By Titas Teiten
After a whirlwind year in Lithuania, Amine Benchaib has every reason to smile. The 27-year-old Belgian midfielder played a crucial role in leading Žalgiris Kaunas to their first-ever A Lyga title, capping off a historic 2025 season both for the club and for himself. From overcoming a serious injury to rediscovering his best form in a new country, Benchaib’s story is one of resilience and revival.
In this exclusive interview, he opens up about the journey that brought him to Lithuania, the challenges of adaptation, and the joy of finally lifting his first career trophy.
Wrapping up the season
How are you feeling? What does it feel like to have wrapped up such an intense season?
I’m happy the season is finally over (laughs). I’m a bit tired, but I feel great. We had a fantastic year. Our main goal was to become champions, and we did it. Personally, it was my best season so far, especially in terms of statistics. I feel good here, but I know I can still do even better. Overall, I’m a happy man.
This Lithuanian league title is the first trophy of your career. Do you feel like you’ve reached a new level as a player with this victory?
Definitely. For many of us, it was something completely new. A lot of players in the team had never won a title before. Maybe a Super Cup or something small, but not a league. A title is something you work for your whole life, not just one season. It felt amazing.
Arrival in Lithuania and adaptation
You arrived in Lithuania in the summer of 2024. Looking back now, would you say it’s been one of the best decisions of your career?
If I look back now, I’d say yes. Honestly, in the beginning, it wasn’t easy: I had been injured for a long time, and ending up in Lithuania was not part of my plan. Before that, I’d been out for ten months, then had issues with my club in Romania and broke my contract. I just wanted to play again. Then I spoke with the Belgian coach of Panevėžys and got the chance to get back on the pitch. So no, I don’t regret it at all. Coming to Lithuania turned out to be one of the best choices I’ve made.
Off the pitch, how did you adapt to life in Lithuania?
Life is good here. I’m from Belgium, so the weather is quite similar. Honestly, before coming, I didn’t know much about Lithuania, maybe just from Eurovision (laughs). What surprised me was that it’s not really a football country. Basketball is everything here. The mentality is a bit different too, but not in a bad way. People are nice, Kaunas is a nice city, so overall, it’s been good.
When you talk about mentality, what do you mean exactly?
I’d say Lithuanians are more reserved compared to where I’m from. People tend to be quieter, more private. It’s not a bad thing, just different.
So was the adaptation difficult at first?
The first two or three months were mostly about adapting. Sometimes I’d wonder, “Why is this person looking at me like that?” (laughs). But in the end, it wasn’t that hard.
The spell at Panevėžys
When you joined Panevėžys, the club was struggling after being eliminated from Europe and sitting near the bottom of the table. What did you take away from that short experience?
When I arrived, the club was last in the league and had just been knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers. My first game was against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League qualifiers. I played for 45 minutes, even though I wasn’t fully fit. We actually had a good second half, but in the return leg, we got destroyed.
In the league, though, we improved a lot. The coach was someone I knew from Belgium. He loves intensity, duels, but also playing good football. With him, we had solid results: draws against Hegelmann and Žalgiris Kaunas, and even a win over Žalgiris Vilnius. In the end, we avoided relegation. It could’ve been worse, so overall, it was a good experience.
Joining Žalgiris Kaunas and the 2025 Season
Once the 2024 season ended, did you already know you wanted to move on? How did your move to Kaunas happen?
Yes, I knew I wouldn’t stay long in Panevėžys. After my injury, I just wanted to feel like a footballer again. When the season ended, I got several offers, but Žalgiris Kaunas really convinced me. The club has a strong structure, big ambitions, and a clear vision. What made the difference was the coach: the way he spoke about football, about how he wanted the team to play, it matched exactly what I needed to improve. I accepted quite fast, maybe a week or two after the season ended.
You’ve just had a historic season – the club’s first-ever league title. If you had to rate the season out of 10, what would you give it?
A solid 10… or maybe 9.5, because we didn’t win the Cup. Everything came together, on and off the pitch. With so many new players, it could’ve taken time, but we clicked immediately. The coach made his ideas clear, and off the pitch, we became like a family. That’s why everything worked.
Was that chemistry a big reason for your success?
Definitely, 100%.
If you had to pick one defining moment of the season, what would it be?
The away match in Iceland against Valur: we won 2:1 and qualified for the next European round. The motivation and hunger that day were unbelievable. Even Lithuanian fans living in Iceland came to support us. The atmosphere was special. It was an unforgettable night.
Inside the dressing room, who were the players that really lifted the team?
There were a few leaders. Of course, our captain, Fedor (Černych). Also, Anton Tolordava, he pushes everyone forward, on and off the pitch. And Tomas (Švedkauskas), our goalkeeper, deserves a mention too.
Even though you became champions, there must be some regrets. What’s the biggest one?
As a team, probably the European run, especially the games against Arda. We were in great form, but we lacked experience. Getting red cards in both legs killed us. These are mistakes we need to learn from. You can make a mistake once, but not twice in a row.
Individual performance
You had a standout season personally. Did you expect it? Did you prepare differently?
Honestly, yes. After playing with Panevėžys, I understood how teams in Lithuania play, and I knew how to adapt. I’ve played in Belgium and Romania, very competitive leagues, so I felt ready to bring something extra here. I didn’t expect to score that many goals, because I’m naturally a number 10, but once you start performing well, everything follows. Becoming champions is the most important thing, but now it’s about consistency: proving I can do it again and again.
Do you think about the league’s Player of the Year award?
Not really. People mention it, of course, and it wouldn’t surprise me if I won it. But it’s not something I chase. When you’re a champion, you naturally have an advantage, but for me it’s more about the collective achievement.
Is there any part of your game you still want to improve?
Definitely. Especially at European level. Opponents know me now, they try to block my strengths. I need to surprise them more, make deeper runs instead of always coming toward the ball. I want to add new elements to my game and keep evolving.
The coach and the team
This was also your coach’s first season as a head coach. How important was his role in this success?
This title belongs to him first. You have to respect someone who manages to unite a completely new group in his first year. It’s not easy. It’s like being a father to 25 or 30 sons who have never met before. He’s not just a great coach, he’s a great person: honest, straightforward, and clear. That’s the kind of person I like working with. He deserves even more credit than he’s getting. He’s a huge part of this success.
Supporters and Lithuanian football
Your teammate Fabien Ourega once told that in Lithuania, fan support depends heavily on results: the more you win, the more people show up. Do you agree?
Yes, I’d agree. Lithuanian fans love European nights: when you face a foreign team, the stadium fills up. The more you win, the more people come. But I have to say, this year we really felt the support, especially from the Green White Boys, the basketball ultras who came to our games. That was really special.
What’s your impression of Lithuanian football in general, from a fan and stadium perspective?
It’s a basketball country, no doubt. People bring that crazy energy to basketball games. In football, it’s growing, but still developing. In Belgium or Romania, football is number one, so you can’t really compare. But it’s improving.
Looking ahead
Now that you’ve won your first title, what’s your next goal?
Winning more titles (laughs). I actually asked Fabien the same question: “What’s next after winning one?” He said, “You just want more and more.” So yes, I want another trophy. My biggest dream is to reach the European group stage. That’s what every player dreams of: playing on that stage watched by people all over the world.
Your contract ends at the end of the year, right?
That’s what many people think, but no. There’s an agreement between me and the club, and discussions are ongoing. I feel comfortable here, the club is happy with me. Of course, in football you never know: one day you’re here, the next you’re somewhere else. But for now, I’m very happy, so why not staying here next season?
If you could choose, which league would you like to play in someday?
As a kid, my dream was always LaLiga. I love technical football. But at 27, I don’t have a “dream” league anymore. I like leagues where the ball is on the ground, like the Netherlands or Germany. The Premier League is great, but it doesn’t really fit my style. LaLiga, Bundesliga, Eredivisie: those are my kind of leagues.
Closing reflection
If you could speak to yourself just before moving to Lithuania, what would you say?
I’d tell myself: wherever you go, it’s going to be different, but be ready and stay true to who you are. I was mentally strong even then. After being injured for so long, I was ready for anything. It couldn’t get worse than that period. So I’d just say: follow your heart, make the best of it, and I think that’s exactly what I did.
We thank Amine Benchaib for his time and openness, and wish him continued success in the next chapter of his career.
