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Ferenc Kovacs, the clubs Honorary President is 81 years old today. The interview below includes his thoughts on the club's very good performance over the autumn. However, he did also add that it would be a mistake to think that the league title has alr
- You’re still living a very active life at the age of 81. How have the days been going by for you?
Ever since I can remember, it was always sport, and football that determined my life and the rhythm of my life. Thankfully and independent of age, still applies until this day. At present, just like with players and the coaching staff, I am also enjoying the break, but I am already really looking forward to the start of the spring season.
- How would you sum up the performance of the team over the autumn season?
To put it briefly: Vidi produced a wonderful performance over the autumn. I can also say it was unique what the boys produced over the autumn. The players, coaching staff and everyone connected with the club can feel very proud about this.
- Can you imagine that it will not be Vidi that ends up winning the league at the end of the season?
I do not at all want to appear to be sinister, but we have to mention at all costs that a very difficult spring lies ahead of us. All of the big matches will be away from home, and the first division is especially balanced out. It will be difficult to keep the advantage that we currently have. I do hope though that we will be celebrating the league title at the end of May. We must appreciate everything that we achieved in the autumn, but the biggest task over the coming weeks is to prepare for the spring season ahead of us. We will need to work so much in order for us to be champions.
- You are not only the Honorary President of Videoton FC, but you also coordinate the youth policy within the Hungarian FA. Where do you find the energy from?
What a person enjoys doing, cannot be seen as using up more energy. I am a very fortunate person, as I have been able to do what I most wanted to throughout my life. I was a footballer in my younger days. I continued to have a kick around with my friends on the banks of the river Danube after we had ended training with the team. Then why I became a coach, I used to work in what I enjoy most from morning to evening. Things are no different in my senior years. Each night when I go to sleep, I can hardly wait for it to be the morning again and the start of a new day. I really enjoy what I do, and do not at all feel that I am sacrificing my energy with my work.
| Ferenc Kovacs was born in Budapest on the 7th January 1934. He came through the youth ranks at MTK and made his debut for them in the first division in 1954. He went on to wear the blue and white kit of MTK for more than 10 years. Kovacs was part of the championship winning side with the Budapest club, cup winners cup finalist and also won the central European cup. He was part of the Olympic team that won bronze at the Rome games in 1960. He moved into management with MTK's youth team in 1965, and was sitting on the first team bench for the 1968-69 season. There were spells with Egri Dozsa between 1970-72, and Videoton SC from 1972-77. Vasas followed in 1977-78, and the Hungarian national side in 1978-79. Debrecen was the next call from 1980-83, and another term with Videoton SC in 1983-86. Spanish side Las Palmas was next up for the 1987-88 season. His third spell in charge of Vidi came in 1987-88. Szeged SC in 1989-90 and a three year spell with Ujpest from 1990-93. He won the Hungarian people's republic cup with MTK in 1968, a special management award in 1983, but his biggest success was achieved with Videoton. He managed Vidi to league runners up in 1976, third place in 1984 and 1985. The 1984-85 season saw his finest achievement as he managed Vidi to the UEFA cup final. That gave him a legendary status in the city of Szekesfehervar. He sat on the managers bench for 533 league games overall. One note of interest is that he made it to the cup final of a European cup match as both a player and manager. Kovacs became Honorary President of Videoton FC in 2008. Videoton FC would like to wish on behalf of the management, employees of the club, a happy birthday and the best of health! | ||
Author: David Rechnitzer
