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Csaba Laszlo, who is aiming to coach the Lithuanian national team, promises to dedicate himself to work and fight for a ticket to the final stage of the 2016 European Championship.
The Hungarian, along with Liudas Rumbutis and Valdas Ivanauskas, forms a trio of candidates from which the federation's executive committee promises to select the new strategist at the beginning of January.
If the steering wheel is entrusted to him in the first half of January, Laszlo is ready to move to Lithuania. Furthermore, he promises to form a coaching staff consisting of Lithuanian specialists and to constantly rely on players competing in the local championship, rather than foreign players continuing their careers on the bench.
In an interview with the newspaper "Lietuvos rytas," Laszlo said: "I hope the federation will make a favorable decision for me. Then I would immediately start working in Lithuania. I knew that the Lithuanian national team has ambitions to achieve something, even though the recent European Championship qualifiers were not successful for the Lithuanians. I came to Lithuania and realized that the federation has long-term plans, which is good."
About Lithuanian football
The coach also assured that he knows a little about our country's football and having connections in various countries could help him develop.
"It is desired that the coach cares not only for the men's national team but also for the national youth teams up to 18 and up to 21 years old. This interests me because I worked with the youth team in Monchengladbach," he said.
"I also know a little about Lithuanian football. I can't say that I know it 100%, but at Hearts club, I had to work with Lithuanian footballers. I have seen several Lithuanian league matches. During my career, I have worked in Belgium, Scotland, Hungary, Germany, and Uganda, so I have various connections that could be useful in developing Lithuanian football."
About the players, the Hungarian said he had knowledge: "I know best those who play for Hearts - Marius Zaliukas and Arvydas Novikovas, although the latter talented player had barely played when I was coaching Hearts. I also know Saulius Mikoliunas and Deividas Cesnauskis, who used to play in Edinburgh. I know those who play in Ukrainian and Polish leagues. I was told that there are talented footballers playing in Lithuania as well."
It is very important that the player constantly competes, rather than sitting on the bench. I think a player who regularly plays in Lithuania would benefit the national team more than someone representing a foreign club, but only plays a few matches per season."
The goal - a ticket to EURO 2016
Laszlo sets ambitious goals - the team should fight for a ticket to the 2016 European Championship.
"We should look deeper and see what can be done in the 2016 European Championship qualifiers, where not 16, but 24 teams will advance to the final stage in France. This will be a great opportunity for the Lithuanian national football team," the Hungarian said. "I don't think we should talk now about how to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, although the Lithuanians were placed in an interesting group where good results can be achieved.
"I'm not saying we would win the group matches, but Slovakia is beatable, and Greece is currently in a football crisis. Maybe six years ago the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was similar to Lithuania, but now they have great potential. Against the other two teams - Latvia and Liechtenstein - Lithuania, in my opinion, is stronger."
Would live in Lithuania
Regarding the new coach, the federation emphasized that the specialist should live in Lithuania. Laszlo would fulfill this condition: "when I worked as the coach of the Uganda national team, I lived in Africa because I am convinced that the national team coach must be there every day. He must have good contacts with players, clubs, the federation, and journalists.
"The national team coach cannot arrive two weeks before the match and after watching 2-3 matches, select the lineup. If we want to care for the youth, we need to constantly keep an eye on reserve teams and sometimes talk to club coaches. If I were to come to work in Lithuania, the country's football would matter to me every week and every day."
He also added that he would be willing to sign both a two-year and a longer contract.
Philosophy - team play
Asked by "Lietuvos rytas" to describe his football philosophy, Laszlo emphasized that a coach must be a leader who is trusted. And the key to victories is a team playing style.
"I think that if you are not mentally strong, if you don't have ideas and knowledge, you can't be a good coach," said Laszlo, who holds the titles of the best coach of the year in Scotland and Hungary. "\ I don't like to play democracy, especially in the dressing room. There must be a hierarchy there, and everyone must know their place. I'm not a dictator, as we must respect and understand each other in the team. But everyone must know their duties and feel responsible.
"I don't copy other coaches and try to take my own steps. I am convinced that with a clear plan and working purposefully, results can be achieved. I am a supporter of teamwork. Sometimes a personality on the field can determine the outcome of a match, but only a real team wins matches and achieves high results."
Dossier:
Csaba Laszlo - Having started his career at lower levels, the specialist took over the reins of "Ferencvaros" in 2004, was elected the best coach of the year in Hungary, and soon invited to be the assistant to the Hungarian national team strategist Lothar Matthaus.
He then worked with the "Sopron" team for just a few months, and from 2006-2008, he led the exotic Ugandan national team, with whom he failed to win an historic victory - a ticket to the 2008 African Cup of Nations due to a lower goal difference.
Then Csaba turned to Great Britain and took over the Edinburgh "Hearts" team, owned by Lithuanian businessman Vladimir Romanov. With this club, the Hungarian finished third in the national championship and was recognized as the best coach of the 2009 Scottish Premier League.
However, in the following season, the performance of "Hearts" declined, and Laszlo, after disagreeing with the owner, was forced to step down. Last season, the Hungarian coached "Charleroi" in Belgium, where he spent half a year.
