Football and a legionnaire career. These two words in Lithuania have become synonymous. Players shining in the A league or our national team quickly spread their wings to a stronger foreign league. The motives are various - higher salary, desire to improve or explore other countries.
The most visited Lithuanian football portal "EuroFootball.com" interviewed the famous player Valdas Trakys, who traveled to many countries during his career and had the opportunity to internally get to know clubs in Italy, Germany, Azerbaijan, Greece, Scotland, Russia, and Iceland.
"The career developed in such a way that due to certain circumstances and situations, I had to change many teams. It's hard to say which game was the most memorable. Edinburgh's "Hibernian", Fürth's "Greuther", Moscow's "Torpedo", Krasnodar's "Kuban" were truly well-organized, goal-oriented clubs where everything was taken care of and I had to only worry about good physical form.
It's impossible to forget the fans of the Greek Serres Panserraikos who came to the airport at night to welcome the team after victories. Unfortunately, there is no longer Panevezys "Ekrantas", where we managed to achieve many team and personal awards," said Valdas Trakys, recognized as the best football player in our country in 2009.
Currently working as the sports director of Klaipėda's "Atlantas," a Kretinga native shared the peculiarities of each country.
"Football, of course, is football in Africa, but in each country, this sport has certain unique features. Russian teams, except for the legendary Spartak Moscow club, which played like Barcelona at the time, focused more on defense. Russians played a physical game, and it's not easy to score goals there, very rarely does the best striker of the championship reach the 20-goal mark.
German teams also stood out for their good physical and tactical preparation, with many matches ending in a draw in the last second, and the pace of the game remains high throughout the full 90 minutes.
In the Scottish championship, athletic football prevails, with many duels, referees allowing physical play, high pace of matches, many teams using pressure well, and of course, many long passes, so good game with the head is necessary.
Greek or Azerbaijani football has similarities, clubs in these countries play more technical football, the pace is not as high, there are many tricks, individual actions, less tactics, team play, and refereeing is not of the highest level," he said.
Starting his legionnaire career very early, V. Trakys insists that young footballers aspiring to go abroad must be mentally prepared for radical changes and tough competition for a place in the new club.
"It's difficult to advise young players, everyone has their own path. Perhaps sometimes don't spread your wings too early, as in another country, you find yourself alone, without family and friends. First and foremost, you should learn the language of that country as quickly as possible, as it greatly facilitates communication with the coach, teammates, journalists, as well as in everyday life.
Be prepared for serious competition, prove your worth every day and work hard to achieve your goal, because as a foreigner, more is expected of you. You will feel good if you have a proper agent representing you, who maintains a relationship with the coach, the club management, and in the beginning of your career also helps with everyday life (car, apartment rental, financial issues).
Of course, be prepared to receive more attention from television, journalists, and ordinary people, for whom football is a part of life".
