Budapest Honvéd FC

This article is about the football team. For other uses, see Honvéd.

Budapest Honvéd
Full nameBudapest Honvéd Football Club
Nickname(s)Kispest
Oroszlánok (Lions)
Founded3 August 1909; 115 years ago (1909-08-03)
GroundBozsik Aréna, Budapest
Capacity8,200
ChairmanTamás Leisztinger
ManagerZsolt Laczkó
LeagueNB II
2023–24NB II, 9th of 18
Websitewww.honvedfc.hu

Budapest Honvéd Football Club (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈbudɒpɛʃt ˈhonveːd ˈɛft͡seː]), 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.

The team enjoyed a golden age during the 1950s when it was renamed Budapesti Honvéd SE and became the Hungarian Army team. The club's top players from this era, Ferenc Puskás, Sándor Kocsis, József Bozsik, Zoltán Czibor, and Gyula Grosics helped the club win the Hungarian League four times during the 1950s and also formed the nucleus of the legendary Hungary national team popularly known as the Mighty Magyars.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, the club enjoyed another successful period, winning a further eight Hungarian League titles. They also won league and cup doubles in 1985 and 1989. In 1991, the club was renamed Kispest Honvéd FC and adopted its current name in 2003.[1]

When the club was originally formed in 1909, it also organised teams that competed in fencing, cycling, gymnastics, wrestling, athletics, boxing, and tennis. Later, the Honvéd family was extended to include a water polo team, now known as Groupama Honvéd, a 33-times basketball-champion team and a handball team that were European Champions in 1982.

History

Main article: History of Budapest Honvéd FC

Budapest Honvéd FC were founded in 1909 as Kispesti AC.[2] At domestic level they first entered the Nemzeti Bajnokság I in the 1916–17 season. Their first success came in the 1926 Magyar Kupa season when they beat Budapesti EAC in the final. The club had played in the first division since 1916, until the club got relegated to the second division in 2003. [3]

Stadium

Main article: Bozsik József Stadion
The first stadium was demolished in 2019

Budapest Honvéd's first stadium was opened in 1913. On 5 August 2018, the last match was played at the stadium. The match was won by Honvéd against Paksi FC on the 3rd match day of the 2018–19 Nemzeti Bajnokság I. The only goal was scored by Danilo in the 48th minute. The referee was Viktor Kassai.[4] The stadium was demolished in 2019.[citation needed]

Main article: Bozsik Aréna

The new stadium of the club was opened in 2021.[5] The first match was played between Budapest Honvéd FC II and Szekszárdi UFC in the 2020–21 Nemzeti Bajnokság III season. The stadium was selected to host the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[6]

Crest and colours

Budapest Honvéd FC crest during the Hemingway era, used until 2020.

Manufacturers and shirt sponsors

The following table shows in detail Budapest Honvéd FC kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors by year:

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
1990–1992 Adidas Fiat
1992–1994 Matchwinner Epson
1994–1996 Diadora Gösser
1996–1997 Joma
1997–1998 Faragó és Fiai Mystery
1998–2000 Umbro IBUSZ alapítása 1902
2000–2003 Jako Wilkinson Sword
2003–2005 Gems –
2005–2006 Macron
2006–2008 hummel
2008–2012 Nike
2012–2013 Givova
2014 Ideasport
2014–2015 –
2015–18 Macron
2018– Tippmix

Honours

Friendly

Youth teams

Players

Current squad

As of 3 August, 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Hungary HUN Gellért Dúzs
4 DF Hungary HUN Alex Szabó
6 MF Hungary HUN István Átrok
7 MF Hungary HUN Dávid Holman
8 MF Hungary HUN Ákos Sigér
11 MF Hungary HUN Zalán Kerezsi
13 MF Hungary HUN Tamás Csilus
14 DF Romania ROU Cornel Ene
17 FW Hungary HUN Ábel Krajcsovics
18 MF Hungary HUN Attila Lőrinczy
19 DF Ukraine UKR Vyacheslav Kulbachuk
22 MF Hungary HUN Noel Keresztes
23 FW Hungary HUN Zoltán Medgyes
No. Pos. Nation Player
29 MF Hungary HUN Kevin Polák
30 MF Hungary HUN Bence Nyitrai
44 DF Hungary HUN Barna Benczenleitner
49 DF Serbia SRB Branko Pauljevic
55 MF Hungary HUN Gergely Kocsis
65 FW Hungary HUN Norbert Kundrák
72 FW Hungary HUN László Benkő
74 FW Hungary HUN Benedek Simon
83 GK Slovakia SVK Tomáš Tujvel
90 GK Hungary HUN Márk Gyetván
98 DF Hungary HUN Tibor Szabó
99 DF Hungary HUN István Pekár

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player

Retired numbers

See also: List of retired numbers in association football

10 – Hungary Ferenc Puskás, Forward (1949–56). Number retired in July 2000.

Notable former players

Had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for Budapest Honvéd FC.

For a list of all former and current Budapest Honvéd FC players with a Wikipedia article, see Category:Budapest Honvéd FC footballers.

Non-playing staff

Management

As of 15 September 2024[9]

Position Name
Proprietor Hungary Tamás Leisztinger
Managing Director Hungary Árpád Séllei
Marketing Director Hungary Martin Petrevics
Director of Facility Hungary Dávid Szabó
Director of Finance Hungary Mária Takács
Director of Communications Hungary Benedek Rác

First team staff

As of 15 September 2024

Position Name
Head coach Hungary Zsolt Laczkó
Assistant coach Hungary István Paulik
Assistant coach Hungary Bosnia and Herzegovina Djordje Kamber
Goalkeeping coach Hungary István Brockhauser
Assistant goalkeeping coach Hungary Viktor Szentpéteri
Fitness coach Hungary Zsolt Lázár
Physiotherapist Hungary Attila Hajdu
Video analyst Hungary Balázs Sinkó

Ownership

In 2022, Chris Docherty was appointed as the new sport director of the club.[10][11][12][13]

Chris Docherty said in an interview that the club cannot sign any new players for financial problems in the middle of the 2022-23 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season.[14]

On 22 May 2023, Chris Docherty resigned as sports director.[15][16] In an article published by Nemzeti Sport, George F. Hemingway, former owner of the club, heavily criticized the management of the club for their relegation to the Nemzeti Bajnokság II after finishing 11th in the 2022–23 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season.[17] Hemingway said that the solid financial background is not enough if there is no expertise.

On 27 April 2024, it was revealed that a Tamás Lisztinger-led business showed interest in purchasing the club.[18]

Owners

  • 2006–2019: United States Quinex America LLC (George F. Hemingway)
  • 2019–2024: Hungary Reditus Equity (Zoltán Bozó)
  • 2024-present: Hungary ARAGO-SPORT Kft. (Tamás Leisztinger)

[19][20][21]

See also

Sources

  • Behind The Curtain – Travels in Eastern European Football: Jonathan Wilson (2006)[22]
  • 50 Years of the European Cup and Champions League: Keir Radnedge (2005)[23]

References

  1. ^ "Budapest Honvéd | Hungarian Football". HungarianFootball.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  2. ^ Magyar, PUSKAS COM :: The official website of the Magical. "110 YEARS OF KISPEST AC :: Topical". PUSKAS.COM. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Budapest Honvéd | Hungarian Football". HungarianFootball.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Győzelemmel búcsúzott a régi Bozsik-stadiontól a Honvéd". Nemzeti Sport. 5 August 2018. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Minden (is), amit a stadionavatóról tudni kell". honvedfc.hu (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  6. ^ "2021 Under-21 EURO". uefa.com. 16 March 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  7. ^ García, Javier (2009). "International Tournaments (Paris) 1904–1935: Tournoi de Pâques du Red Star". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  8. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin (1 April 2023). "NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Philip Tarlue". National-football-teams.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Budapest Honvéd Online". Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  10. ^ SZ, I. "Honvéd: skót sportigazgató irányítja a szakmai munkát - NSO". www.nemzetisport.hu (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  11. ^ A, CS. "Honvéd: nemcsak új játékosok, hanem sportigazgató is jöhet - NSO". www.nemzetisport.hu (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  12. ^ Palmer, Ben (28 May 2023). "'It was surreal. Our Ukrainian players were worried but I had to stay calm'". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  13. ^ Temple, Alan (5 July 2022). "'It was his destiny': Meet the former Dundee United tactical chief who tempted Tam Courts to Hungary". The Courier. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  14. ^ nemzetisport.hu. "Honvéd: Sajnos nincs lehetőségünk igazolni… – Chris Docherty - NSO". www.nemzetisport.hu (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  15. ^ nemzetisport.hu (2023). "Honvéd: változások a vezetőségben – távozik a sportigazgató - NSO". www.nemzetisport.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Chris Docherty távozik". honvedfc.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  17. ^ nemzetisport.hu (2023). "Gondatlanságból kiesés – Thury Gábor jegyzete - NSO". www.nemzetisport.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Bp. Honvéd: megszületett az elvi megállapodás a klub eladásáról – Bozó Zoltán az NS-nek". Nemzeti Sport (in Hungarian). 27 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Új tulajdonos a Budapest Honvédnál". Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Új tulajdonosa van a Budapest Honvéd labdarúgóklubnak". Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Megszólalt az egyik új Honvéd-tulajdonos: A Fradival és a Vidivel versenyző csapatot akarnak építeni". 9 April 2019. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  22. ^ Behind the Curtain: Travels in Football in Eastern Europe: Amazon.co.uk: Jonathan Wilson: Books. ASIN 0752869078.
  23. ^ 50 Years of the European Cup and Champions League: Amazon.co.uk: Keir Radnedge: Books. ASIN 1844425290.
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