History Of Ferencvárosi TC

Ferencvárosi Torna Club is a Hungarian professional football club based in Budapest, Hungary. They are the most decorated club in Hungary, in which they won a record of 31 national titles and 23 national cups.

1900s

On 3 May 1899, Ferencvárosi TC was founded by citizens of the ninth district of Budapest. Ferenc Springer, a lawyer from the same district, was nominated as the first chairman of the club. The club's budget was raised by a ball held in order to celebrate the establishment of the club. The club's first pitch was built on Soroksári avenue in the ninth district.

On 3 December 1900, the football department of Ferencváros was officially founded. Two months later, in February, the first match of the Hungarian League was played between Ferencváros and Budapesti TC. Since the match was not announced to the Hungarian Football Federation, it is not considered as the club's first official match.

On 21 April 1900, the team played their first official match against Műegyetemi AFC and Ferencváros lost their first match 5–3. The first goal for the club was scored by Gáspár Borbás. The first point in the championship was gained against Műegyetemi AFC with a draw. The first victory came on 16 June 1901, when Ferencváros beat Budapesti SC 5–1.

In 1902 Ferencváros suffered the heaviest defeat in their history when they were beaten by 16–0 by Oxford United.

Ferencváros played their first match in an international competition against Budapesti TC in the 1901–02 Challenge Cup on 27 April 1902. Ferencváros lost to 5–1 against their home rival in the Hungarian Final of the Challenge Cup.

Ferencváros entered the 1902–03 Challenge Cup and won the Hungarian Final against 33 FC 1–0. In the semi-finals, Ferencváros played their first official international match against Wiener Athletiksport Club and lost to 5–1 on 3 May 1903.

The 1903 season of the Hungarian League was won by Ferencváros. Two years later in 1905, Ferencváros became Hungarian champions for the second time.

The 1906–07 season was won by Ferencváros.

Ferencváros participated in the 1908–09 Challenge Cup. On 10 April 1909, Ferencváros beat VfB Leipzig 4–1. On 11 April 1909, Ferencváros drew with Budapesti TC and on 12 April 1909 Ferencváros beat MTK Budapest 2–1. As a consequence, Ferencváros finished first in the main tournament and qualified for the final of the 1908–09 Challenge Cup. On 13 June 1909, Ferencváros beat Wiener Sport-Club 2–1 at the Hohe Warte Stadium.

Ferencváros won the 1908–09 and 1909–10 seasons of the Hungarian League.

1910s

The 1910–11, 1911–12, and 1912–13 seasons of the Hungarian League were won by Ferencváros. In the 1911–12 season Ferencváros beat III. Kerületi TUE 11–3. Imre Schlosser scored 8 goals which is still a club record for a single match.

On 12 February 1911, the club's current stadium was inaugurated. The first goal in the new stadium was scored by Imre Schlosser.

In 1911 December Ferencváros went on a European tour. On 24 December 1911, the first match was won by Ferencváros 5–3 against Viktoria Hamburg in Hamburg, Kingdom of Prussia. On 25 December 1911, Ferencváros beat Bremen SC 5–0 and on 30 December 1911 Ferencváros beat Hertha BSC 4–2 in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia. On 1 January 1912, Ferencváros beat BFC Preussen 7–2 in Berlin. On 8 January 1912, won for the first time in England by beating Woking 3–2 in London, The United Kingdom. On 10 January 1929, Ferencváros lost their last match 4–1 against English Wanderers in London, The United Kingdom.

In 1914 the First World War broke out which affected Ferencváros since many of the club's players were enlisted and many of them have never returned. The Hungarian Football Federation did not organise any competitions between the 1913–14 and the 1916–17 seasons.

1920s

The 1920s did not start good for Ferencváros since their rivals MTK Budapest won five consecutive Hungarian League titles. Furthermore, in the 1924–25 season Ferencváros lost 14–2 to MTK Hungária FC which has been the biggest defeat in the Hungarian League. However, in 1926 Ferencváros became Hungarian champion again after 13 years. Ferencváros won the 1926–27 and the 1927–28 seasons of the Hungarian League.

Ferencváros entered the Mitropa Cup 1928 and won the first tie against BSK Beograd 7–0 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia on 19 August. The return match was won by Ferencváros 6–1 on 26 August. In the semi-finals, Ferencváros beat SK Admira Wien 2–1 at the Hohe Warte Stadium on 9 September 1928. The second tie was also won by Ferencváros 1–0 at the Üllői úti Stadion. In the final Ferencváros beat Rapid Wien 7–1 at the Üllői úti Stadion on 28 October 1928. The return match was won by SK Rapid Wien by 5–3 on 11 November 1928.

Ferencváros participated in a South American tour in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina playing in four different cities: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo and Buenos Aires. On 30 June 1929, Ferencváros beat a São Paulo combined team 2–1 at Parque Antarctica Stadium of São Paulo. On 4 July 1929, Ferencváros drew with Fluminense (1–1) and the Rio de Janeiro Select 3–3 in Rio de Janeiro. On 11 July 1929, Ferencváros lost to Brazil at Estádio das Laranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro. On 14 July 1929, Ferencváros lost to Palestra Itália 5–2 and on 21 July 1929 Ferencváros beat Uruguay in Montevideo. On 25 July 1929, Ferencváros beat 4–1 a Montevideo combined and lost to Uruguay 3–0, both played at Estadio Gran Parque Central. The next series of matches were played in Argentina, where Ferencváros beat River Plate 4–3 in Buenos Aires on 1 August 1929. On 3 August 1929, Ferencváros flew back to Montevideo where they lost to Peñarol 2–0. On 5 August 1929, Ferencváros played in Avellaneda against Racing and won 2–1. On 10 August 1929, Ferencváros lost 2–0 to Argentina national team at River Plate Stadium. On 13 August 1929, Ferencváros repeatedly beat Racing 2–1 also in River Plate. The last match was played on 17 August 1929 against São Paulo. Ferencváros lost to 2–1 in Parque Antarctica, SP.

Ferencváros entered the Mitropa Cup 1930 and drew (2–2) with Slavia Prague in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The home match was won by Ferencváros by 1–0 in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, Ferencváros lost the away match 5–0 against Rapid Wien. The home match was won by 1–0 by Ferencváros but Rapid Wien qualified for the finals on 5–1 aggregate.

1930s

In the 1930s Ferencváros won the Hungarian League four times in 1932, 1934, 1938, and 1940.

In the 1931–32 season of the Hungarian League, Ferencváros won all 22 matches, which is still a record in the Hungarian League and during this season the team scored their 400th goal in the championship.

Ferencváros entered the Mitropa Cup 1932 season and lost 4–0 to Juventus in Turin, Italy. The home match was a 3–3 draw which resulted the elimination of the club from the Mitropa Cup 1932.

According to the French magazine, L'Auto, Ferencváros was the seventh best team in Europe in 1933.

Ferencváros played in the Mitropa Cup 1934 season. In the first round Ferencváros beat Floridsdorfer AC 8–0 at home and 2–1 away. In the quarter-finals Ferencváros beat SK Kladno 6–0 at home and lost to 4–1 away. In the semi-finals Ferencváros drew (1–1) with AC Bologna and lost the away match 5–1 which resulted the farewell for the club from the Mitropa Cup 1934.

Ferencváros participated in the Mitropa Cup 1935 season. Ferencváros played their first match of the season against Roma in Rome, Italy in the first round. The first leg of the tie was won by Roma by 3–1, but the second leg was won by Ferencváros 8–0. In the quarter-finals Ferencváros lost 4–2 to SK Židenice in Brno, Czechoslovakia, but the second leg was won by Ferencváros 6–1. In the semi-finals Ferencváros beat Austria Wien 4–2 and lost the away match 3–2. In the final Ferencváros beat Sparta Prague 2–1 at home on 8 September, but lost to 3–0 in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

Ferencváros participated in the Mitropa Cup 1936 season. Ferencváros entered the first round and won the first tie 5–2 against Slavia Prague, but the away match was lost to 4–0. Therefore, Ferencváros was eliminated from the Mitropa Cup 1936.

In 1937 Ferencváros participated in the Mitropa Cup. In the first round Ferencváros played in Prague, Czechoslovakia and drew (2–2) with Slavia Prague. At home Ferencváros beat Slavia Prague 3–1 and qualified for the next round. In the quarter-finals Ferencváros hosted First Vienna FC and beat them 2–1, while the away match was lost to 1–0. The tie was decided on a play-off which was won by Ferencváros 2–1. In the semi-finals Ferencváros lost to Austria Wien 4–1 in Wien, Austria while won the home match was won by Ferencváros 6–1 and qualified for the finals. In the final of the Mitrop Cup 1937, Ferencváros beat Lazio 4–2 at home on 12 September and 5–4 in Rome, Italy on 24 October.

1940s

In the 1940s, Ferencváros celebrated two Hungarian League titles in 1941 and in 1949. In the 1940–41 season the team scored more than one hundred goals. In the 1940s, Ferencváros were the first team to fly to the United States. On 31 October 1948, Ferencváros played their 1000th match in the Hungarian National Championship I. In the 1948–49 season, the team celebrated their 50th anniversary with a gold medal. During this season the team scored 140 goals in 30 matches ( Ferenc Deák scored 59 goals). The team won the Hungarian Cup three times in 1942, 1943, and 1944.

1950s

The 1950s was dominated by Budapest Honvéd and Ferencváros failed to win any Hungarian League titles. However, Ferencváros won the Hungarian Cup title in 1958. In 1951, the team changed their name to Kinizsi.

1960s

In the 1960s Ferencváros won the Hungarian League four times (1963, 1964, 1967, and 1968). Ferencváros played in three European finals, the 1964–65 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup against Juventus, the 1967–68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup against Leeds United and the 1974–75 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup against Dynamo Kyiv. Although Ferencváros only won the 1964–65 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, they are the only Hungarian team to win a European trophy.

Ferencváros entered the first season of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the 1960–61 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In the first round Ferencváros lost 4–2 to Rangers in Glasgow, Scotland on 1 August 1960. The second round was won by Ferencváros 2–1 at home on 11 August 1960.

Ferencváros entered the 1962–63 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup season. In the first round Ferencváros lost 4–3 the first leg to Viktoria Köln, in Köln, Germany, while the second leg was won by Ferencváros 4–1. In the second round, on 1 December 1962 Ferencváros lost 1–0 to Sampdoria in Genoa, Italy. On 12 December 1962 Ferencváros beat Sampdoria 6–0 at home. In the quarter-finals Ferencváros beat Petrolul Ploiești 2–0 at home, while lost the away match 1–0 in Ploiești, Romania. In the semi-finals, Ferencváros lost to NK Dinamo Zagreb 1–0 at home and Ferencváros lost the away match 2–1 in Zagreb, Yugoslavia.

Ferencváros won the 1962–63 season of the Hungarian League. Therefore, Ferencváros entered the 1963–64 European Cup season. On 11 September 1963, Ferencváros lost to Galatasaray 4–0 at the BJK İnönü Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. On 12 October 1963, the second leg was won by Ferencváros 2–0 but the Turkish club qualified for the next round on 4–2 aggregate.

Ferencváros won the 1964 season of the Hungarian League.

Ferencváros entered the 1964–65 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Ferencváros beat Spartak Brno 2–0 at home and lost to 1–0 away. In the second round Ferencváros lost 1–0 to Wiener Sport-Club in Wien, Austria, but won their home match 2–1. In the play-off match Ferencváros won 2–0 in Budapest and qualified for the next round. In the third round Ferencváros beat Roma 2–1 at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy. The home match was also won by Ferencváros by beating AS Roma 1–0. In the quarter-finals Ferencváros beat Athletic Bilbao 1–0 at home. However, Ferencváros lost 2–1 to Athletic in Bilbao, Spain. The play-off match was won by Ferencváros 3–0 in Budapest. In the semi-finals Ferencváros lost 3–2 to Manchester United at the Old Trafford, Manchester, England. The home match was won by Ferencváros 1–0. The play-off match was also won by Ferencváros by 2–1 in Budapest. The 1965 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final was played on 23 June 1965 in Turin at the Stadio Comunale di Torino in front of the home crowd of Juventus, 40,000 spectators. The only goal of the match was scored in the 74th minute by Máté Fenyvesi and Ferencváros won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

Ferencváros entered 1965–66 European Cup. In the preliminary round, Ferencváros beat Keflavík 4–1 in Reykjavík, Iceland on 29 August 1965. The second leg was won by Ferencváros 9–1 at the Népstadion on 8 September 1965. In the first round, Ferencváros drew (0–0) with Panathinaikos at the Népstadion on 10 November 1965. The second leg was won by Ferencváros 3–1 at the Leoforos Alexandras Stadium in Athens, Greece on 17 November 1965. In the quarter-finals, on 13 February 1966 Ferencváros lost 4–0 to FC Internazionale at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, in Milan, Italy. The second leg was a 1–1 draw at the Népstadion on 2 March 1966.

Ferencváros participated in the 1966–67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup season. Ferencváros drew (3–3) with NK Olimpija Ljubljana in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, while Ferencváros won their home match 3–0 in Budapest. In the second round Ferencváros drew with Örgryte IS (0–0) in Örgryte, Sweden, but Ferencváros could win their home match 7–1. In the third round Ferencváros lost 4–1 to Eintracht Frankfurt in Frankfurt, West Germany, but Ferencváros could win their home match 2–1 in Budapest. However, Ferencváros were eliminated from the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

Ferencváros won the 1967 season of the Hungarian League.

Flórián Albert was named European Footballer of the Year in 1967. He is the most successful Ferencváros since the formation of the club, scoring 255 goals in 351 matches from 1958 to 1974.

In the 1967–68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Ferencváros lost 3–1 to FC Argeș in Pitești, Romania. However, Ferencváros won their home match by 4–0 and advanced to the next round. In the second round Ferencváros lost 2–1 to Real Zaragoza in Zaragoza, Spain. At home Ferencváros won the tie 3–0. In the third round Ferencváros beat Liverpool 1–0 at home, and repeated the same scoreline at Anfield in England. In the quarter-finals Ferencváros beat Athletic Bilbao 2–1 at home and again achieved the same result away to qualify for the next round on 4–2 aggregate. In the semi-finals Ferencváros beat Bologna 3–2 at home and drew (2–2) in Bologna, Italy. In the first leg of the final, Ferencváros lost 1–0 to Leeds United at Elland Road, and drew 0–0 in the second match at the Népstadion in front of 76,000 spectators, which meant that Ferencváros failed to claim their second Inter-Cities Fairs Cup title.

Ferencváros won the 1968 season of the Hungarian League. Therefore, Ferencváros could have entered the 1968–69 European Cup season, but the club withdrew in protest to a redraw by UEFA of the first round keeping clubs from Eastern Europe and Western Europe separate, after western countries had threatened a boycott due to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Ferencváros entered the 1969–70 European Cup season. In the first round Ferencváros lost 2–1 to CSKA Sofia in Sofia, Bulgaria on 17 September 1969. The home match was won by Ferencváros 4–1 on 1 October 1969. In the second round Ferencváros lost 3–0 to Leeds United at Elland Road in Leeds, England on 12 November 1969. At home Ferencváros were also beaten 3–0 on 26 November 1969 which resulted the farewell of the club from the European Cup.

1970s

In the 1970s, Ferencváros won the Hungarian League only once, in 1976, but were more successful in the Hungarian Cup, which they won four times (1972, 1974, 1976, and 1978).

Ferencváros entered the 1970–71 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. In the first round, Ferencváros lost 1–0 to Liverpool in Liverpool, England. At home Ferencváros drew (1–1) with Liverpool which resulted their farewell from the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

Ferencváros participated in the first edition of the UEFA Cup, the 1971–72 UEFA Cup. In the first round, Ferencváros drew (1–1) with Fenerbahçe at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, in Istanbul, Turkey on 14 September 1971. At home Ferencváros beat Fenerbahçe 3–1 on 29 September 1971. In the second round, on 20 October 1971 Ferencváros beat Panionios NFC 6–0 at home. The return match was cancelled, scheduled 4 November 1971. In the third round, Ferencváros drew with Eintracht Braunschweig in Braunschweig, West Germany on 24 November 1971. At home Ferencváros won the return match by 5–2 on 8 December 1971. On 9 March 1972, Ferencváros lost 2–1 to Željezničar at home. 3–3 On 22 March 1972, Ferencváros won 2–1 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. On penalty shoot-out Ferencváros won 5–4. In the semi-finals Ferencváros drew (2–2) with Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. at home, and lost 2–1 in Wolverhampton, England.

Ferencváros entered the 1972–73 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup season. In the first round, Ferencváros lost Floriana 0–1, in Malta. On the return match Ferencváros won 6–0 and qualified for the next round. In the second round Ferencváros beat Sparta Prague 2–0 at home, but Ferencváros lost 4–1 on the return match and were eliminated from the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

Ferencváros entered the 1973–74 UEFA Cup. On 19 September 1973, Ferencváros lost 1–0 to Gwardia Warszawa at home. On 3 October 1973, Ferencváros were beaten 2–1 in Warsaw, Poland.

Ferencváros participated in the 1974–75 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup season. In the first round, Ferencváros beat Cardiff City 2–0 at home. The return match was won by Ferencváros 4–1 in Cardiff, Wales. In the second round, Ferencváros drew (1–1) with Liverpool at Anfield, in Liverpool, England. On the return match, the result was a goalless draw which resulted the qualification of Ferencváros for the next round. In the quarter-finals, Ferencváros beat Malmö FF 3–1 in Malmö, Sweden. On the return match, Ferencváros drew with Malmö (1–1). In the semi-finals, Ferencváros beat Red Star Belgrade 2–1 at home. On the return match Ferencváros drew with Red Star Belgrade (2–2) in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. In the final Ferencváros lost 3–0 to Dynamo Kyiv.

Ferencváros won the 1975–76 season of the Hungarian League. Therefore, Ferencváros could enter the 1976–77 European Cup. Ferencváros beat Jeunesse Esch 5–1 at home on 15 September 1976. On 29 September 1976, Ferencváros also won the return match by 6–2. In the second round, Ferencváros beat Dynamo Dresden 1–0 at home on 20 October 1976. However, on 3 November 1976, Ferencváros were beaten by Dresden 4–0 in Dresden, East Germany which resulted the farewell for the club.

Ferencváros entered the 1977–78 UEFA Cup. On 17 September 1977, Ferencváros were beaten 3–0 by Marek Dupnitsa at the Bonchuk Stadium in Dupnitsa, Bulgaria. On the return match, on 28 September 1977, Ferencváros won 2–0 but failed to qualify for the next round.

Ferencváros entered the 1978–79 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup season. In the first round Ferencváros beat Kalmar FF 2–0 at home. On the return match, Ferencváros drew with Kalmar (2–2) and qualified for the next round. In the second round, Ferencváros lost the first leg of the tie against 1. FC Magdeburg by 1–0 in Magdeburg, East Germany. At home, Ferencváros won 2–1 but the East German team won on away goals.

Ferencváros participated in the 1979–80 UEFA Cup. On 18 September 1979, Ferencváros were beaten 3–0 by Lokomotiv Sofia at the Lokomotiv Stadium, in Sofia, Bulgaria. On 3 October 1979, Ferencváros won 2–0 but they were unable to qualify for the next round.

On 17 March 1974, the legendary and iconic Flórián Albert played his last match and said adieu with a goal.

1980s

Ferencváros won the 1980–81 season of the Hungarian League. As a consequence, Ferencváros entered the 1981–82 European Cup season. In the first round Ferencváros beat Baník Ostrava 3–2 at home on 16 September 1981. However, Ferencváros lost 3–0 in Bazaly Stadium in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia on 30 September 1981.

Ferencváros entered the 1982–83 UEFA Cup. In the first round, Ferencváros beat Athletic Bilbao 2–1 at home. On the return match Ferencváros drew (1–1) with Athletic in Bilbao, Spain. In the second round, Ferencváros drew with FC Zürich (1–1) at home. On the return match, Ferencváros lost to 1–0 in Zürich, Switzerland and they were eliminated from the UEFA Cup.

Ferencváros participated in the 1983–84 UEFA Cup. On 14 September, Ferencváros lost 4–2 to PSV Eindhoven in Eindhoven

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