© EuroFootball.com
Aurelijus Skarbalius, who ran for the position of national team coach, heard only one question from the president of the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF). Not about football, but about money.
If it was a job interview, it was the strangest one A. Skarbalius has ever participated in, writes the newspaper "Lietuvos rytas".
The 40-year-old coach, who spent most of his career in Denmark, applied for the position of the Lithuanian national team coach this winter, but the LFF chose to extend the contract with Igoris Pankratjevas.
Skarbalius met eye to eye with LFF president J. Kvedaras in Lithuania and was surprised.
Only interested in the price
"At the beginning of the conversation, J. Kvedaras briefly talked about the football situation in Lithuania.
I asked several times if he shouldn't tell me how I prepare the team, what style of play I use, what ideas I have. But he didn't need that.
They were only interested in how much I cost. It surprised me, but it was their choice," Skarbalius told "Lietuvos rytas" about the details of the conversation with the LFF president. - LFF Executive Committee had the right to decide, and they chose I. Pankratjevas.
Igoris is a good coach, and, in my opinion, the federation chose well.
I just didn't understand why I went to Lithuania to listen to the president, who ultimately said he didn't have the power to choose a coach because it is the Executive Committee members who vote. They voted without hearing or seeing how I work."
Wanted to share knowledge
The former Lithuanian national team footballer spent most of his career representing the Danish club "Brondby", where he played for 10 years and became the Danish champion five times.
After finishing his playing career, he coached the "Herfolge", "Koge", and "Brondby" clubs, and since February, he became the coach of another Danish team, "Viborg".
Before signing a contract with the Viborg club, Skarbalius did not hide his desire to test himself in the position of the Lithuanian national team coach.
"J. Kvedaras mentioned that I am disconnected from Lithuania. Then I replied that maybe I am not disconnected, but free," Skarbalius said. - I think they continue sitting in their sandbox and playing with their toys.
I managed to break free and get the opportunity to work using modern technology. I hoped to pass on that knowledge to Lithuania. But apparently, no one needs it.
It's their choice, and I'm not angry. I just don't understand why they needed to talk to me?
The president asked only one thing - how much money would I and my team need. I replied that as much as the previous coach received.
I don't need to earn here and now. I'm not saying I would work for peanuts, but I had a strong desire to give something new to Lithuanian football. There is a lot of talk about us not being able to create, and I thought I could help."
A new selection cycle is on the way
In December, the LFF Executive Committee, whose members include J. Kvedaras, Stasys Stankus, Romualdas Lavrinavicius, Roman Levinskas, Romualdas Jonaitis, Romas Kukis, Sigitas Jukna, Leonas Dunauskas, Sergejus Sliva, Vidmantas Butkevicius, Anatolijus Stacenka, Gintautas Zemaitis, and Arturas Krukis, chose I. Pankratjevas.
The former Lithuanian national team goalkeeper worked as an assistant to Csaba Laszlo during the 2014 World Cup qualifier stage, until he was dismissed from the Hungarian coach following a series of dismal matches in October.
Under I. Pankratjevas' leadership, the Lithuanians finished the qualifying matches, defeating Latvia 2:0 in Vilnius and losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina 0:1 in Kaunas.
The 49-year-old I. Pankratjevas will lead the Lithuanian footballers during the 2016 European Championship qualifying matches, where they will face England, Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, and San Marino in Group E.
A. Skarbalius will remain in Denmark, where he recently signed a contract with "Viborg" until the end of 2015.
The Viborg club, which also called up Lithuanian national team goalkeeper Emilijus Zubas this winter, currently occupies the 10th place in the Danish Super League among 12 teams.
