By Titas Teiten
After spending his entire football career in Lithuania, Marius Zabarauskas made a bold and unexpected decision. Following a decade in the domestic game, the striker opted for a one-year adventure on the other side of the world, moving to New Zealand.
While Zabarauskas may not be among Lithuania’s most high-profile footballers of recent years, he is one of the few Baltic players to have taken the leap to a destination where Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian footballers remain a rare sight.
Born in Vilnius, the 29-year-old began his football journey in Panevėžys. Following spells with FK Ekranas, FK TransINVEST, and several other Lithuanian clubs, he returned to the capital to join Vilnius Football Academy. There, he combined his playing career with coaching, working with the club’s youth teams.
Yet the desire to experience life abroad continued to grow. In August 2025, Zabarauskas turned that ambition into reality by moving to New Zealand. He signed for East Coast Bays, a club competing in the Northern League, where the team has been battling for a place in the National League Championship, the final stage of New Zealand’s domestic football pyramid.
On the pitch, Zabarauskas has quickly made his mark. With 11 goals, he is not only East Coast Bays’ leading scorer but also the top scorer in the Northern League, underlining the impact he has made in his first season.
Although his visa is set to expire soon and a return to Lithuania is approaching, Zabarauskas has no doubts about his decision. The move to New Zealand proved to be a rewarding experience, one that has given him lasting memories both on and off the pitch.
On July 3, Baltic Football News spoke with Marius Zabarauskas to discuss his unique experience in a country rarely associated with Baltic footballers. In the interview, he reflects on adapting to a new culture, compares football in New Zealand and Lithuania, and shares the lessons and memories he will take home from his unique journey.
You spent your entire professional career in Lithuania, but at the age of 28 you decided to move to New Zealand. How did that opportunity come about?
It all started because my fiancée and I had been planning a trip to New Zealand. We’d been thinking about coming here for a couple of years. My brother and his wife had also visited New Zealand a few years earlier, and since someone in the family had already been here, we decided to do the same. We managed to obtain Working Holiday visas and thought it would be a great opportunity.
The country’s natural beauty was one of the biggest attractions. Many people travel to New Zealand specifically because of its landscapes. Ultimately, the main reason for making the move was the desire to travel, although playing football abroad had always been a dream of mine as well.
The visa is valid for one year. At first, I found a regular job, and later I managed to join a club that was able to employ me as a coach. That’s quite common in New Zealand. It’s similar to the Working Holiday programmes available to students in the United States, where you can travel and work during the summer. Personally, I’ve never heard of anyone from Lithuania coming here to play football. I might actually be the first.
How long did you consider this move? Did you have any doubts or fears before leaving?
Not really. My fiancée and I have been together for seven years, and we’d been thinking about this opportunity for a long time. We genuinely believed it would be a great experience, so there was never a point where we seriously considered not going. I also looked into football in New Zealand and saw that it’s quite popular here, which gave me even more motivation to make the move.
How were your first few months? Would you say you’ve fully adapted to your new environment?
I’ve been in New Zealand since August. I arrived when the previous season was already coming to an end and the transfer window had closed, so I wasn’t able to play for a while. As for adapting, I’ve always considered myself someone who gets along easily with other people. That said, the culture here is completely different. The lifestyle is different too. After all, New Zealand is a geographically isolated island nation.
The people here are genuinely friendly. I’d probably compare them to Americans. They’re always positive and willing to help. Personally, though, I do miss Lithuania and its more straightforward culture. Sometimes it even feels like people in New Zealand are too nice (smiles). Because of that, settling in wasn’t as easy as I expected. While preparing for the season, I went through a bit of a rough patch. Since I wasn’t able to play yet, I started wondering whether this was really the right place for me and what I was actually doing here. But once the season started, everything gradually fell into place.
What are the biggest differences you’ve noticed between everyday life in Lithuania and New Zealand? What has surprised you the most?
Overall, the cultures are very different. People are different, and so is the pace of life. Nobody seems to be in a hurry here, everyone is much more relaxed.
New Zealand is also one of the safest countries in the world, largely because of its geographical isolation, and that certainly has an impact. There are many people here who have moved from Europe, and you can really feel that there’s a willingness to help newcomers settle in.
How do people in New Zealand view football? Does it receive much attention, or is it still overshadowed by rugby and other sports?
Rugby is certainly very popular here, but within my own circle I don’t actually come across it very often. Since I’m immersed in the football environment, it feels like football is hugely popular. Many locals say it’s becoming one of the country’s main sports. There’s plenty of competition from other sports, and cricket is also very popular. I’d compare it to the situation in Lithuania, where basketball has traditionally been regarded as the national sport. Rugby holds a similar status here, but football is catching up quickly.
The launch of Auckland FC has given the sport a significant boost. They won Australia’s A-League, which created real excitement across New Zealand. From the moment the club was established, it became clear that there was strong public interest in football. The national team also has a much better chance of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup now that the tournament has expanded. Essentially, they only need to beat the neighbouring Pacific Island nations to secure qualification, making the pathway considerably easier.
Tell us more about club football in New Zealand. How professional is the league, and what does daily life look like for a footballer?
It’s still difficult for me to make a direct comparison between the standard of football in New Zealand and Lithuania. Of all the regional competitions, I’d say the Northern League is the strongest. The level where I currently play is probably somewhere between Lithuania’s second and third divisions. There are definitely some strong teams. For example, Auckland City are a very solid side. They competed at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and I’d say they would be among the stronger teams in Lithuania’s second division. I don’t think they would be able to compete with the top clubs in the TOPLYGA.
Then there’s Birkenhead United, another strong club. The other better teams, including ours, would probably hold their own in Lithuania’s second division. Interestingly, I unexpectedly ran into a familiar face here in New Zealand. Yoichi Kawachi, a Japanese player I played alongside at FK TransINVEST in Lithuania, is also playing here now. Two seasons ago we were teammates in Lithuania, and now we’ve found ourselves on the other side of the world.
So, if the best Lithuanian club came to New Zealand, there wouldn’t be much competition?
There’s really no comparison. The clubs here aren’t fully professional. It’s also worth mentioning that league regulations prohibit clubs from offering players professional playing contracts because it’s officially a semi-professional competition. However, some clubs work around those rules by hiring players as coaches.
That’s what happened in my case as well, although there’s an important difference. I hold a UEFA B coaching licence and worked as a coach in Lithuania for six years before coming here. I signed my contract as a coach, but I’m also able to dedicate plenty of time to playing.
Some clubs, however, exploit the system. It’s something of an open secret here: players are officially paid as coaches, but in reality they do very little coaching work. At the same time, some of them earn very respectable salaries. So it wouldn’t be accurate to describe football in New Zealand as purely amateur, because there are players who make their living from the game.
As for everyday life, many footballers here are students. Others, like me, combine playing with coaching. Some have represented New Zealand at youth international level, while others are talented young players hoping to earn an opportunity in Europe. Sweden is a particularly popular destination. Many agents work with New Zealand players and help them secure moves to Swedish clubs.
What are the training facilities and infrastructure like? How do they compare to what you were used to in Lithuania?
New Zealand isn’t a small country. It’s roughly three times the size of Lithuania. Because there’s so much green space, there are also plenty of football pitches. Almost every club in Auckland has excellent facilities. The quality of the grass pitches is very good, and overall the conditions are excellent. Many clubs have three or four pitches. Typically, one serves as the main stadium where matches are played, while the others are used for training. In my experience, the vast majority of pitches are natural grass.
What’s your club’s average attendance?
Our average attendance isn’t particularly high. From a community perspective, the club is one of the larger ones, but we’d certainly like to see more spectators. On average, I’d say around 100 people attend our matches.
And what about across the country as a whole?
One of the teams we’ve played, Birkenhead United, attracted a very good crowd when we visited them. I’d estimate there were close to 1,000 spectators. But generally speaking, you don’t see particularly large attendances here.
You’re currently both your club’s top scorer and the leading scorer in the entire Northern League. How do you assess your season so far?
I came here with a clear objective: to score as many goals as possible. I wanted to repay the club’s faith in me and show my appreciation for the opportunity they gave me. I hoped to have a productive season. Having arrived a few months before the season started, I had time to settle in and get used to everything. Individually, I’d say the season has gone exactly as I hoped before it began. I’m happy with it, it’s been a very good season. This has been a strong year for me, both in terms of form and physical condition. I think I’ve reached a new level of maturity as a player.
Of course, there’s always room for improvement. I really wanted to score against Auckland City, but I just haven’t managed to do it. Considering they played Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors at the Club World Cup just over a year ago, it would have been special to score against them. It looks like that opportunity has now passed.
What are the team’s goals for this season? Do you think they’re realistic?
Our objective is to finish in the top four of the Northern League and qualify for the National League. I think it’s absolutely achievable. The table is incredibly tight, and every single point matters.
Compared to last season, people say the league has become slightly weaker because the Oceania Professional League was introduced. Eight teams compete in that competition, and many players who previously played in the Northern League moved there. Now that season has finished, many of them are returning to the Northern League. Looking at the overall quality of the players, I sometimes think quite a few of them would be capable of competing in Lithuania’s top division.
Are you already thinking about the future? Do you see yourself staying in New Zealand over the next few years, or is it still too early to make that decision?
To be honest, I’ll be returning to Lithuania at the beginning of August. My visa is expiring, and from the very beginning my fiancée and I never planned to stay here for longer than a year. That decision has already been made. We want to start organising our wedding, our families are back in Lithuania, so my future is there. I’m also looking forward to returning to my former club, Vilnius Football Academy (VFA).
That said, you can never say never in football. Things can always change. I honestly don’t know what kind of offer it would take for me to come back to New Zealand, it’s not as if clubs here are likely to offer huge amounts of money. You never know. For now, though, one year has been enough (smiles). It’s a little disappointing that I won’t be able to finish the season. I’d have liked to stay until the end, but the transfer window in Lithuania closes on 15 July, and I want to play there again this season.
What advice would you give to a Lithuanian footballer who has spent their entire career at home but is considering their first move abroad?
I think it all depends on what the player is looking for. If someone wants to spend a year or two abroad, experience a different country, travel, see more of the world, and continue playing football at the same time, I’d say New Zealand is an excellent destination.
The clubs provide very good conditions, and there’s the opportunity to work as a coach alongside playing. Of course, they won’t hire just anyone as a coach, but the system is fairly flexible. It’s a place where you can enjoy an incredible lifestyle, travel extensively, and, if you have a strong season in this league, you stand a very good chance of earning an opportunity to play in the OFC Professional League.
From my perspective, there really aren’t any downsides. European players, and especially strikers, are highly valued in New Zealand.
