Matas Klimas: Disappointment to Motivation | OneFootball

Matas Klimas has experienced the highs and lows of academy football to date, helping the defender “cherish” the chance to play for Brentford.

A member of Lydia Bedford’s Under-18s squad, Matas has become a vital member of the young Bees’ defence since signing a two-year scholarship near the beginning of the 2023/24 season.

His development has been clear in his one year at Jersey Road, however it followed a tough period for the defender.

Matas was not offered a scholarship by Tottenham Hotspur after four years in north London, leading him to trial with multiple clubs before settling at Brentford.

“After not receiving my scholarship at Spurs, I went on trial to Cambridge United, Colchester United, Barnsley and QPR where I was rejected,” said Matas.

“I also went to Leyton Orient where I was offered a scholarship, but I made the decision to not sign there as I believed it wasn’t the right pathway for me and not where I wanted to be for the next two years.

“It wasn’t a great time as I had to deal with that decision plus an important year of education as I did my GCSEs, but I knew it was the right time for me to leave and there wouldn’t be much of a pathway for me if I stayed [at Tottenham].

“It was for the better and I made sure when the right opportunity came at Brentford that I would be cherish it as much as possible.”

Football has been a love of Matas’s for as long as he can remember and is a pathway his parents could see him going down before he was born.

“Funnily enough before I was born my parents wanted me to become a footballer as I was kicking so much in my mum’s belly,” explained Matas.

“Then at the age of four I went to my local team Dagenham United. I played for multiple grassroots teams around the east London/Essex area until the age of 12 when I signed for Tottenham.

"I was so grateful for this opportunity as a year before I had an unsuccessful trial at Millwall which made me understand how lucky I was to sign for such a big club.

“I spent four years at Spurs, then I didn’t receive a scholarship to continue my development and instead had to trial at multiple clubs.

"At the start of the 2023/24 season I was offered a trial at Brentford and after the first day I knew this was the place I wanted to be at.”

While continuing his development under Bedford and her team, Matas has enjoyed international duties with Lithuania.

“It’s a great achievement for me to represent my family name and play for my country throughout the youth age groups, so I wish to continue getting better and playing on the international stage,” said Matas.

Now one of the experienced players of the U18s side, Matas hopes to continue his strong development.

Having seen last season’s U18s team-mates Ollie Shield, Kerron Samuels, Andre Grey and Yaw Agyei transition into the B team set-up, Matas hopes to follow their path.

“When you see your team-mates from last year pushing on and making it to that next level, it just adds extra motivation for myself as I believe I can also get there and push on in my career,” he explained.