From a Quiz Show to the Champions League: Former RFS Coach's Unlikely Path to Success

Azerbaijani football club Sabah has qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in its history. In the decisive play-off round, the team defeated Israel's Hapoel 6:4 on aggregate over two legs, becoming the first Azerbaijani club ever to reach the tournament.

The draw has placed Sabah in a group alongside European heavyweights such as Barcelona, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United, Napoli, Villarreal, Slavia Prague and Viking. The club's debut in Europe's top club competition is expected in early September.

A Latvian connection

Since 2025, Sabah has been coached by Lithuanian Valdas Dambrauskas, who has direct ties to Latvian football — from 2017 to 2020 he worked as head coach of RFS in the Latvian Virsliga. His career later took him to Ludogorets, Hajduk Split, Omonia and other clubs. His name has occasionally been linked with the head coach position of the Latvian national team, though he has consistently prioritized club work.

An unexpected fact in his biography

Following the historic qualification, many have noticed a lesser-known episode from Dambrauskas's past. Back in 2002, while still a student, he took part in the Lithuanian version of the quiz show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?", winning three thousand Lithuanian litas by answering questions correctly — roughly four thousand euros in today's terms.

Since his own playing career never took off, Dambrauskas decided to pursue coaching and used his winnings to fund studies at London Metropolitan University, where he studied sports science and coaching education. Alongside his studies, he gained practical experience at renowned academies including Manchester United, Fulham and Brentford.