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Football in Hungary
Overview of association football practiced in Hungary

Football is the most popular sport in Hungary. 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.

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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 club5 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 1953.8910 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.12131415 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 the UEFA Cup in 1985, and MTK Budapest FC that of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1964.1617

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 FCSzusza Ferenc Stadium13,5011885 (1899)
Ferencvárosi TCGroupama Arena23,7001899 (1900)
MTK BudapestHidegkuti Nándor Stadium7,5151888 (1901)
Budapest HonvédBozsik Stadion9,5001909
Nemzeti Bajnokság II (2)
Vasas SCIllovszky Rudolf Stadion9,0001911
Újpest FC "B"Szusza Ferenc Stadium13,5011885 (1899)
Ferencvárosi TC "II"Stadion Albert Flórián15,8042014 (1900)
Budapest Honvéd FC-MFABozsik Stadion, Műfüves Pálya7001909
BKV Előre SCSport utcai Stadion2,5001912
III. Kerületi TVEHévízi 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 SCBéke téri stadion12,0001912
Budafoki LCPromontor utcai stadion4,0001912
Rákospalotai EACBudai II László stadion7,5001912
Rákosment Községi SKRKSK-pálya1,0001949

Administration

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

National team

Main article: Hungary national football 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.19202122

Football stadiums in Hungary

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

ImageStadiumLocationCountyCapacityHome teamOpened
Puskás ArénaBudapestBudapest, XIV.ker67,215Hungary national football team2019
Groupama ArenaBudapestBudapest, IX.ker23,70023Ferencvárosi TC2014
Nagyerdei StadionDebrecenHajdú-Bihar20,34024Debreceni VSC2014
ETO ParkGyőrGyőr-Moson-Sopron15,60025Győri ETO FC2008
Diósgyőri StadionMiskolcBorsod-Abaúj-Zemplén15,32526Diósgyőri VTK2018

References

  1. Racz, Gergo (7 September 2011). "Hungarian Soccer Fans Long for Glory Days". wsj.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2013. https://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2011/09/07/hungarian-soccer-fans-hope-for-return-of-glory-days/ ↩

  2. Glanville, Brian (16 May 2009). "Seven deadly sins of football: The Hungarian disasters - England v Hungary, 1953-4". Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2017 – via www.theguardian.com. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/17/seven-deadly-sins-football-hungary-england ↩

  3. Ward-Thomas, Pat (26 November 1953). "Hungary's Famous Victory". Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2017 – via www.theguardian.com. https://www.theguardian.com/football/1953/nov/26/newsstory.sport ↩

  4. "Kronológia – Magyar Labdarúgó Archívum". www.mla.hu. Retrieved 2021-11-21. https://www.mla.hu/kronologia?tipus=1&terulet=0&oldal=23 ↩

  5. Magyarfutball.hu. "Budapest, Műegyetemi FC (történet, adatok) • csapatok • Magyarfutball.hu". www.magyarfutball.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2021-11-21. https://www.magyarfutball.hu/hu/csapat/329 ↩

  6. Magyarfutball.hu. "Budapest, III. kerületi TVE (history, data) • clubs • Magyarfutball.hu". www.magyarfutball.hu. Retrieved 2021-11-21. https://www.magyarfutball.hu/en/csapat/57 ↩

  7. Bevan, Chris (24 November 2013). "Jimmy Hogan: The Englishman who inspired the Magical Magyars". bbc.com. Retrieved 13 December 2013. https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25055156 ↩

  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. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25060954 ↩

  9. "BBC News – England v Hungary – a football match that started a revolution". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-11-23. Retrieved 2013-12-02. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25033749 ↩

  10. Fazekas, Zoltan (2013-11-22). "FEATURE-Soccer-Magical Magyars coach wrote off 1953 England side". In.reuters.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved 2013-12-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306155240/http://in.reuters.com/article/soccer-hungary-idINL5N0J729P20131122 ↩

  11. FIFA.com (18 May 2012). "Hungarians facing future with confidence". Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20150926182605/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2012/m=5/news=hungarians-facing-future-with-confidence-1633648.html ↩

  12. "Clubs in Budapest have been in free fall in recent years « World Soccer World Soccer". Worldsoccer.com. 2011-08-29. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-02. https://archive.today/20131202034439/http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/clubs-in-budapest-have-been-in-free-fall-in-recent-years ↩

  13. "When Saturday Comes - Hungarian football in the doldrums". Wsc.co.uk. 2009-11-06. Retrieved 2013-12-02. http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/975-November-2009/3950-hungarian-football-in-the-doldrums ↩

  14. "When Saturday Comes - Cluj, a city divided by football". Wsc.co.uk. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2013-12-02. http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/942-October-2008/1099-cluj-a-city-divided-by-football ↩

  15. "Hope for Hungary? Domestic revival targeted by Prime Minister World Soccer". Worldsoccer.com. 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2013-12-02. http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/hope-for-hungary-domestic-revival-targeted-by-prime-minister ↩

  16. "When Saturday Comes - Hungary – The financial decline of the most popular club". Wsc.co.uk. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2013-12-02. http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/18-letter-from/1255-hungary--the-financial-decline-of-the-most-popular-club ↩

  17. "FEATURE-Soccer-Ferencvaros a symbol of Hungary's sad decline - sports - ESPN". ESPN. 2006-07-27. Retrieved 2013-12-02. https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=2532058 ↩

  18. Harvey, Randy (12 June 1994). "Inoffensive U.S. Blanked by Hungary - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-21-sp-658-story.html ↩

  19. Neil Clarke (30 November 2003). "Do you remember when Hungary ruled the world? | Football | The Observer". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 December 2013. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/nov/30/sport.features4 ↩

  20. Peterjon Cresswell (18 October 2006). "The not-so-Magnificent Magyars | Football". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 December 2013. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/oct/18/sport.comment2 ↩

  21. "When Saturday Comes - Hungary – Revival may be a long way off". Wsc.co.uk. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2013. http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/18-letter-from/2604-hungary--revival-may-be-a-long-way-off ↩

  22. "When Saturday Comes - Hungary for success". Wsc.co.uk. 12 June 1957. Retrieved 2 December 2013. http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/923-Europe/6693-hungary-for-success ↩

  23. "New "Fradi-Stadion" will open late july". futbol.hu. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140813092947/http://futbol.hu/magyar-foci/nb1-nb2/mar-julius-vegen-nyit-az-uj-fradi-stadion-7680 ↩

  24. "Debrecen, Nagyerdei Stadion". magyarfutball.hu. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014. http://www.magyarfutball.hu/hu/stadionok/adatlap/2393/nagyerdei_stadion ↩

  25. "Győr, ETO Park". magyarfutball.hu. Retrieved 12 June 2014. http://www.magyarfutball.hu/hu/stadionok/adatlap/15/eto_park ↩

  26. "Diósgyőri Stadion". stadiumdb.com. Retrieved 14 October 2017. http://stadiumdb.com/designs/hun/diosgyori_stadion ↩