From Who Wants To Be A Millionaire to historic Champions League manager, incredible story of ex-Man Utd coach

IF you won a life-changing sum on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’, what would you do next? Buy a house? Book a dream holiday? Valdas Dambrauskas’ Sabah FK have qualified for the Champions League main phase Credit: Alamy Dambrauskas won ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ in 2002 Credit: X Valdas Dambrauskas used his winnings to chase an unlikely dream of becoming a football manager. Now, 24 years later, it has taken him all the way to the Champions League. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! The Lithuanian, 49, has guided Azerbaijani minnows Sabah FK into Europe’s biggest club competition after one of football’s most unusual journeys. Dambrauskas never kicked a football as a professional player. And he was still a student when he appeared on Lithuania’s version of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ in 2002. He walked away with 4,000 Lithuanian litas, worth roughly £2,500 in today’s money. He took it straight to the bank and moved to England in a bid to fulfill his dream of becoming a football manager. Studying Sports Science and Coaching at London Metropolitan University, he opened doors at several youth academies, including Manchester United, Brentford, and Fulham. Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS It is the first time the seven-year-old club has qualified for the competition Credit: Alamy At one point, he coached ninth-tier team Kingsbury London Tigers, leading them to a run of stunning results – still remembered in their history books. Dambrauskas later returned home to work with Lithuania’s youth sides before climbing the managerial ladder across Europe. And over the years, his trophy cabinet has become laden with silverware from Latvia, Bulgaria, and Croatia. But his BIGGEST achievement yet has come in Baku. The Caucasian capital has been punching above its weight for a long time. They’ve made a name for themselves in the world of sport, hosting everything from Formula One’s huge Azerbaijan Grand Prix, to Boxing World Cups – and even chess tournaments. Now the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich could be heading there after Sabah’s stunning qualifying run. Dambrauskas took charge last summer. The draw for the main phase is set for 5pm tonight (UK) in Monaco Credit: Getty Dambrauskas had stints at several youth academies in England Credit: Getty And it was not long before he delivered the club’s first league title as part of a domestic double. He has now masterminded the greatest European run in Sabah’s short history and is the first Lithuanian coach to do so with any team. They are the only ONE of the 28 clubs that entered in the first qualifying round to survive all four stages and reach the league phase. Sabah saw off Welsh champions The New Saints, Finland’s KuPS and Danish side Aarhus before meeting Hapoel Beer-Sheva in the play-off. And their hopes looked to be crumbling after they lost the first leg 2-1 before falling two goals behind on aggregate during the return in Baku. But Tellur Mutallimov’s volley seconds from the end of stoppage time dragged Sabah level and forced extra time. Hapoel’s Djibril Diop was then sent off before goals from Orphe Mbina and Joy-Lance Mickels sealed a remarkable 5-2 victory (6-4 aggregate) on the night. Eliel Peretz also saw red for the visitors in the closing stages. Sadah beat four teams to become to the only team remaining from the first qualifying stage Credit: Getty Speaking to UEFA post-match, Valdas said: “It’s a great night. I thank the fans. “The players played great. Sabah is the best team I’ve coached in my career. “We’ve qualified for the main stage of the best tournament in the world. Today, I’m the happiest head coach in the world.” He added: “Hapoel were the team who applied better pressure. As a result, we conceded a goal. We made mistakes and we will analyse them. “The fans who came to the stadium will not forget this night. I will celebrate this day.” They have reached Europe’s biggest stage just before celebrating their ninth birthday on September 8. And tonight, Sabah – who have been handed 1500/1 odds at becoming outright winners – will discover their league-phase opponents in the draw. Comment now