Rimantė Jonušaitė joined the Mauves in June. At just 22 years old, she already seems to have lived a full life. For the first time since her arrival, she talks about her love for her family, how she founded a women’s football team in Lithuania, and her ambitions at RSCA. An open and heartfelt conversation with our forward, who left her home country at seventeen to pursue her dream.
Rimantė, you were born in Mažeikiai, a small town in the northwest of Lithuania. What was it like growing up there?
I grew up in an apartment building surrounded by plenty of kids my age. But while the girls were playing with dolls, I was out with the boys, kicking a ball. That’s how I spent my childhood - being with my friends, playing football. That’s it.
How did you take your first steps in football?
There was a football stadium near my home, and when I was four, my dad took me there for the first time. We started playing there often, and I really enjoyed it. One day, a coach from a local club noticed me - that’s when my football journey truly began.
At that stadium, there was a boys’ team that trained several afternoons a week. I would just watch them play, but sometimes I got to join in. The coach eventually asked me to join the team. I started playing with boys my age, and later I went on to help start a local women’s team.
How exactly did that go?
When I was around 12 years old, I helped start the first real women’s football team in my hometown, together with my friends and other local girls. We were mainly training, and sometimes we took part in futsal tournaments - it can get really cold in Lithuania during the winter. I asked my coach from the local men’s team to help us build the women’s team, and he joined our project. Once I started playing with girls, I also began to get more attention from bigger women’s teams in the country.
You then made the move to FC Gintra, a women’s team in Lithuania’s top division. How did that come about?
Joining Gintra was a big step for me. The club saw my passion for football, how much it means to me, and the fire I have to succeed. Gintra reached out to the coach, and they even came to my hometown to speak with me and my parents. I felt it was the right move for me - to join the club and study at their sports school. It was a great learning environment, with a team that had Champions League experience.
In 2019, you won both the Best Young Player award and the Top Scorer trophy. How did that feel?
I felt honored. When I joined Gintra, everything was going smoothly. I was scoring goals in the league, made my Champions League debut, and earned my first cap for the Lithuanian national team. Things were going really well, and then one day I heard from my agent that there was interest from Italy - AC Milan wanted to sign me. It felt like a dream come true, especially since I was only seventeen at the time.
You left Lithuania at a young age and have already lived in several major cities. How has that shaped you into the person you are today?
Moving from city to city at such a young age affected me a lot. I had both good and painful experiences. During this time away from my home country, I feel that I grew a lot as a person. I’m grateful for all the experiences and opportunities - I met so many wonderful people and made new friends, with whom I’m still very close today.
The most important lesson I’ve taken from this journey is that you must enjoy it. When I moved to Italy at just seventeen, I didn’t yet realize how fast time flies. So you have to enjoy every chapter of life - that’s the most important message I would give to the young Rimante
Which people played an important role in that journey for you?
My sister and my parents are what matter most in my life. They mean the world to me. We always talk on the phone before every game. When I don’t hear from them, I can’t focus and I don’t feel ready to play. Only when they wish me good luck do I feel calm and prepared to give my all on the pitch. It has become my pre-game routine.
When I see them happy, I’m happy too. When I play well, win games, or score, I love seeing how proud they are. That’s very special to me - they are my biggest fans. They have supported me throughout my entire football journey.
You also play for the Lithuanian national team. How does it feel to put on that shirt?
It’s always a pleasure to represent my country. I play for my homeland, my hometown, and for all the people of Lithuania, which is a very small country. When I put on that shirt, I always feel proud to be Lithuanian. I see it as an opportunity to show everyone who we are and what we stand for. Matches with the national team always feel special to me, and I believe they always will.
You came to Brussels last summer. Why did you choose the project of RSCA Women?
For me, RSC Anderlecht has always been the biggest team in Belgium. I feel proud to be here and to wear this beautiful jersey. When I received the message that the club wanted me, I felt it was the perfect project for me. I truly believe that this team, and the people working here, create the ideal environment to grow.
What needs to happen for you to call this season successful?
Of course we want to win the Belgian league and the cup. But the most important thing is that, at the end of the season, we know we gave everything we had and reached our full potential. I believe we have all the qualities to make it a successful season. My personal ambition is to give my absolute best and keep improving.
And in Europe?
European games are always special. They are a great opportunity for us, for the club, and for the players to achieve something on the international stage. This is the first edition of the Women’s Europa Cup, so we are eager to show that we are a strong team. We want to go far in this tournament.
The feeling ahead of the game against Vienna is positive. Although we lost the first leg at home, we are confident we can advance. Everything is still possible, so we are highly motivated to take on the challenge. It’s still in our hands, and I know we will give our absolute best.
Sėkmės, Rimantė.
(Good luck, Rimantė)