Joy-Lance Mickels top-scored for Sabah last season(Image: Getty Images)
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His team’s success owes a lot to Joy-Lance Mickels, the German-born Rwanda forward who bagged 23 goals last season. The 32-year-old is in his second spell at the club, having returned after a year with Al-Faisaly in Saudi Arabia.
Other stars of last season’s title run include Aaron Malouda, son of former Chelsea and France winger Florent, who left for Basel after scoring nine times last term. However, United’s opponents have needed to be creative when it comes to their summer recruitment.
Among their new additions this term are South African defender Aden McCarthy, signed from Kaizer Chiefs, and former Sheffield United winger Christian Nwachukwu. They have also added Younes Lachaab on loan from Lille, with the 21-year-old having already turned out for his parent club in the Champions League.
Dambrauskas’ team scored 75 goals in 33 league games last term, and his attacking philosophy has been refreshing. He has pointed to Arsene Wenger and Marcelo Bielsa as inspirations, as well as former United interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
“If one word can describe my way, it would be domination,” he said after his team booked their place in the Champions League. “I am not afraid to take risks. The best result for me would be 4-3 with four different players scoring and four different players giving an assist.”
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