Ferencvárosi TC

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.

The best-known part of the club is the well-supported men's football team – the most popular team in the country. The parent multisport club Ferencvárosi TC divisions include women's football, women's handball, men's futsal, men's ice hockey, men's handball, men's water polo, cycling, gymnastics, athletics, wrestling, curling and swimming teams, some of which are highly successful.

The club colours are green and white, and the club's mascot is a green eagle, hence another of the club's nicknames, ''The Green Eagles''.

History

On 3 May 1899, Ferencvárosi TC was founded by citizens of the 9th district of Budapest. With the exception of three seasons between 2006 and 2009, Ferencváros have played in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I since its inception in 1901. The club's financial problems in 2006 resulted in the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) withdrawing the club's licence; a withdrawal that was eventually deemed unauthorized. Following this, Fradi were promoted back to the first division in 2009.

Ferencváros are the most successful Hungarian team both domestically and internationally. They won the 1964–65 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and have also won the Nemzeti Bajnokság I 36
times and the Magyar Kupa 24 times.

They qualified for the renewed Champions League, the first Hungarian Club to do so, in the 1995–1996 season. Since then, the club have also taken part in the 2004–05 UEFA Cup, 2019–20 Europa League, 2020–21 Champions League, and 2021–22 Europa League group stages.

On December 3, 1900, the football section of the club was established. Two months later, on February 10, the first Hungarian championship match took place between Ferencváros and Budapesti TC, though it was not officially recognized by the Hungarian Football Federation. The first official championship match was played on April 21, 1901, where Ferencváros suffered a 5–3 defeat against MUE. Borbás Gáspár, then 17 years old, scored Ferencváros' first official championship goal. The first point was earned in a 2–2 draw against Műegyetem, and the first victory came on June 16, 1901 (FTC-Budapesti SC 5–1).

Interestingly, Ferencváros made its international debut earlier than in domestic competitions. On March 25, 1901, the Viennese Cricketer defeated the Hungarian team 9–0. On May 5, against the Old Cricketer (5–0, the first Ferencváros victory in international competition), the players wore the first badge with five green and four white stripes and three inverted E's in a green shield at the bottom – a design that still references the club's motto: morals, strength, unity.

In 1902, Ferencváros suffered its heaviest defeat, losing 16–0 against the English team Oxford FC. The club secured its first championship title in 1903 and the second in 1905, followed by three more in the 1900s (1906/07, 1908/09, 1909/10). On June 6, 1909, FTC permanently won the first Hungarian football challenge trophy, capturing the silver ball for the fifth time.

On February 12, 1911, Ferencváros inaugurated its new stadium on Üllői Road, Ferencváros Stadion, where it still plays today. Schlosser Imre scored the first green-and-white goal in the new facility. In 1911, the club won its third consecutive championship title, remaining unbeaten in 21 matches that season. In 1912, Ferencváros defeated Working FC, winning against an English team in England for the first time. In the same year, they beat the III. district team 11–3, with Schlosser scoring eight goals in one match, a record that still stands for goals scored in a single match. The 1911/12 championship brought another Ferencváros title, marking the club's seventh.

In 1913, Ferencváros achieved not only the championship title but also won the Hungarian Cup for the first time in its history.

In 1914, World War I broke out, bringing a somber year for Ferencváros football players. Almost every member of the team received military service call-ups, and many of them never returned home.

Crest and colours

The colours of the club are green and white. The nine stripes on the club badge, five green and four white, symbolise the district of Ferencváros, Budapest's ninth district. The three E's on Ferencváros' badge represent the club's motto of Erkölcs, Erő, Egyetértés ().

Naming history

Ferencvárosi TC has changed names various times throughout their history:
* 1899–1950: ''Ferencvárosi Torna Club''
* 1950–1951: ''ÉDOSZ SE''
* 1951–1956: ''Kinizsi''
* 1956–present: ''Ferencvárosi Torna Club''

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

The following table shows in detail Ferencvárosi TC kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors by year:

Current sponsorships:
* Official Sport Clothing Manufacturer: Macron
* Main Sponsor: T-Mobile
* Naming Right Partner: Groupama
* Exclusive Partners: Group MvM, Penny Market, Tippmix, Groupama, Hsa Group

Stadium

The first stadium of the club started being built in the autumn of 1910. On 12 February 1911, Ferencváros played their first match against Budapest rival MTK Budapest which was won by the club. The starting line-up consisted of Fritz, Rumbold, Magnlitz, Weinber, Bródy, Payer, Szeitler, Weisz, Koródy, Schlosser, Borbás. The first stadium could host 40,000 spectators.

In 1971 the stands were demolished and a new stadium began to be built. The new stadium was inaugurated on the 75th anniversary of the club. On 19 May 1974, the first match was played against Vasas. The new stadium could host 29,505 spectators (including 10,771 seats and 18,734 standing). In the 1990s the stadium was redesigned to meet the UEFA requirements therefore its capacity was reduced to 18,100. When Ferencváros qualified for the 1995–96 UEFA Champions League group stage, a new journalist stand was built over the main stand.

On 21 December 2007, the stadium's name was changed from Üllői úti Stadion to Stadion Albert Flórián. Flórián Albert, the former Ferencváros icon, was present at the inauguration ceremony.
There were many plans on how to increase the capacity of the stadium in case the Hungarian Football Federation won the bid for the UEFA Euro 2008 or the Euro 2012. However, the Federation did not win any bids therefore the reconstruction of the stadium was delayed.

When Kevin McCabe became the owner of the club the reconstruction was on schedule again. Later, McCabe sold his team to the Hungarian state and the reconstruction did not take place.

Ferencváros Stadion, multi-purpose stadium, is the third home of the club. It has a capacity of 20,000 spectators in UEFA matches and 23,700 in Hungarian League matches.

When Gábor Kubatov was elected as president of the club, he and Pál Orosz managed to raise enough funds for the construction of a new stadium. The new stadium was rotated by 90 degrees in order to meet UEFA requirements. Therefore, the main stand which was parallel to the Üllői út became parallel to the Hungária körút. As part of the national stadium reconstruction programme the new stadium was built between 2013 and 2014.

The stadium was designed by Ágnes Streit and Szabolcs Kormos and was built by Market Építő Zrt from 2013 to 2014. In the arena there can be found the Ferencváros Museum and a fan shop too. The stadium is cutting edge in its vein matching entrance system. On 10 August 2014, Ferencváros played the opening match against Chelsea.

After the demolition of the Puskás Ferenc Stadion, Hungary played their home matches at the new arena until the new Puskás Ferenc Stadion was opened in late 2019. The national team celebrated the victory against Norway after a 2–1 win at the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying play-off.

Ownership

On 14 February 2008, Sheffield United public limited company chairman Kevin McCabe successfully acquired a tender to purchase Ferencváros. McCabe's Hungarian company, Esplanade Limited liability company bought Ferencváros' real estate for £8.45 million with a view to start paying off the £5 million debt. In April 2008, Ferencváros Torna Club officially agreed to sell the football club, Ferencváros Labdarúgó ZRt. to Esplanade Kft., McCabe's company in Hungary.

In 2011, McCabe relinquished his ownership of the club after describing a "strained relationship" with some minority shareholders.

On 25 February 2011, Gábor Kubatov, Hungarian MP, was appointed as the president of Ferencváros.

On 28 October 2014, Gábor Kubatov was re-elected to serve another four-year term as the president of the club.

Supporters and rivalries

Supporters of Ferencváros are mainly from the capital city of Hungary, Budapest. However, the club is popular all over Hungary.

Ferencváros' nickname of Fradi is derived from Franzstadt, the German name for the area of Ferencváros, with the club carrying a "vague sense of German ethnicity", according to British sports journalist Jonathan Wilson.

Since the opening of the newly built Groupama Aréna, the spectators are scanned at the entrance. As a consequence, the main supporter group of the club, called B-közép, announced a boycott in 2014. Club chairman Kubatov said that he had wanted peace in the new stadium and the club had already paid a lot of fines and punishments due to the unacceptable behaviour of the B-közép. Kubatov had expected that the spectators could have been changed due to the new regulations. However, the number of spectators had not increased in the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons.

On 13 March 2016, 10,125 spectators watched the match between Ferencváros' second team against Csepel SC in the 2015–16 Nemzeti Bajnokság III season. The attendance was a protest by the B-közép to show how many spectators were missing from the Groupama Aréna.

On 24 March 2016, the representatives of the B-közép started negotiations with club leader, Gabor Kubatov. As a results of the negotiations they were allowed back to the stadium.

Friendships

The fans have friendships with fans of Rapid Wien and since both play in Green the alliance is nicknamed the "Green Brothers". They also have friendly relations in Hungary with fans of Zalaegerszeg, in Poland with Śląsk Wrocław and Lechia Gdańsk, and in England with Cambridge United.

Rivalries

Ferencváros have rivalry with several teams from Budapest including MTK Budapest, Újpest, Honvéd, Vasas SC, and several provincial clubs such as Debrecen and Diósgyőr. Since Ferencváros has been the most successful club in Hungarian Football history by winning 33 Hungarian League titles, 21 Hungarian Cup titles and 2 Hungarian League Cup titles and the most successful Hungarian club in the European football competitions by winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1964–65 season, every club in the Hungarian League wants to defeat them.

The biggest rivalry is with Újpest, which dates back to the 1930s when Újpest won their first Hungarian League title. Since then, the fixture between the two teams attracts the most spectators in the domestic league. The matches between the two teams often end in violence which causes big trouble for the Hungarian football. The proposal of personal registration was refused by both clubs.

The fixture between Ferencváros and MTK Budapest FC is called the Örökrangadó or Eternal derby. It is the oldest football rivalry in Hungary, which dates back as early as the 1903 season when Ferencváros first won the Hungarian League. In the following three decades either Ferencváros or MTK Budapest won the domestic league.

Honvéd are also considered fierce rivals as the clubs are in very close proximity to each other and in the past frequently competed for honours.

Hooliganism

On 26 November 2002, the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Committee fined Ferencváros €18,300 for fireworks and hooliganism-related offences committed by the fans of Ferencváros before and after the 2002-03 UEFA Cup second tie against VfB Stuttgart on 12 November 2002.

In 2004, Ferencváros were charged by UEFA with crowd trouble and racist abuse after playing Millwall in the 2004-05 UEFA Cup tie in Budapest, Hungary. Four fans of Millwall suffered stab wounds. The racist abuse was directed at Millwall's players of African origin, including Paul Ifill.

On 17 July 2013, Ferencváros fans fought with police after a friendly match against Leeds United, which ended in a 1–0 victory over the Championship club, in Murska Sobota, Slovenia.

On 19 July 2014, UEFA issued sanctions against Ferencváros and Diósgyőr and Slovakia's Spartak Trnava, following racist behaviour by their fans during 2014–15 UEFA Europa League qualifying matches against Maltese sides Sliema Wanderers, Birkirkara and Hibernians respectively. Ferencváros were the hardest hit by the UEFA measures as club were fined by €20,000 and the partial closure of their stadium following monkey chants and racist banners displayed in both legs in Malta and Hungary.

On 27 January 2015, Gábor Kubatov, president of the club, said that he would have the fines paid by the supporters. Kubatov aims to cease the racism and violence at the stadium.

On 9 February 2015, UEFA refused the appeal of Ferencváros in connection with the incidents before and after the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League qualifying match between NK Rijeka and Ferencváros. According to the verdict, Ferencváros supporters were not allowed to attend the following UEFA match at home.

Honours

*

Individual awards

Domestic

Hungarian First League top scorers

Hungarian Second League top scorers

International

;Ballon d'Or
* Flórián Albert (1967)

; FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe
* Flórián Albert (1962)

; FIFA World Cup All-star Team
* Flórián Albert (1966)

; FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award
* Flórián Albert (1962)

; European Championship Golden Boot
* Dezső Novák (1964)

; European Championship Team of the Tournament
* Flórián Albert (1964)
* Dezső Novák (1964)

Club records

Top 10 most appearances of all-time

Top 10 scorers of all-time

Players

Current squad

Out on loan

Feeder club

* Soroksár (NB II)

Retired numbers

* 2 – Tibor Simon, Defender (1985–99) – ''posthumous honour.''
* 12 – " The 12th man", reserved for club supporters. Number retired in 2007.

Notable former players

Had senior international caps for their respective countries.
Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for Ferencváros.

* Akeem Adams ¹²
* Flórián Albert ^{4 5}
* Flórián Albert Jr.
* Aleksandar Bajevski
* László Bálint ⁶
* Zoltán Balogh
* Zsolt Bárányos
* Matthew Bartholomew
* Muhamed Bešić ¹⁰
* Mihály Bíró ²
* Dániel Böde
* Elemér Berkessy
* Miha Blažič
* Zoltán Blum
* Gáspár Borbás
* Predrag Bošnjak
* Sándor Bródy
* László Budai
* Márton Bukovi
* Ákos Buzsáky
* Zoltán Bükszegi
* Eldar Ćivić
* Csaba Csizmadia
* László Czéh
* Zoltán Czibor
* Jenő Dalnoki
* Ferenc Deák
* Lajos Détári
* Tommy Doherty
* Attila Dragóner
* József Eisenhoffer
* Márton Esterházy
* Tibor Fábián
* Teslim Fatusi
* Gyula Feldmann
* Máté Fenyvesi ^{3 4 5}
* István Ferenczi
* Pál Fischer
* Zoltán Friedmanszky ³
* Ákos Füzi
* Emil Gabrovitz
* Zoltán Gera
* Ádám Nagy
* István Géczi ⁵
* József Gregor
* Gyula Grosics
* Gábor Gyepes
* László Gyetvai
* Gábor Gyömbér
* Justin Haber
* József Háda

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