Fehérvár FC

Fehérvár
Full name	Fehérvár Football Club
Nickname(s)	Vidi
Founded	1941; 83 years ago
Ground	Sóstói Stadion
Capacity	14,201
President	István Garancsi
Head coach	Tamás Pető
League	NB I
2023–24	NB I, 4th of 12
Website	https://fehervarfc.hu/
Home colours	Away colours
	Current season

Fehérvár Football Club (commonly known as Fehérvár, Vidi, or MOL Fehérvár Football Club for sponsorship reasons), is a Hungarian professional football club based in Székesfehérvár, which plays in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I, the top level of the Hungarian league system. Due to sponsorship reasons, the club changed its name from Videoton FC to MOL Vidi FC in 2018, the main sponsor of the club being oil and gas multinational company MOL. In 2019, the club changed its name once again to MOL Fehérvár FC.^[1]

Fehérvár has won the Nemzeti Bajnokság I three times, in 2011, 2015, and 2018. They have also won the Magyar Kupa twice: in 2006, after defeating Vasas on penalties in the final, and in 2019, after defeating Budapest Honvéd FC. They won the defunct Hungarian League Cup three times in 2008, 2009, and 2012 and the also defunct Hungarian Super Cup two times in 2011 and 2012. Fehérvár is best known in European football for reaching the 1985 UEFA Cup Final, being led by Ferenc Kovács.^[2] Most recently, the team has participated in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in the 2012–13 and 2018–19 seasons.

The club colours are blue and red. Since 1967, Fehérvár has been playing its home matches the Sóstói Stadion.

Background

The original name of the football club, Videoton, comes from the Hungarian company (owned by the state between 1955 and 1991).

On 1 July 2018, the club's name was changed from Videoton FC to MOL Vidi FC despite strong disagreement of the supporters of the club. A further change was made on 1 July 2019, becoming Mol Fehérvár FC. This change did not affect anything else, as the Vidi brand will also be used by the club.^[3] On 1 July 2023, MOL stopped financing the club. Therefore, the club omitted MOL from their name.

History

Fehérvár was founded in 1941 as Székesfehérvári Vadásztölténygyár SK. After several name changes, adopting the term Videoton, the team played in the first division for the first time during the 1968 season but they were immediately relegated. Their first domestic success occurred in the 1975–76 season when they finished 2nd. Fehérvár's biggest domestic success happened in the 2010–11 season when they finished first. Later they repeated the success by winning the championship in 2015 and 2018.^[4]

At international level, Fehérvár's biggest success has been reaching the 1985 UEFA Cup Final where they lost to Real Madrid CF 1–3. That season, the team was able to knock out PSG in the second round and Manchester United in the quarterfinals. Despite being Hungarian champions three times since 2000, Fehérvár have never qualified for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. They did, however, reach the group stage of the Europa League in 2012–13 and 2018–19. With qualification for the later stages being a possibility until the last match day each time, Fehérvár ultimately failed to reach the top two spots of their groups both occasions.^[4]

Colours, badge and nicknames

The colours of the club are blue and red, representing the colours of the coat of arms of Székesfehérvár. The club used different crests and badges since their foundation in 1941. The crests also indicate the changes of the name of the club, however, the colours were always the same i.e. blue and red. The most famous nickname of the club is Vidi.^[5]

The badge (which is being used since 2009 with minor changes following the renamings) is blue and red, and in the centre the castle refers to the symbol of the town: "vár" from "Székesfehérvár" means castle. The name and the year of the foundation can also be seen on the badge.

Name changes

1941: Vadásztölténygyári SK
1942–44: Székesfehérvári MOVE Vadásztölténygyár Sport és Kultur Egyesület
1944–47: didn't participate in championships due to World War II
1947–48: Székesfehérvári Vadásztölténygyári SE
1948–50: Fehérvári Dolgozók SE
1950–56: Székesfehérvári Vadásztölténygyári Vasas SK
1957–62: Székesfehérvári Vasas SC
1962–68: Székesfehérvári VT Vasas
1968–90: Videoton Sport Club
1990–91: Videoton-Waltham SC
1991–93: Videoton-Waltham FC
1993–95: Parmalat FC
1995–96: Fehérvár-Parmalat FC
1996: Fehérvár Parmalat '96 FC
1996–04: Videoton FC Fehérvár
2004–09: FC Fehérvár
2009–2018: Videoton FC
2018–2019: MOL Vidi FC^[6]
2019–2023: MOL Fehérvár FC^[7]^[8]
2023–present: Fehérvár FC

Manufacturers and shirt sponsors

The following table shows in detail Fehérvár FC kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors by year:

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
1976–1989	Adidas	Videoton
1989–1992	Adidas	Waltham
1992–1993	Umbro	Waltham
1993–1995	Umbro	Parmalat
1995–1996	Hummel
1996–1997	Uhlsport
1997–1998		—
1998–2000		Videoton
2000−2001	unknown	Videoton
2001–2004	Diadora	Videoton
2004–2006	Diadora	—
2006–2007	Puma	UPC
2007–2008	Hummel	—
2008–2015	Nike	Máltai Szeretetszolgálat
2015–2016	Adidas	Máltai Szeretetszolgálat
2016–	Adidas	MOL

Stadium

The multi-purpose stadium of the club is located in Székesfehérvár, Hungary.^[9] The name of the stadium is Sóstói Stadion which originates from neighbouring Sóstó (in English Salt Lake). Its capacity is 14,300 (all seated) and it was opened in 1967.^[10] The record attendance was in 1985 when Videoton FC played Spanish giants Real Madrid in the first leg of the final of the 1984–85 UEFA Cup.^[11]

The first ground of the club could be found in the Berényi Street. On 26 September 1946, the first match was played at the Berényi Street Ground. Videoton played its matches here from 1950 to 1959. From 1959, the team played on a grass turf until 1967. The club moved to the Sóstói Stadion three times. The first era spent at the stadium was between 1948–50 and 1959–62. In 1967, the club moved there permanently.

In 2007, the academy of the team was founded in Felcsút, the village where Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister spent his childhood. Videoton FC bought the team of Felcsút, which was played in the Nemzeti Bajnokság II and the team of the academy (named after Ferenc Puskás) competes in the Second League since that. The team is called Videoton-Puskás Ferenc Labdarúgó Akadémia (or Videoton II). Videoton-PFLA plays in Felcsút.

Due to the reconstruction of the Sóstói Stadion, Videoton played their home matches at the Pancho Aréna in the 2016–17 Nemzeti Bajnokság I and 2016–17 UEFA Europa League season. The Pancho Arena is located in Felcsút and its main tenant is Nemzeti Bajnokság II club Puskás Akadémia FC. The director of Videoton chose Pancho Aréna as their home due to the club's strong ties with Puskás Akadémia. However, the capacity of the Pancho Aréna is much smaller than Videoton's original stadium.

On 23 November 2016 the construction officially started.^[12]

On 7 February 2017, László Horváth, project manager of Sóstó Konzorcium, said that the first phase of the construction ended. The demolition of the interior of the remaining main stand ended. The concrete of the demolished parts of the main stand will be reused in the building of the new stands. The Sóstó Konzorcium will have 14 months to finish the construction of the stadium.^[13]

On 13 March 2017, László Horváth, project manager of Sóstó Konzorcium, said that thanks to the mild winter the construction of the new stadium is in good progress. The construction of the base of the stands were finished in March.^[14]

On 27 March 2017, it was confirmed that the construction of the stadium would be finished by 16 January 2018. Péter Gönczöl, managing director of Strabag-MML Kft., said that the construction is in the most spectacular phase when the biggest panels are positioned into their places. András Cser-Palkovics, mayor of Székesfehérvár, said that due to the severe weather conditions during winter the construction could be finished by the deadline. Róbert Varga, director of Strabag-Hungary, added that the new stadium will be able to host 14,201 spectators and the stadium will be lying on a base of 10,199 square metres and the highest point of the stadium will be 21.28 metres.^[15]

On 18 August 2017, it was announced that the main stand should also be demolished due to statical problems. Originally, the new stadium would have been built around the main stand. Due to the reconstruction of the main stand, the opening of the new stadium will be delayed to June 2018.^[16]

On 14 August 2018, an article was published on the Hungarian news website, Index.hu, stating that there will be further delays in the opening of the new stadium.^[17] One day later, it was announced that the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League play-off matches will be played at Ferencvárosi TC's home stadium, Groupama Aréna in Budapest.^[18]

The first match was played between Fehérvár FC and Újpest FC in the 2018–19 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season and it ended with a 1–0 victory for the home side. The first goal was scored by Roland Juhász. The new stadium was also renamed as MOL Aréna Sóstó for sponsorship reason. Since there was a MOL Aréna in Dunaszerdahely, Sóstó was added to the new name.^[19]

On 1 July 2023, the name of the stadium was changed from MOL Aréna Sóstó to Sóstói Stadion due to changes in sponsorship.^[20]

Ownership

Being the favourite football club of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, from 2010, some of the most wealthy Hungarians started to appear in the VIP of the team (e.g. Sándor Csányi, president of the Hungarian OTP Bank and the Hungarian Football Association) by the side of the Prime Minister. The owner since December 2007 is István Garancsi, a friend of Viktor Orbán's.^[21]

On 2 June 2023, it was annlunced that the club's main sponsor, MOL, would not finance the club anymore.^[22]

Supporters and rivalries

The supporters of the club are based in Székesfehérvár, in Fejér County, Hungary. One of the group of supporters is the Red Blue Devils which is considered the main ultras of the team (there are smaller groups like Red-Blue City, Sóstói Hableányok, G-pont). Fehérvár FC is in rivalry with the most famous Hungarian clubs such as Ferencváros, Újpest, Győri ETO, Haladás, and Debrecen. The club has a local rival, Puskás Akadémia FC, based in Felcsút, Fejér County, but the rivalry is relatively tame. These two clubs had a stadium share in Felcsut while Fehérvár's stadium was under renovation, 2016–18. Fejer county's second most populated city is Dunaújváros, but Dunaferr FC, formerly based there, no longer exists. Between 1997 and 1999, Videoton's local rival was Gázszer FC which was based in Agárd, Fejér County.

Fehérvár FC has a selection of celebrity supporters such as the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán.^[23]

Honours

Domestic

Nemzeti Bajnokság I
- Winners (3): 2010–11, 2014–15, 2017–18
- Runners-up (8): 1975–76, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20
Magyar Kupa
- Winners (2): 2005–06, 2018–19
- Runners-up (5): 1981–82, 2000–01, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2020–21
Ligakupa
- Winners (3): 2007–08, 2008–09, 2011–12
- Runners-up (2): 2012–13, 2013–14
Szuperkupa
- Winners (2): 2011, 2012
- Runners-up (3): 2006, 2010, 2015

International

UEFA Cup
- Runners-up (1): 1984–85
IFC
- Outright Group Winners (2): 1983, 1984

Players

Current squad

As of 30 August, 2024^[24] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	HUN	Gergely Nagy
3	DF	DEN	Kasper Larsen
4	DF	HUN	Csaba Spandler
7	DF	BIH	Ivan Miličević
8	MF	UKR	Bohdan Melnyk
9	FW	SVN	Nejc Gradisar
10	FW	KOS	Lirim Kastrati
11	FW	ARG	Nicolás Stefanelli
13	MF	HUN	Zsolt Kalmár
14	DF	HUN	Áron Csongvai (captain)
15	MF	HUN	Matyas Kovács
16	DF	HUN	Mario Simut
18	MF	SVK	Bence Kovács
19	FW	HUN	Patrik Kovács


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
21	DF	HUN	András Huszti
23	MF	HUN	Bálint Szabó
27	MF	HUN	Bence Bedi
30	MF	HUN	Gergo Ominger
31	DF	MKD	Nikola Serafimov
57	GK	HUN	Martin Dala
70	FW	HUN	Filip Holender
71	FW	HUN	Tamás Tóth
74	MF	HUN	Bence Babos
75	GK	HUN	Dániel Veszelinov
77	MF	HUN	Mátyás Katona
97	FW	UKR	Daniel Kivinda
99	MF	HUN	Milán Pető

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	FW	HUN	Levente Szabó (at Diósgyőr until 30 June 2024)

Retired numbers

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
17	FW	HUN	Nemanja Nikolić (the club's greatest goalscorer with 164 goals)^[25]

Club officials

Board of directors

As of 19 December 2022^[26]

Position	Name
President	István Garancsi
Managing Director	Attila Balogh
Sports director	Roland Juhász
Deputy Sports Director	Bence Szabó

Staff

As of 11 May 2024^[26]

Position	Name
Head coach	Bartosz Grzelak
Assistant coach	Szabolcs Huszti
Goalkeeper coach	András Elbert
Technical director	Norbert Rédei
Head video analyst	Gábor Késedi
Video analyst	Bence Pap
Club doctor	Tibor Kovács Dávid
Club doctor	Tibor Kovács
Physiotherapist 1	Gábor Barta
Physiotherapist 2	Roland Kátai
Physiotherapist 3	Gergely Gál
Sport masseur 1	Péter Gáspár
Sport masseur 2	Ildikó Fejes
Sport masseur 3	Tibor Debreceni
Kitman 1	Róbert Lakatos
Kitman 2	Gergő Stéger