A new chapter has opened for 19-year-old Cayman goalkeeper Lachlin Lambert as he has officially signed with Croatian professional club NK Dugopolje.
Lambert, who made his senior national team debut at just 17 in a historic win for the Cayman Islands on 17 Oct. 2023, has now taken his talents to Europe.
The move, a dream come true for the young player, marks a significant step in his football career.
Lambert said that he and his agents felt that Croatia offered the best environment for his continuing progress.
“When I got to Croatia, it was a matter of finding the best team for my development,” he explained. After exploring a few options, he and his agents felt NK Dugopolje was the perfect fit.
He began training with his new team last month, saying, “The experience has been a dream honestly. To play in a professional club with such great players [is] amazing.”
As he embarks on his first season with the Croatian club, which started on 16 Aug., Lambert shared some of his aspirations.
“My personal goals are to play as many games as I can, … develop as a football player and help the team as much as [possible].”
He recognises that success at this level requires “[you] to be good at most things,” and to that end, he says he’s trying to be a better version of himself every day and work on all aspects of his game.
One specific area he highlighted is his technique in goal.
“I’m working on a lot of things, but one [thing] that I have been putting a lot of focus on is diving forward to attack the ball instead of diving neutral,” he shared.
Lambert’s signing with NK Dugopolje is not just a personal achievement; it’s a significant moment for his long-term career aspirations.
He sees it as a “big step” that puts him in a great place where he can develop as a player and person.
“I have high standards for myself, but I just want to go as far as possible in football and be the best player I can be,” Lambert said.
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Good on ya mate but how when the national team never wins?