--- title: "Andrius Kaulinis: “Character kept me in football when others said I wasn’t good enough”" date: 2025-09-15T17:59:37Z lang: en author: "Mantas Aliukonis" canonical: https://balticfootballnews.com/andrius-kaulinis-character-kept-me-in-football-when-others-said-i-wasnt-good-enough/ categories: ["Interviews", "Toplyga"] --- # Andrius Kaulinis: “Character kept me in football when others said I wasn’t good enough” _by Mantas Aliukonis_ ![](https://i0.wp.com/balticfootballnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/899793a637936bf87a3bcc31f94c8961.jpg?resize=662%2C442&ssl=1)Photo: FK Riteriai Riteriai winger **Andrius Kaulinis** has enjoyed a breakout season in Lithuania’s A Lyga, highlighted by a memorable double against champions FK Žalgiris. But his path to the top has been anything but straightforward. In an interview with _Baltic Football News_, the 24-year-old reflects on his slow development, the setbacks he overcame, and the lessons he learned along the way. ### Early steps and late development Kaulinis began his journey at the Polonia Academy in Vilnius, after being spotted at a youth tournament. He then joined the Žalgiris academy with the year of 2000 group. _“Through that time I had many coaches who helped me, not just in football but in life,”_ he recalls. _“The ones I worked with most were Gediminas Kontautas and Haroldas Tamulynas, but also Žydrūnas Grudzinskas, Ramūnas Radavičius and Vaidas Sabaliauskas. Each of them taught me something.”_ He admits that breaking into Lithuania’s youth national teams never happened for him. > _“I wasn’t outstanding in my teenage years. I developed late, and that cost me. But the best quality I took with me was character. Even when people said I wasn’t good enough, I had goals and I kept going step by step.”_ ### Finding his feet at Viltis A crucial turning point was a spell with FK Viltis, which Kaulinis calls his “launchpad.” _“At Viltis I started to feel better, discovered my playing style and strengths, and with the help of a good collective I moved forward,”_ he says. _“I couldn’t single out one person — everyone around me gave something.”_ He also credits futsal for sharpening his skills and self-confidence. In 2020, Kaulinis scored his first hat-trick for Viltis. _“Those were warm memories,”_ he says with a smile. By 2022 he had joined Riteriai, debuting first in the Pirma lyga and then in the A Lyga. _“That helped me keep developing, set bigger goals and establish myself in the first team.”_ ### Career milestones His double against FK Žalgiris this season remains his most important moment so far. _“Right now those are my biggest goals, personally. But I feel there will be even more important ones this season, both for me and the team,”_ Kaulinis says. He also recalls the 2024 Lithuanian Cup clash with Banga, where he scored but was later sent off. _“I remember that game so well — the fire in everyone’s eyes. Most of our guys were facing an A Lyga team for the first time. It was a good fight, we showed it wasn’t easy for Banga but lack of experience cost us. For me personally it was a lesson.”_ ### Dealing with pressure The winger admits his form has fluctuated this season. _“There are many factors, but every athlete needs to leave problems off the pitch. Now I feel good and I hope to show it by the end of the season. These challenges only toughen you up and teach you how to deal with setbacks.”_ On life after matches, Kaulinis adds: _“It’s always hard to sleep. You replay the game in your head, think what you could have done better. I try to keep a healthy sleep routine, but the night after games is always tricky.”_ ### The importance of agents Kaulinis only recently started working with an agent, having resisted earlier approaches. _“I first had contact with agents a couple of years ago, but I knew from older teammates you have to be careful. Many agents look after themselves, not the players. Until this season I didn’t have one. Now I’m represented by an agency from Poland, an agent I trust. That’s the most important thing.”_ He believes an agent is essential for modern footballers. _“Contracts these days are complicated. A good agent explains everything, makes changes if needed, and helps you avoid mistakes. That’s just one of many benefits.”_ ### Looking ahead With his contract at Riteriai expiring in December and the club’s future uncertain, Kaulinis is focused only on the present. _“We still have a lot of unfinished business this season. Sunday’s game, then the next one. After the last match of the season I’ll start thinking about the future. For now, I’m doing what I need to do.”_ * * * _If you are enjoying Mantas’s interviews and analysis, please consider supporting his other projects [here](https://substack.com/inbox/post/162973042?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=4926590&post_id=162973042&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=4y84eq&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email) and [here](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576172184251)_, _as well as follow him on [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@ali.sports36?_t=ZN-8w9wAKcqwIJ&_r=1)_