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After nine years of playing abroad, the national team defender, who has returned to Lithuania to play for Vilnius, having signed a contract with Vilnius, can undoubtedly be called the most famous player playing in the A League this year. Celebrating his 30th birthday at the end of April, the footballer, who has represented Vilnius "Žalgiris", Eindhoven "PSV", "Dunfermline", and Tomsk "Tom" clubs, tells EuroFootball.com in an interview about his career, ideals, family, and leisure time.
What pushed you to choose football? What was the beginning of your career like?
Now I can't even remember... It seems it was probably in first grade when I saw an ad and went to a football club. That's how my career began. Later, I joined Vilnius "Žalgiris", where I started working my way up to the main squad from the lowest level youth teams. What pushed me? Maybe the golden times of "Žalgiris" when my family and I used to go to the stadium to watch matches. In my childhood, I also had to try swimming - but the enthusiasm faded after a few practices. During one of them, the coach wanted to "break" me, test my flexibility - since I was never very flexible, I didn't show up much in practices.
What memories do you have from your time at "Žalgiris"?
I didn't play that much at "Žalgiris" - maybe in the main squad for about a year and a half. I had to play with very good players, such as Edgaras Jankauskas. However, I don't have many impressive memories from that time. I might have signed a contract with "Žalgiris" now, but I see with my own eyes what the situation is there. It would be rude of me to talk about it now.
How did you receive the offer from "PSV"? Were you surprised? Were there offers from other clubs?
That year I made my debut in the national team, which was very successful in the qualifiers for the 1998 World Cup. It was perhaps the most successful qualifying cycle so far because we had a fairly realistic chance of making it to the World Cup. I remember that I performed well in several matches, and then there was interest in me. Before receiving the offer from "PSV", I had already transferred to Moscow's "Dynamo". They had already preliminarily agreed with "Žalgiris" on three players - David Semberas, Nerijus Radzius, and me. But then something happened, and I received an invitation to go for a trial at "PSV". I spent two weeks on the trial, then I returned briefly to Lithuania, and when I went back to Eindhoven - I signed the contract.
How much did "Žalgiris" receive for your transfer?
I can't say for sure, because no one told me at that time. But later, when I was involved in court cases regarding the activities of Janush Lopuchio (former owner of "Žalgiris" - ed. note), I saw in the documents a sum that was over 400 thousand US dollars.
What was your impression of "PSV"?
When I found out about the move to "PSV", the next day I watched their Champions League match against Kiev's "Dynamo". I watched that team and then a week later, I was already training with them. It was something unreal. When I see what became of those players, it's amazing to remember those times. The team had stars like Ruud van Nistelrooy, with whom I played for about a year and a half, Jaap Stam, Phillip Cocu.
Did they feel like stars in the locker room?
Some of them definitely knew their worth. P.Cocu walked around with his nose up. For example, R.van Nistelrooy had just come to "PSV" for probably a record amount of 7 million euros at that time. He was really friendly, but after an impressive season, when he scored many goals, he also felt his value. In conversations, you could feel who thinks highly of themselves and who is a simpler person. But I can't say anything bad about any player.
Did you learn one of the hardest languages in Europe, Dutch?
For half a year, my ears couldn't catch the sounds because even in Eindhoven, the Dutch have their accent, like some Lithuanians in Samogitia. After that, I began to "catch" the language, to understand. I really can't say much Dutch, but I can say the basic words, a bit of everyday conversation. At that time I was not bad.
The Scottish media wrote that you suffered a serious injury while at "PSV" and didn't play for five months.
It wasn't true at all. About the Scottish media... for example, when I moved to "Dunfermline", they wrote that I didn’t play for a year due to a serious injury. But in fact, it was because a new coach, Erik Gerets, brought in his own players, and I was just playing less, mostly for the reserves. I told Scottish journalists many times that I was never injured, let alone seriously. (Hit a tree three times and spit over my shoulder - ed. note.) I was injured for a maximum of six weeks. The time didn't seem long, because rehab is also work - you have to run, work with weights.
In 2000, you moved to "Dunfermline". Did you have other offers?
Before moving to "Dunfermline", I had also been to "Duisburg", where Gintaras Stauce was playing at the time. But the team dropped out of the Bundesliga at the time and they had no money. It seems that at that time the agent just wanted to make a show of working and sent me to Duisburg. The club did not sign a contract with me, and the agent explained to me that "PSV" just asked for me for a million. This was really unreal, as I moved to Scotland for half the amount. Later I learned from Stauce that the club just had many defenders, dropped to a lower league, and had no money for new players.
You entered "Dunfermline" when the agent called during your vacation and reported "serious interest from Scotland." I had to interrupt my vacation, go to Scotland. The contract was already agreed, so I just signed when I arrived.
Dunfermline - a city of only forty thousand, and the level of the Scottish championship is lower. Isn't it too big of a difference after "PSV?"
Dunfermline is almost like a suburb - there is not much to Edinburgh within 20 kilometers. The team had a 12 thousand-seat stadium, which only filled up when playing against the big two, "Celtic" and "Rangers", and even then half the audience were away fans. But the stadium was cozy, like all British stadiums - stands right by the pitch.
The Scottish league differed in style rather than level. Even for a technically minded player, it is difficult to play in Scotland because a different style is promoted - more emphasis on physical fighting. But you can adapt to any style, and every player must do so.
You made your debut at the club, receiving the best player of the match title. What's more, after the season, you were voted by the fans as the best player of the team and made it into the symbolic team of the whole season in the Scottish championship. How do you evaluate that season?
I remember the first match - at home against "Aberdeen" we played a draw 0-0 and I was recognized as the best player of the match. It was indeed not a bad season personally, and there were many reasons for that. A new coach came to the team - a Dutchman, and he changed the team's style of play, which reminded me of "PSV": more short passes, more technical play. Second, a year before I played very little, so I had the inspiration to play every Saturday. I also felt the coach's trust.
For the team, the season wasn't very good - we finished only ninth out of twelve teams. For me personally, the season was fantastic until the last five matches. It was my first such long season - I played about fifty matches, so I just didn't have enough energy to look good in the last five matches. Moreover, it was very disappointing that in the last matches we lost the chance to get into the top six positions. As you know, in Scotland after 33 rounds, the teams are divided into two groups - one fights for the least sixth place, the others - at best seventh place. When we didn't get into the stronger group, there was no desire to fight, so from the last five games, we lost four and finished one with a draw. Physically, it was a very tough season.
I heard that some fans made a lot of money from your goal against "Celtic"...
I'm not the type of defender who scores many goals, so there was a high coefficient in the betting offices, close to 200, for scoring the first goal against "Celtic." Some fans placed bets for one, some for five, and some for all ten pounds - they won significant amounts and could already go to the restaurant three or four times and eat well.
In Scotland, like the Netherlands, you were the first Lithuanian. Did you have to explain to teammates where Lithuania is?
Everyone thought it was Russia because when I moved to Scotland, Lithuania was not yet part of the European Union. However, the national team had already played against the Scots several times, so they had at least heard the name.
How was life for you in Scotland?
After a year in Scotland, I celebrated my wedding. Life there was too calm for me - after five years in Scotland, I missed a more active life. It was difficult there because there weren't many Lithuanians, and warmer relationships with foreigners didn't develop. After five years, I made friends, but at first, it was really lacking, so it was difficult. Spending time alone with my wife is great for six months, a year, but then we both wanted something more diverse.
I had a lot of free time, even too much. I realized this later, playing in Russia. But we didn't know how to use it, now we regret. In Scotland, we went to the cinema, or we went somewhere - Scotland has very beautiful nature, castles, there is really something to see. But after all, you don't go to the same place for five years.
In the spring of 2005, it seemed that the move to "Rubin" was just a matter of time. What happened that made you stay in Scotland?
To be honest, I don't even know to this day. Everything was almost agreed even between the clubs - I should have moved for just under 300,000 pounds. "Dunfermline" was on the brink of bankruptcy at that time, so my move wasn't a problem for them. Something happened to the Russian club, but I never found out what, because my agent didn't say anything and disappeared like in the water.
Do you no longer communicate with the agent? Do you have another one?
No, I no longer communicate with him and I don't have another one. My experience with agents is really painful. That's why I communicate with them very cautiously.
Finally, in August 2005, you ended up in the Tomsk "Tom" club. What determined such a decision?
To be honest, it was mostly influenced by the financial side. Now entering Russia is like hitting a gold mine. In Europe, only super clubs can get the same amount of money as the Russians pay. They have enormous financial capabilities. Would I really have gone to Siberia for the same money? Definitely not.
Furthermore, the level in Russia has increased significantly. Both organization, conditions, and training - everything is improving a lot. Especially, the big Russian clubs. It's true that "Tom" had problems with paying salaries, and even very serious problems. But the big clubs have fantastic facilities, financial opportunities - who knows if all the big European clubs have those.
Do you predict any titles for the Russians?
For the national team - no, but for the clubs - yes. Russia has very strong players, and now even a good coach, but... the clubs are definitely very strong - for example, this year Moscow's CSKA showed that they can compete with everyone.
Who are the best players in Russia?
There are really very good players there, and many of them are of the same high level. I think Andrei Arshavin deserves all the praise he receives while representing St. Petersburg's "Zenit" and the Russian national team. For the legionnaires, like in Lithuania, spring comes, they have to fight in the mud, and a Brazilian doesn't feel like running onto the pitch. It is said that in spring, the physically best clubs lead the way. A Brazilian's game starts when the sun shines, the grass grows, the mud dries out.
What were the conditions in Tomsk compared to the Netherlands or Scotland?
When I arrived in Tomsk, they had nothing good. Now they have built a very good base outside the city. I have never seen such conditions as those at "PSV" throughout my life - maybe ten fields, gymnasiums, saunas, pools - all for playing football well.
What were your first impressions of "Vėtra"?
I have already participated in several "Vėtra" training sessions, and I couldn't believe what I saw with my own eyes. I didn't think that such beautiful football could be played in Lithuania - it's really the merit of Aleksandras Tarchanovas. It's not clear yet how the season will go, but the team is indeed playing beautiful football and has its own style.
Throughout your career, you have played against more than one powerful club. Could you identify the strongest one?
Probably Bayern Munich. I played against them when I was still at "PSV" during training camp in Spain. I remember facing Lothar Matthaeus, who was already nearing the end of his career at that time.
There were times when "Celtic" looked very impressive in Europe. Matches against "Celtic" or "Rangers" were always exceptional - 60,000 spectators would gather at the stadium.
You will have to face a somber view in Lithuania - we rejoice in having even a thousand spectators coming to A League matches.
What can you do... Interest is growing anyway. Perhaps some relatives and friends will come, and we will gather more. (Laughs).
Who was the most difficult player to defend against throughout your career?
I can say without thinking - Henrik Larsson. He was very difficult to defend against - he might not have been a very technical player, but he had a great instinct for goal. Moreover, he constantly moved around the field, looking for opportunities to receive the ball.
Who was your best defensive partner?
I don't even know, maybe there was no such player. I played with Jaap Stam, but to match with him, you need to play the whole season together, not just a few matches. Stam is a good player, but it wasn't anything special. Throughout my career, I played with some really good players - for example, I played with a contemporary defender in Scotland, who had spent a lot of time with "Rangers".
Did you always play as a center-back throughout your career?
I remember that the coach tried to make me a right-back when I was with "Iron Wolf". I would sometimes score goals, but it was only for a few matches. Otherwise, throughout my career, I played as a central defender, sometimes as a right-back. I prefer to play as a central defender.
Did you have any ideal player as a young player?
Now it's really hard to remember what was important ten years ago (Laughs). It seems that there was no such one player. Everyone likes players who score goals, and I was a defender. Scoring goals brings points and money to the team. People imagine that it's easy, you earn big money, but no one thinks about how much you have to sacrifice for that. That's why it's not easy for my wife, but she also reacts normally to it.
Who, among currently playing players, do you think is the best?
Cristiano Ronaldo. One of the best players. Among defenders? There are many very good defenders, but which one really stands out... I like Carles Puyol, Fabio Cannavaro. But they make mistakes too. For example, Cannavaro makes quite a few mistakes in Spain now, but you have to understand him. He earned the title of the best player in the world for his performance at the World Cup. It is true that he is making mistakes now - after playing so many matches without rest, and the style is different in Spain.
Which coach left the biggest impression throughout your career?
Dick Advocaat (He answered even before the question ended - Laughs). I came to "PSV" when he was in charge. There was also Sir Bobby Robson. These are fantastic coaches with a great reputation. There aren't many like them. There were many other good coaches - like Eric Gerets. All coaches have their pluses and minuses.
What did you do and what did "Voro" give you to earn that nickname?
I was probably about sixteen when we played "skirmish" with two against four during a training session. I took several balls when no one expected that it was possible to take them away. So I received it. I don't remember who gave it to me anymore, but I think he no longer plays football. Over the year, I got used to the nickname - I am called that way in the national team, and some other friends.
Once in Scotland, you watched "Vėtra" InterToto Cup matches against "Hibernian". Did you ever think you might play for that club?
I always thought that I would return to play in Lithuania sooner or later. It had to happen, and now Lithuanian clubs can offer really good conditions. Of course, I also wanted to play abroad, but now I'm delighted that I'm back in Vilnius and can be with my
