by Mantas Aliukonis
At 40, most players are reminiscing about past glories. Linas Pilibaitis, captain of Vilnius TransINVEST, is still chasing new ones. From a kid kicking a ball in Kretinga to winning titles abroad, Pilibaitis’s career reads like a love letter to football—and it’s far from finished.
In a rare in-depth conversation, he reflects on battles with Scottish giants, memories of Lithuania’s golden days, life under Vladimir Romanov, and the family that’s been his foundation through it all.
A Footballer First, a Family Man Always
Asked how he’d introduce himself to a new generation of fans, Pilibaitis smiles. “I’m a family man first,” he says. “Football is still a huge part of my life—I play every day. And, of course, I still hold the record as the youngest scorer in A Lyga. I was only 15 back then.” He admits the memory of that first goal is hazy. “It’s been so long… but I believe it was against Kėdainiai Nevėžis. I was on loan to Kaunas Kareda because they needed players.”
Pilibaitis’s journey started like many others: playing in the streets. His first coach, Gediminas Petrauskas in Kretinga, taught him the basics, and under Pranas Ivaškevičius in Klaipėda, his potential blossomed. When Lithuania assembled a youth national team for players born in 1985, he made the move to Kaunas at just 14. “It wasn’t easy,” he remembers. “Kaunas could be dangerous, especially at night. Coming from a small village, seeing 12-story buildings made me wonder if I had landed somewhere completely different. I lived in dormitories and had to solve my own problems without my parents around“. Despite the rough start, he fell in love with the city. Playing for Kaunas Jėgeriai in the lower leagues, he worked his way into men’s football, building resilience and grit.
Those years in Kaunas coincided with Žalgiris’s famous Euro League triumph. Basketball fever gripped the city, and Pilibaitis and his teammates were swept up in it. “We had no money for tickets, so we sneaked into games any way we could,” he laughs. Yet, despite the excitement around basketball, football remained his true calling.
Maybe I could have been a decent basketball player, but I lacked the height. Football always felt more natural.
Then vs. Now: Different Worlds
Reflecting on the conditions young players face today, Pilibaitis sees stark differences.
Today’s kids have everything—perfect pitches, professional training. Back then, we trained on muddy fields and gravel lots. There was no infrastructure
He praises the new stadium in Kaunas but notes that Lithuanian football still needs broader investment in quality facilities to compete internationally. At FBK Kaunas, Pilibaitis played under the controversial Vladimir Romanov, a figure whose reputation still sparks debate. Yet Pilibaitis offers a different perspective. “Romanov was straightforward. We had everything we needed, and he never played power games with the players,” he says. The club’s collapse, Pilibaitis believes, stemmed from Romanov’s growing focus on basketball and personal battles with the Lithuanian Football Federation. “He thought the referees were against him. Eventually, football stopped being a priority.“
Pilibaitis had two spells at Klaipėda Atlantas, where club boss Vacys Lekevičius left a strong impression. Before his debut, Vacys made him a simple promise: “Go out, score, and you’ll get a bonus.” Pilibaitis did just that—twice. “He was a direct guy, honest with players. I always had a good relationship with him, even if others had different experiences.”
Asked about the league’s quality, Pilibaitis doesn’t sugarcoat it. “In the early 2000s, the A Lyga was stronger. After Romanov left and club budgets shrank, the league suffered. Around 2010 to 2015, it really hit a low point. Now it’s improving again—there’s real competition.”
The Glory Days
One of the standout moments in Pilibaitis’s career came in Scotland, where he famously scored against Rangers at Ibrox. “Honestly, they should have beaten us 4-0 in the first leg—we were lucky. But scoring that goal was unforgettable,” he says, though no offer came from the Scottish giants. Pilibaitis’s proudest moment in a Lithuania shirt was a stunning 3-0 victory against Romania in 2008. “It was my first official match and a perfect performance. All three goals were beauties,” he recalls with a smile.
Moving to Hungary proved to be one of the best decisions of his career. At ETO Győr, Pilibaitis won a league title and found a second home for his family. “We were respected, the training facilities were top-class, and the whole town supported the team. Winning the title there was huge.” He formed strong bonds with teammates like former Chelsea player Rati Aleksidze and Estonian international Tarmo Kink, who later joined Middlesbrough.
No Agents, No Fuss
Unlike today’s footballers, Pilibaitis kept things simple when it came to contracts:
One Hungarian agent helped me move to Győr. After that, I never had an agent again. I just focused on football.
He notes how today’s young players often spend too long labeled as “prospects,” delaying their transition into senior football. “Too many aim straight for top leagues like Italy or England without realizing the brutal competition there.” Looking back, Pilibaitis has no second thoughts. “Every club, every step shaped me. Even in Romania, where I didn’t play much, I learned valuable lessons.” Even now, every match is special. “I treat every game as if it could be my last,” he says. “I don’t overthink opponents—I just focus on my team and giving everything.“
Pilibaitis treasures his recent Lithuanian Cup win with TransINVEST almost as much as his Hungarian championship. “Winning last year’s Cup final against Šiauliai was incredibly sweet.” Sitting 4th in A Lyga’s all-time scoring charts and 7th in appearances, he’s not done yet. “If injuries stay away, who knows? But records aren’t my focus anymore.”
None of it, he says, would have been possible without his family. “My wife and kids have been my rock through everything.”
The Future: On the Sidelines?
Already holding a UEFA B coaching license, Pilibaitis is preparing for life after playing. “I’ve been coaching kids at TransINVEST Academy for a year now. Football has been my life—it’s what I know best, and I want to pass that knowledge on.”
At 40, Linas Pilibaitis’s fire hasn’t dimmed—it’s just evolved. From Kretinga’s streets to international stadiums, from muddy fields to championship celebrations, his journey is a testament to passion, resilience, and pure love for the beautiful game.
And he’s not done yet.