We present our readers with an interview with legendary Portuguese football specialist Jose Couceiro, who worked in Lithuania between 2008 and 2010. During his time in the country, the former coach, who has also served as technical director and vice-president of the Portuguese Football Federation, led the Lithuania national team to heights rarely seen before or since. In the autumn of 2008, Lithuania climbed as high as 37th in the FIFA rankings, giving supporters genuine hope that Lithuanian football could be heading upwards.
But the story began in very different circumstances. Before the international break, we spoke with one of the most highly regarded foreign coaches to have worked in Lithuanian football. Couceiro, who has also served as president of the Portuguese Professional Football Players’ Union, looked back openly on his first impressions of Lithuania, his turbulent spell with FBK Kaunas, the memorable national-team era, the historic victory over Romania and the former players with whom he remains in contact today.
What is your first memory of arriving in Lithuania?
When I first arrived in Lithuania in 2008, I was shocked by the conditions. I said: “No, I definitely don’t want to be here.” But after ten or 15 days, I changed my mind, and so I stayed in Kaunas.
Who brought you to Lithuania?
Mr Vladimir Romanov. Our agreement was that I would coach both FBK Kaunas and the Lithuania national team at the same time. However, later my relationship with Mr Romanov deteriorated, and I continued working only with the national team.
How do you remember your time with FBK Kaunas?
I always had difficult and conflicting situations with my direct boss, Mr Romanov. It became impossible to continue working at the club. The conditions in Kaunas were also quite poor. Yes, we beat Glasgow Rangers, but it was almost like a miracle because they were many times stronger than us.
Did Romanov invite you to coach Edinburgh side Hearts?
Yes, he did invite me to coach Hearts, but by then I no longer wanted to have any relationship with Mr Romanov.
How do you remember your time with the Lithuania national team?
Listen, it is impossible to win matches without good players. Yes, you need a good coach, but if you don’t have good players, you will never win. That is the first thing.
Secondly, we had a very good group of people, and they were very good men. I will never forget Tomas Danilevičius, Marius Stankevičius, Andrius Skerla, Žydrūnas Karčemarskas, whom I later brought to work with me in Turkey, and Deividas Česnauskis. They were all good players and very good guys. Without their contribution, it would have been impossible to win. All the credit belongs to the players.
Edgaras Jankauskas helped me a lot because he speaks Portuguese fluently. Later, I also brought him with me to Lokomotiv Moscow. I have never forgotten any of these people. If you remember, we had players playing in Italy, Russia and Poland. That is important. It makes a difference when you have players competing at a good level.
The start of qualification for the 2010 World Cup was exceptionally successful. You beat Romania 3-0 away from home. What were you thinking at the time?
At that time, I changed the national team’s playing model to a more attacking style. In midfield, I put Deividas Šemberas in the number six position. I wanted Deividas to play with the ball, create and control our attacks rather than simply be a defensive player.
Having a good relationship with the players was one of the main reasons for our success because I changed some positions, and they accepted those changes. We played in a 4-3-3 formation, controlled the ball and made the difference.
You ask me about the Romania match. Why was it special? Because Lithuania played Romania face-to-face. Lithuania didn’t play with the idea of waiting, scoring one goal and then closing the game down. No. Lithuania played to win from the very beginning.
After we scored our first goal, I told the players: “We have to score another goal. We have to score another goal!” Because if we hadn’t scored another one, maybe we wouldn’t have won the match.
We needed to score the second and the third goal, not protect a 1-0 lead by bringing on another defensive player. At that time, the players believed they could win. They believed they could play face-to-face with Romania. But the most important thing was the players, and all the credit belongs to them.
Coach, what was usually your match plan before games?
We always prepared the team to win the match. Not to draw, but to win. Of course, every game was different. If the players believe they can win and believe they can play well, then obviously you have a better chance of winning. First, you have to prepare the players psychologically. Then you prepare them tactically.
It is also very important that the players understand the tactics and the model for the match. They have to understand what the coach wants. But you can never predict exactly what will happen during a game.
Coaches can sometimes seem mysterious. Did you have any secrets?
There are no secrets. You prepare the team for every possible situation, but you need time to work with the players. I worked with those players for a maximum of around ten months, and that isn’t much time.
You also always need new players because the more players you have, the more options you have for matches. I remember seeing Arvydas Novikovas in an Under-21 match, and whenever I could, I called him up to the senior national team. You always need new solutions. Maybe you remember that I also called up Linas Pilibaitis.
Linas Pilibaitis was still playing football until quite recently despite his age, eventually retiring at 39…
I know he played for a long time. I was also at the Lithuanian Cup final in Kaunas in 2023 when he played. But you always have to bring new players into the national team. Otherwise, there will be no continuity. You have to look at the whole picture: the coaching staff, the players and the supporters because the fans are an important part of the game.
I will never forget the people from Lithuania who were in Cluj, Romania, in 2008. They helped the national team in that match, and that is very important. The connection between the players and the supporters is extremely important. But you have to understand that this comes from my football education and the knowledge I gained in Portugal. Maybe in another country, things would be done differently.
What is your happiest memory connected with Lithuanian football?
Probably being in the middle of the pitch celebrating with the players after the victory against Romania.
Which former players do you still have a close relationship with?
Jankauskas, first of all. Also Tomas Danilevičius, Deividas Šemberas, Marius Stankevičius and Mindaugas Kalonas. We exchange messages or speak on the phone.
Mindaugas Kalonas was one of the most technically gifted and talented players Lithuania had at the time…
Kalonas was sometimes a little crazy! But at that time, I spoke with Edgaras Jankauskas and asked him to talk to Kalonas.
Edgaras was like his older brother. Kalonas listened to him, and Edgaras could calm him down.
What did you think about Kalonas as a player for the national team?
Kalonas wasn’t fast. In my opinion, Kalonas needed to play inside, not on the line, not as a winger. He needed to play more centrally. But technically, he was a very good player. Kalonas scored the final goal against Romania.
Jankauskas didn’t play that much under you…
Of course. Edgaras was already approaching the end of his career, while Tomas Danilevičius was playing extremely well at that time. Tomas was better than Jankauskas at that stage.
How close are you and Edgaras Jankauskas today?
First of all, he was a good player. He is a good coach. But most importantly, he is a very good and close friend of mine.
Your relationship with the Lithuanian Football Federation was not quite as close…
You see, life is like that. Those days in 2008 were magical, but the football federation didn’t have the passion because we needed time. We needed time. It is impossible to start working and immediately win every match. I remember that we had many problems and many questions, but that is normal in football. Problems are normal. You have to find solutions to them. Unfortunately, our relationship with the federation was difficult and tense.
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