Zoltán Varga (footballer, born 1945) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Zoltán Varga

Varga in 1973
Personal information
Date of birth	(1945-01-01)1 January 1945
Place of birth	Vál, Hungary
Date of death	9 April 2010(2010-04-09) (aged 65)
Place of death	Budapest, Hungary
Height	1.76 m
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
1959–1961	Ferencváros
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1961–1968	Ferencváros	135	(53)
1968–1969	Standard Liège	0	(0)
1969–1972	Hertha BSC	34	(9)
1972–1973	Aberdeen	26	(10)
1973–1974	Ajax	12	(2)
1974–1976	Borussia Dortmund	56	(11)
1976–1977	FC Augsburg	8	(1)
1977–1978	Gent	0	(0)
Total		271	(86)
National team
1964–1968	Hungary	12	(2)
Teams managed
1981	Preußen Münster
1996–1997	Ferencváros
1997	Budapest Honvéd
2000	Diósgyőr
2001	Győr
2003	Győr
Honours Men's football Representing  Hungary Olympic Games Gold 1964 Tokyo Team competition
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Zoltán Varga (born January 1, 1945 – died April 9, 2010) was a famous Hungarian footballer. He played during the 1960s and 1970s.

Varga won a gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo with the Hungarian team. He was also part of the Ferencvárosi TC team that won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1965. They beat Juventus 1–0 in the final match. He also played for other big clubs like Ajax in the Netherlands.

Playing for Clubs

Starting in Hungary

Zoltán Varga began his professional football career with Ferencváros in Hungary. He played for their main team from 1961 to 1968. This time was one of the most successful periods for the club after World War II.

Varga played in 135 games and scored 53 goals for Ferencváros. The club won the Hungarian championship (called NB I) in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, and 1968.

During these years, Ferencváros, also known as Fradi, was one of the best club teams in Europe. They played in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, which was a big European football tournament. This tournament is similar to today's UEFA Europa League.

Ferencváros reached the semi-finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in the 1962–63 season. Two years later, in 1964–65, they won the whole competition. They also finished as runners-up in 1967 and 1968. After the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico, Varga left Hungary. This marked the end of a very successful time for Ferencváros.

Playing in Europe

After leaving Hungary, Zoltán Varga played for several teams across Europe. From 1969 to 1972, he played for Hertha BSC in Germany. He scored nine goals in 34 games for them.

He then moved to Scotland and played 26 games for Aberdeen F.C., scoring ten goals. Many people at Aberdeen still think he was the best foreign player to ever join their club.

Later, Varga played for Ajax in the Netherlands, where he scored two goals in 12 games. He also played for Borussia Dortmund in Germany, scoring 10 goals in 51 games. His last team as a player was Gent in Belgium.

Playing for His Country

Between 1964 and 1968, Zoltán Varga played for the Hungarian national team 12 times. He scored 2 goals for his country.

In 1964, he was part of the team that won a bronze medal at the European Championship in Spain. He also went to the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England. However, he could not play in that tournament because of an injury he had before.

Varga won a gold medal with Hungary's Olympic Team at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. After the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Varga decided to stay abroad and did not return to Hungary.

His Passing

On April 9, 2010, Zoltán Varga was playing in a football match for former players at a place called Danuvia. He suddenly became unwell and collapsed. Despite efforts from his teammates and emergency helpers, he sadly passed away at the age of 65.