Football in Hungary

Last updated
Football in Hungary
CountryHungary
Governing body Hungarian Football Federation (Hungarian: Magyar Labdarúgó Szövetség)
National team(s) Hungary
First played1863;161 years ago (1863)
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions

Football is the most popular sport in Hungary. [1] The Hungarian Football Federation is the highest body of professional football in Hungary and was founded in 1901. The Hungary national team has played in numerous international tournaments, including the inaugural football tournament in the Olympic Games (Stockholm 1912), nine World Cups, and four European Championships. Their greatest achievements are the three gold medals in the 1952, 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games, and the runner-up in the 1938 and 1954 World Cups. The team known as the Mighty Magyars was also the first non-British team to defeat England, 6–3 at Wembley in 1953. Months later, they defeated the English by a convincing 7–1 in Budapest in 1954, the worst defeat in the history of the English team. [2] [3]

Contents

History

The first-ever football club to be founded in Hungary was Budapesti Torna Club having founded its football section in February 1897, dissolved in 1945–46. BTC is soon followed by the founding of the football sections of other important sport clubs in the city: the Magyar Úszó Egylet (MUE), the Budai Football Csapat, the Müegyetemi FC (MFC, later MAFC), the Magyar Athletikai Club (MAC) and the Budapesti Budai Torna Egylet (BBTC). [4] Most of the associations were already operational in other sports and set up their football divisions after the popularisation that came with the first local an international games played by BTC and its followers. The first match between clubs to be played came on 6 February 1898 when BTC played against Müegyetemi FC, with the later winning 5–0 despite BTC having trained the MFC players previously. Nowadays the oldest still active football clubs in Hungary are Műegyetemi FC founded on 1 November of 1897 as a purely football club [5] and III. Kerületi TVE, whose football section was officially opened in 1899 but stemmed from the Budai Football Csapat founded on 31 October 1897. [6]

The Hungarian Football Federation (Hungarian : Magyar Labdarúgó Szövetség or MLSZ), the sport's national governing body, was founded on 19 January 1901 by 13 clubs: BAK, BEAC, BSC, Budapesti TC, Budai Ganzgyár, Ganz Vagongyár, "33" FC, MAC, Magyar FC, Magyar ÚE, Műegyetemi FC, Postás, FTC, who took part in the first championship in 2 tiers that same year. The philosoph Jász Géza of Magyar FC, was nominated the first president of the MLSZ. Vice-presidents were nominated Ferenc Gillemot (MAFC) and Árpád Füzeséry (MUE), secretary general Ferenc Horváth (FTC), treasurer Gabona Károly (Budapesti TC), inspector Ignác Boros (BSC), accountants Róbert Békés (Ganz), Andor Telkes and Ferenc Eisner, and honorary president Károly Iszer (BTC).

Hungary were regular features at major tournaments, such as the first Olympic Football Tournament (Stockholm 1912) and many FIFA World Cup. [7] They were the first non-UK team to beat England at Wembley Stadium with their 6–3 victory in 1953. [8] [9] [10] The golden age of Hungarian football took place in the 1950s, with the emergence of players of the caliber of Ferenc Puskás, László Kubala, Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis, Nándor Hidegkuti, Ferenc Szusza, József Bozsik & Gyula Grosics. This team (with the exception of Kubala, who only played 3 games with Hungary before playing for Spain) was known as the Golden Team and remained undefeated for 32 consecutive games, winning the gold medal in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki and reaching the final in the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, always with Ferenc Puskás as a star (84 goals in 85 matches playing for the Hungary national football team). The twilight of this team that marveled the world came with the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, and after a match of the European Champion's Cup Budapest Honvéd in Bilbao, many of the stars like Czibor, Kocsis and Puskás decided not to return to their country and sign for teams from Western Europe, meaning his retirement from the national team. Puskás joined Real Madrid in 1958, winning three European Cups and debuting with the Spain national football team in 1961, while Czibor and Kocsis joined FC Barcelona. [11] In 1967, the Ferencváros T.C. Flórián Albert became the inaugural Hungarian to win the Golden Ball, surpassing the second place achieved by Puskás seven years before.

Domestic football

Hungary's capital Budapest has seven professional football teams, six of them have won the Hungarian 1st division. Until July 2012 teams based in Budapest have won the Hungarian Championship 96 times and teams from other cities have won it 14 times.

The Hungarian football clubs have several international successes. [12] [13] [14] [15] Ferencvárosi TC won the 1964–65 edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and was runner-up in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1974–75 season and the Cup of Fairs in 1968, while Újpest FC reached the final of the Fair Cup in 1969, Videoton FC UEFA Cup in 1985, and the MTK Budapest to that of the Recopa in 1964. [16] [17]

Domestic tournaments

Clubs

The table below lists all Budapest clubs in the top three tiers of the Hungarian football league system: from the top division (the Nemzeti Bajnokság I), down to the Nemzeti Bajnokság III. League status is correct for the 2012–13 season.

ClubStadiumCapacityFounded (Football section)
Nemzeti Bajnokság I (1)
Újpest FC Szusza Ferenc Stadium 13,5011885 (1899)
Ferencvárosi TC Groupama Arena 23,7001899 (1900)
MTK Budapest Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium 7,5151888 (1901)
Budapest Honvéd Bozsik Stadion 9,5001909
Nemzeti Bajnokság II (2)
Vasas SC Illovszky Rudolf Stadion 9,0001911
Újpest FC "B" Szusza Ferenc Stadium 13,5011885 (1899)
Ferencvárosi TC "II" Stadion Albert Flórián 15,8042014 (1900)
Budapest Honvéd FC-MFA Bozsik Stadion, Műfüves Pálya7001909
BKV Előre SC Sport utcai Stadion2,5001912
III. Kerületi TVE Hévízi út3,0001887 (1899)
Nemzeti Bajnokság III (3)
Soroksár SCSzamosi Mihály Sporttelep5,0001999
Újbuda TCSportmax pálya5002007
Pénzügyőr SEPasaréti út3,0001950
Rákosszentmihályi AFCPirosrózsa utca2,5001913
Rákosmenti TKPéceli út2,5001912
Erzsébeti Spartacus MTKAdy Endre utca5,0001909
Csepel SC Béke téri stadion12,0001912
Budafoki LCPromontor utcai stadion4,0001912
Rákospalotai EAC Budai II László stadion7,5001912
Rákosment Községi SKRKSK-pálya1,0001949

Administration

Budapest is the location of the headquarters of the Hungarian Football Federation.

National team

The Hungarian national team, in its different categories, is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation.

The Hungarian team played their first official game on 12 October 1902 in Vienna against Austria, a match that was resolved with a 5–0 win for the Austrians. Hungary has played in nine FIFA World Cups and two European Championships. The best result of Hungary national team was when they reached the FIFA World Cup final twice; they lost to Italy in 1938, and lost again to West Germany in 1954. [18] Since then, Hungary's performance has diminished. [19] [20] [21] [22]

Football stadiums in Hungary

Stadiums with a capacity of 15,000 or higher are included.

ImageStadiumLocation County CapacityHome teamOpened
Puskas Arena 01.jpg Puskás Aréna Budapest Budapest, XIV.ker 67,215 Hungary national football team 2019
2019-05-17 Fussball, Frauen, UEFA Women's Champions League, Olympique Lyonnais - FC Barcelona StP 0016 LR10 by Stepro.jpg Groupama Arena Budapest Budapest, IX.ker 23,700 [23] Ferencvárosi TC 2014
NagyerdeiStadionFotoThalerTamas3.jpg Nagyerdei Stadion Debrecen Hajdú-Bihar 20,340 [24] Debreceni VSC 2014
Gyor 2015, ETO Park complex, 1309 dji 0725.jpg ETO Park Győr Győr-Moson-Sopron 15,600 [25] Győri ETO FC 2008
Diosgyor - Mezokovesd.jpg Diósgyőri Stadion Miskolc Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén 15,325 [26] Diósgyőri VTK 2018

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferenc Puskás</span> Hungarian footballer (1927–2006)

Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and the sport's first international superstar. A forward and an attacking midfielder, he scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary and later played four international matches for Spain as well. He became an Olympic champion in 1952 and led his nation to the final of the 1954 World Cup. He won three European Cups, ten national championships and eight top individual scoring honors. Known as the "Galloping Major", in 1995, he was recognized as the greatest top division scorer of the 20th century by the IFFHS. Scoring 806 goals in 793 official games during his career, he is the seventh top goal scorer of all time by the RSSSF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Budapest Honvéd FC</span> Sports club in Hungary

Budapest Honvéd Football Club, commonly known as Budapest Honvéd or simply Honvéd, is a Hungarian sports club based in Kispest, Budapest, with the colours of red and black. The club is best known for its football team. Honvéd means the Homeland Defence. Originally formed as Kispest AC, they became Kispest FC in 1926 before reverting to their original name in 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferencvárosi TC</span> Hungarian football club

Ferencvárosi Torna Club, commonly known as Ferencváros, Fradi, FTC is a Hungarian professional football club based in Ferencváros, Budapest, that competes in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I, the top flight of Hungarian football. Ferencváros was founded in 1899 by Ferenc Springer and a group of local residents of Budapest's ninth district, Ferencváros. Ferencváros is best known internationally for winning the 1964–65 edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup after defeating Juventus 1–0 in Turin in the final. Ferencváros also reached the final in the same competition in 1968, when they lost to Leeds United, as well as the final in the 1974–75 season of the European Cup Winners' Cup, losing to Dynamo Kyiv.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Újpest FC</span> Hungarian football club

Újpest Football Club is a Hungarian professional football club, based in Újpest, Budapest, that competes in Nemzeti Bajnokság I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nándor Hidegkuti</span> Hungarian footballer and manager (1922–2002)

Nándor Hidegkuti was a Hungarian football player and manager. He played as a forward or attacking midfielder and spent the majority of his playing career at MTK Hungária FC. During the 1950s he was also a key member of the Hungary national team team known as the Golden Team. Other members of the team included Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis and József Bozsik. In 1953, playing as a deep lying centre-forward, a position which has retroactively been compared to the modern false 9 role, he scored a hat-trick for Hungary when they beat England 6–3 at Wembley Stadium. Playing from deep, Hidegkuti was able to distribute the ball to the other attackers and cause considerable confusion to defences. This was an innovation at the time and revolutionised the way the game was played.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sándor Kocsis</span> Hungarian footballer (1929–1979)

Sándor Péter Kocsis was a Hungarian footballer who played for Ferencvárosi TC, Budapest Honvéd, Young Fellows Zürich, FC Barcelona and Hungary as a striker. During the 1950s, along with Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, József Bozsik and Nándor Hidegkuti, he was a member of the Mighty Magyars. After the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, he moved to Spain where he became a member of the FC Barcelona team of the late 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gusztáv Sebes</span> Hungarian footballer (1906–1986)

Gusztáv Sebes was a Hungarian footballer, who played as a midfielder, and became a well-known coach later. With the title of Deputy Minister of Sport, he coached the Hungarian team known as the Mighty Magyars in the 1950s. Among the players in the team were Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis, József Bozsik, and Nándor Hidegkuti. Together with Béla Guttmann and Márton Bukovi, he formed a triumvirate of radical Hungarian coaches who pioneered the 4-2-4 formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1954 FIFA World Cup final</span> World Cup final, held in Switzerland

The 1954 FIFA World Cup final was the final match of the 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth World Cup in FIFA history. The game was played at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, Switzerland, on 4 July 1954, and saw West Germany beat the heavily favoured Golden Team of Hungary 3–2. Earlier in the group stage, Hungary had defeated West Germany 8–3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Team</span> 1950s Hungary national football team

The Golden Team refers to the Hungary national football team of the 1950s. It is associated with several notable matches, including the "Match of the Century" against England in 1953, and the quarter-final against Brazil, semi-final and final of the 1954 FIFA World Cup. The team inflicted notable defeats on then-footballing world powers England, Uruguay, Soviet Union, Brazil and Italy before the 1956 Hungarian Revolution caused the breakup of the side. The Golden Team was also known by different nicknames, such as the Mighty Magyars, the Magical Magyars, and the Magnificent Magyars.

The Nemzeti Bajnokság, also known as NB I, is the top flight of Hungarian football league system. The league is officially named OTP Bank Liga after its title sponsor, OTP Bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoltán Czibor</span> Hungarian footballer

Zoltán Czibor was a Hungarian footballer who played for several Hungarian clubs, including Ferencváros and Budapest Honvéd, and the Hungary national team before joining CF Barcelona. Czibor played as a left-winger or striker and was notable for having a powerful shot, good pace and excellent ball control. During the 1950s he was part of the Magical Magyars, reaching the World Cup final with them in 1954. After the 1956 Hungarian Revolution he moved to Spain where he became a prominent member of the successful FC Barcelona team of the late 1950s. After three seasons at Barcelona, he joined their local rivals Español for the 1961–62 season. After brief spells at FC Basel, Austria Wien and Primo Hamilton FC, he retired as a professional footballer and returned to Hungary. He died there in 1997, aged 68.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">László Budai</span> Hungarian footballer

László Budai, also known as László Bednarik, or Budai II, was a former Hungarian footballer and coach. Budai was born in Budapest and played as a midfielder and forward for Ferencvárosi TC, Honvéd and Hungary. During the 1950s he was a member of the legendary Hungarian national team known as the Mighty Magyars. Other members of the team included Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis, József Bozsik and Nándor Hidegkuti. The stadium of Rákospalotai EAC was named after him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenő Kalmár</span> Hungarian footballer and coach

Jenő Kalmár, also referred to as János Kalmar or Kálmár Jenő, was a former Hungarian footballer and coach. As a player, Kalmar played for both MTK Hungária FC and Hungary. During the 1928-29 season he finished as top goalscorer for MTK, scoring 20 goals.

Hungary v England (1954) was an international football game played on 23 May 1954. The game was played between the Hungary national football team—then the world's number one ranked team and the Olympic champions—and the England national football team, hailing from the birthplace of the game of football and reputed "Kings of Football". The game was a return fixture from the 1953 game in the old Wembley Stadium, where Hungary had beaten England 6–3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. v Budapest Honvéd FC</span> Football match

Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. v Budapest Honvéd FC was an association football match that took place on 13 December 1954, and was instrumental in the eventual formation of the European Cup. The match was played under floodlights, and was broadcast live on BBC television.

Műegyetemi Atlétikai és Football Club o MAFC is a Hungarian football club from the city of Budapest. It is the oldest still active football club in Hungary, and it currently plays in the II. regional Budapest league. It is the football club of Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

Budapest Honvéd Football Club is a professional football club based in Budapest, Hungary.

Imre Aranyos is a Hungarian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He gained three caps for Hungary and was a member of 1993–94 Vác FC-Samsung squad that won Nemzeti Bajnokság I and became Hungarian champion first and up to date the last time in the club's history.

The 1998–99 Nemzeti Bajnokság II is Hungary's second-level football competition. The championship was won by Lombard FC Tatabánya and they were also promoted to the 1999–2000 Nemzeti Bajnokság I along with Nagykanizsa and Szeged LC. Four teams including Salgótarjáni BTC, Tiszavasvári, Soroksár and Soproni FAC were relegated to the 1999–2000 Nemzeti Bajnokság III.

References

  1. Racz, Gergo (7 September 2011). "Hungarian Soccer Fans Long for Glory Days". wsj.com. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  2. Glanville, Brian (16 May 2009). "Seven deadly sins of football: The Hungarian disasters - England v Hungary, 1953-4" . Retrieved 17 November 2017 via www.theguardian.com.
  3. Ward-Thomas, Pat (26 November 1953). "Hungary's Famous Victory" . Retrieved 17 November 2017 via www.theguardian.com.
  4. "Kronológia – Magyar Labdarúgó Archívum". www.mla.hu. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  5. Magyarfutball.hu. "Budapest, Műegyetemi FC (történet, adatok) • csapatok • Magyarfutball.hu". www.magyarfutball.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  6. Magyarfutball.hu. "Budapest, III. kerületi TVE (history, data) • clubs • Magyarfutball.hu". www.magyarfutball.hu. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  7. Bevan, Chris (24 November 2013). "Jimmy Hogan: The Englishman who inspired the Magical Magyars". bbc.com. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  8. Slater, Matt (2013-11-25). "BBC Sport – England v Hungary 60 years on: What lessons have been learned?". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  9. "BBC News – England v Hungary – a football match that started a revolution". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-11-23. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  10. Fazekas, Zoltan (2013-11-22). "FEATURE-Soccer-Magical Magyars coach wrote off 1953 England side | Reuters". In.reuters.com. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  11. FIFA.com (18 May 2012). "Hungarians facing future with confidence". Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  12. "Clubs in Budapest have been in free fall in recent years « World Soccer World Soccer". Worldsoccer.com. 2011-08-29. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  13. "When Saturday Comes - Hungarian football in the doldrums". Wsc.co.uk. 2009-11-06. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  14. "When Saturday Comes - Cluj, a city divided by football". Wsc.co.uk. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  15. "Hope for Hungary? Domestic revival targeted by Prime Minister World Soccer". Worldsoccer.com. 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  16. "When Saturday Comes - Hungary – The financial decline of the most popular club". Wsc.co.uk. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  17. "FEATURE-Soccer-Ferencvaros a symbol of Hungary's sad decline - sports - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. 2006-07-27. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  18. Harvey, Randy (12 June 1994). "Inoffensive U.S. Blanked by Hungary - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  19. Neil Clarke (30 November 2003). "Do you remember when Hungary ruled the world? | Football | The Observer". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  20. Peterjon Cresswell (18 October 2006). "The not-so-Magnificent Magyars | Football". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  21. "When Saturday Comes - Hungary – Revival may be a long way off". Wsc.co.uk. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  22. "When Saturday Comes - Hungary for success". Wsc.co.uk. 12 June 1957. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  23. "New "Fradi-Stadion" will open late july". futbol.hu. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  24. "Debrecen, Nagyerdei Stadion". magyarfutball.hu. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  25. "Győr, ETO Park". magyarfutball.hu. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  26. "Diósgyőri Stadion". stadiumdb.com. Retrieved 14 October 2017.