by Mantas Aliukonis
The familiar figure of Edgaras Jankauskas cuts through the evening air at yet another A Lyga stadium, his keen eyes scanning the pitch for talent that might one day wear the national team colors. Beside him stands his trusted assistant Vaidas Sabaliauskas, a partnership forged during their days at FK Riteriai that has endured through Jankauskas’s return to the helm of Lithuanian football.
It’s a ritual that speaks to the coach’s philosophy: the path to international football runs directly through Lithuania’s top division, and his regular presence at these matches sends a clear message to aspiring players. Following a recent A Lyga encounter, the former Porto and Real Sociedad striker agreed to sit down for what would become a remarkably candid conversation—the kind of honest dialogue rarely heard in modern football interviews.
“He’s a good man – you should greet him too,” Jankauskas offered as a gentle life lesson when our conversation began, gesturing toward Sabaliauskas. It was a small moment that revealed the character of a man who, despite his playing pedigree, remains grounded in human decency.
European Dreams and Harsh Realities
As Lithuanian clubs prepared for their European debuts, the draws had delivered a mixed bag of challenges that would test the true mettle of the A Lyga’s finest. FK Žalgiris had drawn Malta’s champions Spartans, while Hegelmann FC faced Irish side St. Patrick’s and Kauno Žalgiris prepared for Welsh champions Penybont.
Jankauskas’s assessment was characteristically direct: “These represent their first serious tests of the year, and I’d love to see them clear that initial hurdle. But I’m certainly not expecting easy opposition.” His familiarity with Spartans was telling—he had been to Malta and witnessed their play firsthand. “They have a solid core of foreign players, and the Maltese league is surprisingly competitive.“
The coach’s concerns about FK Žalgiris were particularly pointed: “They’re far from their best form this season and haven’t been impressive. Still, I hope they can somehow find the motivation for these crucial matches and get the result they need.”
For the Kaunas clubs, however, Jankauskas saw reason for optimism. “Lithuanian teams generally fare better against British Isles sides than, say, Balkan or Mediterranean opponents,” he explained, though he was quick to add a caveat about the mental approach required: “We can’t afford to be outfought physically – we must be masters of our own destiny.“
When pressed about the realistic chances of an A Lyga club reaching a UEFA group stage, his response cut to the heart of Lithuanian football’s challenges: “When you examine our championship, the investment levels, and our infrastructure, these factors directly impact team performance. We’re significantly behind in these areas.”
A Coach’s Singular Focus
The specter of FK Žalgiris’s struggles this season inevitably led to speculation about Jankauskas’s future. The club’s dismal form had many wondering if their former player might be tempted to return in a coaching capacity. When asked if the club’s biggest shareholder had called him yet, Jankauskas simply laughed. “Not yet…“
But his commitment to the national team project was unwavering: “Right now, the Lithuanian national team represents my primary and only commitment – it’s my main concern and occupation.” His contract runs until December 31, 2026, and there’s no ambiguity about where his priorities lie.
Discovering Hidden Gems
One of the evening’s bright spots had been Klaudijus Upstas, whose crucial goal for Hegelmann FC demonstrated the kind of emergence that gives coaches hope. Jankauskas’s eyes lit up when discussing the defender: “Klaudijus has been excellent this year – one of the A Lyga’s best defenders. His performance today was outstanding, capping it with that crucial goal.“
More importantly, Upstas had translated his club form to the international stage: “He was among those players who genuinely surprised me during our last national team camp. He played with remarkable maturity against both Malta and Denmark, performing excellently within his capabilities.“
The coach’s tactical substitution of Upstas at halftime against Malta, despite his strong performance, revealed the kind of difficult decisions that define coaching at this level: “That was purely tactical. I explained this to Klaudijus during the break… we needed a different profile, which is why Paulius Golubickas replaced him after the break.”
The Burden of Expectations
The numbers tell a story that fans and critics scrutinize closely—Jankauskas’s points-per-game average had improved to around 0.75 in his second tenure, yet the team hadn’t managed extended unbeaten runs. His response revealed a coach focused on process over statistics: “I don’t obsess over decimal points and statistics. Our focus remains on upcoming fixtures.“
The question of why results hadn’t matched effort clearly touched a nerve, but not in a defensive way: “Both supporters and we understand the challenges we face. Quick fixes and miracles don’t happen overnight – there’s no foundation for expecting them.”
What mattered most to Jankauskas was something that couldn’t be captured in a table: “I can’t recall matches where fans or we ourselves felt disappointed with our effort, desire to win, or fighting spirit. That commitment matters most to me.”
The persistent issues with clinical finishing and goal-scoring led to difficult conversations about individual players. When challenged about Gytis Paulauskas‘s limitations as a striker—”he lacks striker instincts and goal-scoring intuition“—Jankauskas showed both loyalty and honesty: “He has certain limitations, as we all do. Nobody’s perfect… He’s a good player who needs improvement in finishing and several other areas.“
Leadership and Unity
Questions about team chemistry and leadership revealed a coach confident in his squad’s character. When asked about potential divisions within the national team, Jankauskas was emphatic: “Absolutely not. We have a unified collective with visible team spirit and solidarity.”
Even sensitive topics like Modestas Vorobjovas‘s approach to the national anthem were handled with understanding: “Modestas sings the anthem quietly, in his mind.”
The coach’s pride in his team’s character shone through despite the lack of results: “Despite lacking results, people watching our matches can see we project positivity through our play and energy.”
Infrastructure and Priorities
Perhaps nowhere was Jankauskas’s frustration more evident than when discussing Lithuania’s broader football infrastructure. The recurring conflicts between concerts and football matches in venues clearly rankled him: “It’s detrimental to everyone involved… current priorities are clear – concerts come first, football second. I’d prefer the opposite arrangement, and it should be reversed.“
The long-promised National Stadium near Vilnius Akropolis has become a symbol of unfulfilled promises: “I’ve stopped thinking about it. The timeline is too long to maintain hope only to face repeated disappointment. We’ve been discussing this for thirty years – it’s become tiresome.”
His analysis of state support was blunt: “The state shows minimal interest in football.” Yet he didn’t direct blame at the federation: “I believe our federation does everything possible to gain government attention and submit proposals with supporting examples.”
The coach’s vision extended beyond elite football to grassroots development: “We need greater focus on encouraging children to play football or any sport. Family budgets shouldn’t suffer because children want to participate in club football. Healthy children mean a healthier nation, reduced medical costs, and less hospital overcrowding.”
The Weight of the Job
As our conversation drew to a close, a simple question revealed perhaps the most telling insight into the man behind Lithuania’s national team. When asked what was easier—playing professional football or coaching—Jankauskas didn’t hesitate: “Definitely playing. More enjoyable and easier mentally, though perhaps more physically demanding. They’re incomparable experiences.“
It was a moment of vulnerability from a coach who has shouldered the expectations of a football-loving nation while working within constraints that would challenge any leader. Yet throughout our extensive conversation, what emerged was a picture of a man committed to his role, realistic about its challenges, but unwavering in his dedication to Lithuanian football’s future.
Standing on the touchline match after match, scouting talent and building relationships, Jankauskas embodies a patient approach to national team building—one that recognizes that sustainable success requires more than tactical adjustments or motivational speeches. It demands the kind of long-term vision and daily commitment that only becomes apparent in conversations like these, away from the headlines and pressure of match days.
This conversation took place on June 24, before Lithuanian clubs began their European campaign, offering a snapshot of Lithuanian football at a crossroads—hopeful yet realistic, ambitious yet constrained, but always moving forward under the watchful eye of a coach who understands both the beautiful game’s possibilities and its limitations. Since then, Hegelmann were eliminated from the Conference League and Žalgiris from the Champions League.
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