by Mantas Aliukonis
When Paulius Golubickas signed for Polish side Radomiak, the Lithuanian international imagined himself developing in one of Central Europe’s most competitive leagues. Instead, the 26-year-old midfielder spent more time on the bench than he expected, wrestling with injuries, coaching changes and the nagging sense that he was not truly part of the picture.
Now, on loan at Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) in Finland until the winter break, Golubickas believes he has found a team that both wants him and suits his style. “KuPS are a quick, running team that play a technical style with the ball. I think I fit their style very well,” he says with a smile after his first training session. “It’s my kind of team. From here, it depends on me—how I use the chances I get.”
Poland: promise unfulfilled
Golubickas’ contract with Radomiak runs until the summer of 2027, but his year in Poland has been a frustrating mix of stop-start opportunities. A collarbone dislocation suffered while on duty with Lithuania in Malta last spring sidelined him for five weeks, forcing him to miss pre-season and playing catch-up once the campaign began. Though he quickly regained his fitness and even chipped in with assists both in the Ekstraklasa and for the national team, he never established himself in the first-choice line-up.
“I prefer to be told the truth straight,” he admits. “That way you don’t create illusions and there’s no disappointment when you’re doing everything right but not playing. Instead, I was told to wait for my chance—but it never came.”
Part of the problem lay in timing. Golubickas joined the club under a Moldovan sporting director, but a new Portuguese head coach, Joao Henriques, was appointed almost immediately afterwards. Then came further competition in his position when Baro Romario, a promising youngster from Porto, arrived. “Although the coach said to wait, you see that you need to do something, change something,” Golubickas explains.
By late August, with the Polish window still open, the situation reached a head. “On August 24 the sporting director called, and I realised something was up. In Finland the window closed the very next day. I hadn’t planned to leave, but luckily the option appeared. My instinct was clear—you don’t get chances like that every day.”
A new chapter in Kuopio
The switch to KuPS happened in a whirlwind but, crucially, was driven by desire from the Finnish club. “The main thing is they wanted me themselves,” Golubickas says. “That makes all the difference. When you feel wanted, you can give your best.”
The Lithuanian is arriving at a team with lofty ambitions. KuPS won both the Veikkausliiga and Finnish Cup last season, and this year will compete in the UEFA Conference League group stage. Their target is not just domestic dominance but also to accumulate valuable UEFA coefficient points, which would help in future European draws. “With favourable circumstances we’ll fight to reach the next stage,” Golubickas says.
Kuopio itself has already made an impression. Smaller in scale than Radom or Vilnius, it offers a more intimate environment. “The stadium where we play is similar to Vilnius, on artificial turf. The city isn’t big, but it’s cozy—full of lakes, forests and hills. Maybe closest to Klaipėda back home,” he notes. Professional standards, though, remain high: as in Poland, KuPS travel the day before away games.
One of the surprises has been the make-up of the squad. In contrast to Poland and Lithuania, where foreigners often dominate, KuPS field a young, largely home-grown side.
“I joked that usually I’m one of the younger players in a squad, but here there are locals five or six years younger who play regularly. The youngsters don’t spoil the picture—they help the team a lot,” Golubickas says.
Lithuania from a distance
From Finland, Golubickas has been watching the turbulence surrounding FK Žalgiris, who remain in contention for the A Lyga top four despite off-field scandal. “It isn’t very solid for a club to have such scandals,” he says diplomatically, adding that he still keeps in touch with friends in the squad. His predicted top four: champions Kauno Žalgiris, followed by Hegelmann, Sūduva and then Žalgiris.
Asked about then-head coach Vladimir Cheburin—before the managerial reshuffle—Golubickas believed he would stay in post. “The team is around the European spots and the play is improving. Given how they started the season and how they’re playing now—the difference is visible.”
A player’s profile: creativity first, but room to grow
Golubickas describes himself as an attacking midfielder most comfortable in the No. 10 or No. 8 role. He relishes being the link in his team’s attacks, though he adapts depending on the opponent. “Against Malta there will be more creativity; against the Netherlands we’ll defend more and play without the ball,” he explains.
There is also a note of self-criticism. “I’d like to improve my strongest qualities even more—playing with the ball, dribbling—but most of all my shooting. Sometimes I just need to shoot at goal. Why I don’t… sometimes I don’t understand myself.” His unselfish instincts, he admits, were drilled in early: “From childhood my coaches told me to look for the through ball and create chances for teammates.”
If there is one personality trait that holds him back, it is what he calls “being too responsible.” He laughs as he says it, but expands: “Sometimes I put too much energy into things that aren’t worth it. You can’t be everywhere and help everyone. I want to focus more on where my strengths are, and I hope that sorts itself with age.”
Beyond football: books, audio and small indulgences
Away from the pitch, Golubickas is reflective. He has been reading Performance Playbook by Del Denney, a sports psychology text, on Amazon Kindle, and keeps a healthy library on Audioteka. “I’m interested in everything—from food and cooking to finance, psychology and stress management,” he says. Audio recordings often play in the background while he trains or relaxes. He has also dabbled in investing, guided by a friend, and devotes some free time to it.
He laughs when asked about the attention footballers receive. “On Instagram they press like. They rarely message first, but I can’t complain about attention…” His favourite kit colours so far? The garnet red-and-blue of Dainava Alytus.
National duty: chasing points and dreams
Lithuania face Malta and the Netherlands in World Cup qualifying, and Golubickas sets a clear target: “Minimum three points from these two matches. We’re focusing on Malta, and with the Dutch—we’ll see how it goes.” Lithuania drew with Malta and lost to the Netherlands.
He reels off a list of Dutch stars—Memphis Depay, Frenkie de Jong, Dumfries, Gravenberch—and calls the chance to play against them “a dream.” If he gets to swap shirts, he has no hesitation: Frenkie de Jong.
Though he has recently lost his starting place with Lithuania, he stresses the commitment never changes. “Start or sub, club or country—I always give 100%. The main thing is the chance, to help the team as much as possible.”
Reset in yellow and black
From a distance, it is easy to frame Golubickas’ journey in terms of setbacks: the unlucky injury, the wrong timing in Radom, the slow fade from Radomiak’s plans. Yet he refuses to dwell on frustration. The loan to KuPS feels less like a sideways move and more like a recalibration—a club that wanted him, a team style that suits him, and a European stage that can sharpen his game.
“The offer came at just the right time,” he says. “They wanted me. It’s my style of team. From here, it depends on me—how I use the chances I get.”
Quickfire questions:
- National team now: He’s lost a recent starting berth—he links it to club minutes—but the commitment is unchanged. “Start or sub, club or country—I always give 100%. The point is the chance—to help the team as much as possible.”
- Malta & Netherlands—points target: Minimum three from the two qualifiers. The focus is on Malta; against the Dutch, “we’ll see how it goes.”
- Favorite Dutchmen: He reels off names across the pitch—Memphis Depay, Frenkie de Jong, Dumfries, Gravenberch—and calls facing them “a dream.”
- Shirt swap wish on Sunday: Frenkie de Jong.
- Club & idol: FC Barcelona; Lionel Messi.
- Roommate with Lithuania: Romualdas Jansonas—the same 20-year-old who just moved to Arouca.
- Books & audio: He reads Del Denney’s Performance Playbook on Kindle; keeps a sizable Audioteka collection. He listens while doing things—“we live in a very fast world”—and grazes topics from food and cooking to finance, psychology, and stress management.
- Side interest: He’s in touch with someone about investing and gives it time when he can.
- Shirt colors he loved most: Red-and-blue (garnet) at Alytus Dainava.
- Off-pitch attention: “(Laughs) On Instagram they press like. They rarely message first, but I can’t complain about attention…”
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