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One of the most experienced and productive players in the "A Lyga" Darius Maciulevičius from Marijampolė's "Sūduva" claims that every team member must contribute to the game and believes that the Lithuanian football league is undoubtedly rising. The interview with the former national team player is published on the official website of the Marijampolė club.
Darius Maciulevičius
Date of birth: 1973 11 06
Place of birth: Kaunas
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 76 kg
Position: defender
Clubs: Vilnius "Žalgiris" (1991-1994), Kaunas "Inkaras" (1994-1996), Vladikavkaz "Alania" (1997-1998), Šiauliai "Kareda" (1999-2000), Ramat Gan "H‘akoach" (2000-2002), Vilnius "Šviesa" (2003), FBK "Kaunas" (2003), Saransk "Lisma- Mordovia" (2004), Marijampolės "Sūduva" (present)
Titles: 4-time Lithuanian champion, 3-time best A League player.
Scored 99 goals in Lithuanian championships.
National team: 37 matches, 8 goals
Darius, what does football mean to you?
At first, it was just a hobby, now it is my way of life. And work that I cannot imagine my everyday life without. I think every athlete would say that sports are their life.
What led you to connect your life with this sport? Did it happen naturally or was there simply no other choice?
It was everything! As usual, I played basketball first, then by my father's advice, I chose football. Now it is as it is.
Are you completely satisfied with what you have achieved?
I always want the maximum, but of course, it is not always possible to achieve it. I don't know, it's hard to evaluate myself, but I think others evaluate a person, so he has achieved something. Of course, there have been ups and downs, but I am definitely satisfied with how everything turned out.
The finals of the World Football Championship recently ended. Did you dream of playing in such high-level football matches?
Dreams are always there, but you have to look at some things realistically. Now it seems impossible, but maybe after a few years we will have the opportunity to play in the final of the European Championship, or even the World Cup.
How many years did you play for the Lithuanian national football team? Which games during that time were most memorable for you?
I don't know, it's hard to say how many matches I played. Memorable games are in Germany, where we played on equal terms with the German national team. To play on equal terms with such a team, especially away, it's a memorable experience for everyone.
In your opinion, what are the most important qualities for a football player?
Every player is individual, but together they make up the team, so teamwork is very important. It can't be that one plays super well and the others poorly, and the team wins. It all depends on teamwork. Each team member must contribute to the game, and only then is the final result achieved.
Your career as a football player includes not only playing in Lithuania but also in Israel, Russia. Which of these stages is the most significant to you?
Each stage is interesting in its own way. There is no stage that I liked the most, they all gave me something. No matter where I was, I learned a lot everywhere.
Speaking of Lithuanian football, what is the situation in your opinion? Is the level of the game rising or falling?
Of course, it's rising. Obviously, there are eight teams now that are almost equal, some are doing well, others are not, but this is just the beginning, a long way of improvement and development for clubs lies ahead.
How do you evaluate your career stage, playing in "Sūduva"?
I will never evaluate anything, especially myself. I am a realist and I don't create fantasies about myself. Let others evaluate me.
Still, what can you say about the team, the environment you have to play in?
Everything is fine. And even the result is there. What else could a person ask for? The last season was well played, third place was achieved. Again, it was a kind of stage where I accomplished something, learned something, and now another season has come and everything will be different.
Do you have any plans to follow in the footsteps of your teammate Arminas Narbekovas and establish a children's football school after finishing your professional career?
No, it would be strange. Now I have to think about playing, not about something else.
You have completed coaching courses and have a diploma. Will it lie in the drawer for long?
Maybe someday, when I'm no longer playing and I'm thinking about what to do next, I might use it. Actually, I don't really want to speculate what will happen in the future, the more distant goals you set for yourself, the more likely it is that it won't work out. I have already realized that. You have to sit down and calmly, realistically think, that's the only way to achieve a good result.
Would you like to play for the Lithuanian national team again?
Of course, it's nice when you are called up, but when you are called up because of who you are now, not because of past merits.
Which players, teammates, was it easy for you to play with? With whom did you have the best mutual understanding on the field? Do you want to highlight anything?
I generally like to play a team game, I couldn't do anything without my teammates. It was fun to play with everyone in the teams I played in. I wouldn't want to highlight anyone, because everyone is a professional and does their job as they can.
Darius, do you think there are exceptional personalities in modern Lithuanian football?
Of course, there are. I am not a very qualified coach or anything like that. There are football players of all levels, but all kinds are needed. One runs well, another has a good shot, a third sees the field well. That's how it should be. In every team, there are personalities, sometimes more than one.
Former Lithuanian national team captain Aurelijus Skarbalius, considering Western European clubs, said that Darius should have played not in Lithuania.
It could be. If I'm honest, that stage has passed. Everything was fine until I got injured. I don't even know how it would have been if not for that injury: maybe better, maybe worse? Those were difficult times, the ninety-fifth, sixth year. At that time, footballers had no opportunity to leave Lithuania because there were no football agents who could cooperate with players and foreign teams.
Most football fans, both from Marijampolė and beyond, were surprised that Darius Maciulevičius started playing for FK "Sūduva" last season. What determined such a decision for you?
Everything did. I can just be at home, with my family, as I have been away from home for ten years. Also, the fact that I am needed by someone. Then you don't hesitate and go where you are needed. Also, you were the first to offer, and I keep to my word given to the club.
How long will you keep playing for "Sūduva"?
Well, of course, until the end of the season.
And then?
After that, there is after that, you have to live in the present and aim for a result not worse than last season.
