Ferencvárosi TC facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ferencváros

Full name	Ferencvárosi Torna Club
Nickname(s)	Ferencváros, FTC and Fradi, zöldek (The greens)
Short name	FTC
Founded	3 May 1899; 126 years ago (1899-05-03)
Ground	Ferencváros Stadion, Budapest
Ground Capacity	23,700
President	Gábor Kubatov
Head coach	Pascal Jansen
League	NB I
2023–24	NB I, 1st of 12 (champions)
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Ferencvárosi Torna Club, often called Ferencváros or Fradi, is a famous Hungarian professional football club. It is based in Ferencváros, a district of Budapest. The club plays in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I, which is the top football league in Hungary.

Ferencváros was started in 1899 by Ferenc Springer and some people from Budapest's ninth district. The club is best known around the world for winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1965. They beat Juventus 1–0 in the final match.

The club also reached the final of the same competition in 1968, but they lost to Leeds United. Later, they made it to the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1975, where they lost to Dynamo Kyiv.

The men's football team is the most popular part of the club in Hungary. Ferencvárosi TC is a big sports club with many different teams. These include women's football, women's handball, men's futsal, men's ice hockey, men's handball, and men's water polo. They also have teams for cycling, gymnastics, athletics, wrestling, curling, and swimming. Many of these teams are very successful.

The club's colors are green and white. Their mascot is a green eagle, which is why they are sometimes called The Green Eagles.

Club History: How Ferencváros Started

Ferencvárosi TC was founded on May 3, 1899, by people living in the 9th district of Budapest. Except for three seasons between 2006 and 2009, Ferencváros has always played in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I since it began in 1901.

In 2006, the club had money problems. The Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) took away their license to play. This decision was later found to be wrong. Fradi was then promoted back to the top league in 2009.

Ferencváros is the most successful Hungarian team both in Hungary and in international competitions. They won the 1964–65 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. They have also won the Nemzeti Bajnokság I 35 times and the Magyar Kupa 24 times.

They were the first Hungarian club to play in the Champions League in the 1995–1996 season. Since then, they have also played in the group stages of the UEFA Cup, Europa League, and Champions League.

Early Football Matches and First Wins

The football part of the club was started on December 3, 1900. Their first Hungarian championship match was on February 10, 1901, against Budapesti TC. However, the Hungarian Football Federation did not officially recognize this match.

The first official championship match was on April 21, 1901. Ferencváros lost 5–3 to MUE. Borbás Gáspár, who was 17 years old, scored Ferencváros' first official goal. They earned their first point with a 2–2 draw against Műegyetem. Their first win came on June 16, 1901, when they beat Budapesti SC 5–1.

Ferencváros played its first international match even before its first official league game. On March 25, 1901, they lost 9–0 to Viennese Cricketer. On May 5, they had their first international win, beating Old Cricketer 5–0. In this game, the players wore their first badge. It had five green and four white stripes. It also had three upside-down E's in a green shield. This design still represents the club's motto: "morals, strength, unity."

In 1902, Ferencváros had its biggest loss, 16–0, against the English team Oxford FC. The club won its first championship title in 1903. They won their second in 1905, and three more in the 1900s. On June 6, 1909, FTC won the first Hungarian football challenge trophy for good, by winning the silver ball for the fifth time.

New Stadium and More Wins

On February 12, 1911, Ferencváros opened its new stadium on Üllői Road. This is where they still play today. Schlosser Imre scored the first goal for Ferencváros in the new stadium. In 1911, the club won its third championship in a row. They did not lose any of their 21 matches that season.

In 1912, Ferencváros beat Working FC, which was their first win against an English team in England. In the same year, they beat the III. district team 11–3. Schlosser scored eight goals in that match, which is still a record for goals in one game. The 1911/12 championship brought Ferencváros their seventh title.

In 1913, Ferencváros won both the championship title and the Hungarian Cup for the first time.

When World War I started in 1914, it was a sad time for the team. Many players were called to serve in the military, and some never came home.

Club Identity: Colors, Crest, and Names

The main colors of Ferencváros are green and white. The club's badge has nine stripes, five green and four white. These stripes represent the 9th district of Budapest, called Ferencváros. The three E's on the badge stand for the club's motto: Erkölcs, Erő, Egyetértés, which means "Morality, Strength, Understanding" in English.

Club Name Changes Over Time

Ferencvárosi TC has had a few different names throughout its history:

• 1899–1950: Ferencvárosi Torna Club
• 1950–1951: ÉDOSZ SE
• 1951–1956: Kinizsi
• 1956–present: Ferencvárosi Torna Club

Team Kits and Sponsors

The table below shows the companies that made Ferencvárosi TC's kits and the main sponsors on their shirts over the years:

Current sponsors for Ferencvárosi TC include:

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

Home Grounds: The Stadiums of Ferencváros

The first Ferencváros stadium (1911–1974)

The club's first stadium started being built in the autumn of 1910. On February 12, 1911, Ferencváros played their first match there against their Budapest rival MTK Budapest, and they won. This first stadium could hold 40,000 fans.

Albert Stadion (1974–2014)

In 1971, the old stadium stands were taken down to build a new one. The new stadium was opened on the club's 75th birthday. On May 19, 1974, the first match was played against Vasas. This new stadium could hold 29,505 people. In the 1990s, the stadium was updated to meet UEFA rules, so its capacity was reduced to 18,100.

On December 21, 2007, the stadium's name was changed from Üllői úti Stadion to Stadion Albert Flórián. This was to honor Flórián Albert, a famous player for Ferencváros. He was there for the opening ceremony.

Ferencváros Stadion (2014–present)

The current stadium, Ferencváros Stadion, is the club's third home. It can hold 20,000 fans for UEFA matches and 23,700 for Hungarian League games.

When Gábor Kubatov became the club president, he and Pál Orosz raised money to build a new stadium. The new stadium was turned 90 degrees to meet UEFA rules. It was built between 2013 and 2014.

The stadium was designed by Ágnes Streit and Szabolcs Kormos. It was built by Market Építő Zrt. The arena also has the Ferencváros Museum and a fan shop. It uses a modern vein matching system for entry. On August 10, 2014, Ferencváros played the opening match against Chelsea.

After the old Puskás Ferenc Stadion was taken down, the Hungarian national team played their home matches at the new Ferencváros stadium. This was until the new Puskás Ferenc Stadion opened in late 2019. The national team celebrated a 2–1 win against Norway there, which helped them qualify for UEFA Euro 2016.

Club Leadership

On February 14, 2008, Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe bought Ferencváros. His Hungarian company, Esplanade Kft., bought the club's property to help pay off its debts. In April 2008, Ferencváros Torna Club officially agreed to sell the football club to McCabe's company.

In 2011, McCabe gave up his ownership of the club. He said he had a "strained relationship" with some of the other owners.

On February 25, 2011, Gábor Kubatov, a Hungarian MP, became the president of Ferencváros. He was re-elected for another four-year term on October 28, 2014.

Fans and Club Rivalries

Ferencváros fans mostly come from Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. However, the club is popular all over Hungary.

The nickname Fradi comes from Franzstadt, the German name for the Ferencváros area.

After the new Groupama Aréna opened, fans had to be scanned at the entrance. Because of this, the main fan group, called B-közép, started a boycott in 2014. Club chairman Kubatov said he wanted peace in the new stadium. He also said the club had paid many fines because of the B-közép's behavior. Kubatov hoped the new rules would change the type of fans who came. However, the number of fans did not increase in the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons.

On March 13, 2016, 10,125 fans watched a match between Ferencváros' second team and Csepel SC. This large attendance was a protest by the B-közép to show how many fans were missing from the main stadium.

On March 24, 2016, the B-közép leaders talked with club president Gabor Kubatov. After these talks, they were allowed back into the stadium.

Friendly Fan Groups

Ferencváros fans have friendships with fans of Rapid Wien. Since both clubs wear green, their alliance is called the "Green Brothers." They also have friendly relations in Hungary with fans of Zalaegerszeg. In Poland, they are friends with Śląsk Wrocław and Lechia Gdańsk. In England, they have a friendship with Cambridge United.

Main Rivalries

Ferencváros-Újpest derby in 2013

Ferencváros-Újpest derby in 2011

Ferencváros has rivalries with several teams from Budapest. These include MTK Budapest, Újpest, Honvéd, and Vasas SC. They also have rivalries with clubs from other parts of Hungary, like Debrecen and Diósgyőr. Ferencváros is the most successful club in Hungarian Football history. They have won 35 Hungarian League titles, 24 Hungarian Cup titles, and 2 Hungarian League Cup titles. They are also the most successful Hungarian club in European competitions, having won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1964–65. Because of this, every other club in the Hungarian League wants to beat them.

The biggest rivalry is with Újpest. This rivalry started in the 1930s when Újpest won their first Hungarian League title. Matches between these two teams usually attract the most fans in the league.

The game between Ferencváros and MTK Budapest FC is called the Örökrangadó, or Eternal Derby. It is the oldest football rivalry in Hungary. It began in the 1903 season when Ferencváros first won the Hungarian League. For the next thirty years, either Ferencváros or MTK Budapest won the league title.

Honvéd is also a strong rival. These clubs are very close to each other in Budapest. In the past, they often competed for championship titles.

Club Achievements and Awards

Ferencváros has won many titles both in Hungary and in international competitions.

•      record

Top Scorers in Hungarian League History

Ferencváros has had many players who were the top scorers in the Hungarian First League.

Season	Name	Goals
1904	József Pokorny	12
1908–09	Imre Schlosser	30
1909–10	Imre Schlosser	18
1910–11	Imre Schlosser	38
1911–12	Imre Schlosser	34
1912–13	Imre Schlosser	33
1913–14	Imre Schlosser	21
1925–26	József Takács	29
1927–28	József Takács	31
1928–29	József Takács	41
1929–30	József Takács	40
1931–32	József Takács	42
1933–34	Géza Toldi	27
1935–36	György Sárosi	36
1939–40	György Sárosi	23
1940–41	György Sárosi	29
1948–49	Ferenc Deák	59
1957–58	Zoltán Friedmanszky	16
1959–60	Flórián Albert	27
1960–61	Flórián Albert	21
1965	Flórián Albert	27
1980–81	Tibor Nyilasi	30
1989–90	József Dzurják	18
1995–96	Ihor Nichenko	18
2015–16	Dániel Böde	17
2018–19	Davide Lanzafame	16
2023–24	Barnabás Varga	20

International Player Awards

Some Ferencváros players have won important international awards:

• 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 Players

Players with the Most Appearances

These players have played the most games for Ferencváros:

Rank.	Player	Period	Apps
1	Péter Lipcsei	1990–1995; 1997–1998; 2000–10	428
2	György Sárosi	1931–1948	384
3	Sándor Mátrai	1953–1967	356
4	Flórián Albert	1959–1974	351
5	Máté Fenyvesi	1953–1969	345
6	József Keller	1984–1995; 1996; 2000–2003; 2005	325
7	Gyula Rákosi	1957–1972	322
8	László Bálint	1968–1979	316
9	Zoltán Ebedli	1973–1984; 1985–1986	313
10	István Géczi	1962–1979	309

All-Time Top Scorers

These players have scored the most goals for Ferencváros:

Rank.	Player	Period	Goals
1	György Sárosi	1931–1948	351
2	Imre Schlosser	1906–1915; 1926–1927	269
3	Flórián Albert	1959–1974	256
4	Géza Toldi	1928–1939; 1942–1943	213
5	József Takács	1927–1934	209
6	Tibor Nyilasi	1973–1983	132
7	Ferenc Deák	1947–1950	121
8	Mihály Pataki	1910–1927	113
9	Ferenc Weisz	1902–1920	105
10	Péter Lipcsei	1990–1995; 1997–1998; 2000–2010	101

Players: Who's on the Team?

Current Squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Ádám Varga 3 DF Stefan Gartenmann 4 DF Mats Knoester 7 MF Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane 8 FW Aleksandar Pešić 10 MF Kady Borges 11 FW Matheus Saldanha 15 MF Mohammad Abu Fani 16 MF Kristoffer Zachariassen 17 DF Eldar Ćivić 18 FW Owusu 19 FW Barnabás Varga 20 FW Adama Traoré 21 DF Endre Botka (vice-captain) 22 DF Gábor Szalai 23 DF Lóránd Pászka 24 FW Tosin Kehinde

No. Position Player 25 MF Cebrail Makreckis 27 DF Ibrahim Cissé 29 GK Gergő Szécsi 30 FW Zsombor Gruber 34 DF Raul Gustavo 40 FW Fortune Bassey 42 MF Anderson Esiti 44 DF Ismaël Aaneba 54 DF Norbert Kaján 63 GK Dániel Radnóti 64 MF Alex Tóth 70 MF Isaac Pappoe 80 MF Habib Maïga 88 MF Philippe Rommens 90 GK Dénes Dibusz (captain) 93 FW Virgil Misidjan 99 DF Cristian Ramírez

Players on Loan to Other Clubs

Sometimes players from Ferencváros play for other teams for a while. This is called being "on loan."

No. Position Player MF Bálint Katona (at Kecskemét until 30 June 2025) MF Edgar Sevikyan (at Lokomotiv Moscow until 30 June 2025)

No. Position Player FW Ádám Halmai (at Soroksár until 30 June 2025) FW Kenan Kodro (at Gaziantep until 30 June 2025)

Feeder Club

• Soroksár (NB II) is a club that helps develop young players for Ferencváros.

Retired Jersey Numbers

Tibor Simon's memorial

Some jersey numbers are retired to honor special players or the fans:

• 2 – Tibor Simon, a defender who played from 1985–99. This number was retired after he passed away.
• 12 – "The 12th man" is a number saved for the club's loyal supporters. It was retired in 2007.

Famous Former Players

Many great players have played for Ferencváros. Here are some who also played for their country's national team:

Club Staff: Coaches and Management

First Team Coaches

These are the people who help train and manage the main football team:

Position	Name
Head Coach	Pascal Jansen
Assistant Coach	Denny Landzaat
Assistant Coach	Leandro de Almeida
Goalkeeper Coach	Tamás Balogh
Fitness Coach	Nick Segers
Masseur 1	László Eisenmann
Masseur 2	Gábor Lipcsei
Technical director	Antal Kökény
Club doctor 1	Gergely Pánics
Club doctor 2	Gábor Reha
Physiotherapist	Timo Sijbertsma
Sport psychologist	Sándor Nagy
Video analyst	Ákos Balogh
Kit manager	Péter Czakó

Second Team Coaches

Former Ferencváros legend, Péter Lipcsei is the manager of the second team

The second team also has its own coaches:

Position	Name
Head Coach	Péter Lipcsei
Advisor	Theo Schneider

Recent Managers

Here are the managers who have led the team since 2010:

	Year
László Prukner	2010–11
Tamás Nagy	2011
Lajos Détári	2011–12
Ricardo Moniz	2012–13
Thomas Doll	2013–18
Serhii Rebrov	2018–21
Peter Stöger	2021
Stanislav Cherchesov	2021–23

Club Presidents

Gábor Kubatov is the current president of the club

Here are some of the people who have been president of Ferencváros over the years:

	Year
Ferenc Springer	1899–20
Aladár Mattyók	1920–23
Ernő Gschwindt	1923–31
Béla Mailinger	1931–44
Béla Usetty	1937–44
Adolf Nádas	1944–50
Ferenc Münnich	1948–50
Árpád Nöhrer	1950–51
István Száraz	1951–52
Béla Komoretto	1953–55
Károly Weidemann	1956–58
János Bédi	1958–62
Aladár Végh	1962–65
István Kalmár	1966–70
János Harót	1970–71
Lajos Lénárt	1971–81
Tibor Losonci	1980–85
Imre Kovács	1981–88
Károly Hargitai	1985–90
Ferenc Szabó	1988–89
István Debreczeny	1989–90
Lajos Harza	1990–94
István Szívós	1991–98
Péter Szerdahelyi	1994–96
Benedek Fülöp	1996–98
József Torgyán	1999–01
János Furulyás	2001–06
Miklós Inácsy	2006
Zsolt Dámosy	2006–07
György Rieb	2007–10
Miklós Kovács	2010–11
Gábor Kubatov	2011–

Images for kids

• 

  Ferencváros supporters

See also

In Spanish: Ferencváros Torna Club para niños

• History of Ferencvárosi TC
• List of Ferencvárosi TC seasons
• Ferencvárosi TC in European football
• List of Ferencvárosi TC managers
• List of Ferencvárosi TC records and statistics