Újpest FC explained

Clubname:Újpest
Fullname:Újpest Football Club
Short Name:UTE
Nickname:Újpest, Lilák
Founded:
as Újpesti Torna Egylet
Ground:Szusza Ferenc stadion,
Budapest
Capacity:12,670
Owner:MOL
Chairman:Balázs Benczédi
Mgrtitle:Manager
Manager:Bartosz Grzelak
League:NB I
Season:2023–24
Position:NB I, 10th of 12
Website:http://www.ujpestfc.hu/
Current:2024–25 Újpest FC season
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Újpest Football Club (in Hungarian pronounced as /ˈuːjpɛʃt/) is a Hungarian professional football club based in Újpest, Budapest, that competes in Nemzeti Bajnokság I.

Formed in 1885, Újpest reached the first division of the Hungarian League in 1905 and has been relegated only once since then. The club has been a member of the first division for 108 consecutive years. Újpest have been Hungarian champions twenty times, in addition to winning the Magyar Kupa eleven times and the Szuperkupa three times. In international competitions, Újpest are two-times winners of the Mitropa Cup and winners of the 1930 Coupe des Nations. They also reached the semi-finals of the European Cup 1973–74 and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1961–62, and were runners-up in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1968–69.

Since 1922, their home ground has been the Szusza Ferenc Stadion in Újpest. Their biggest rivalry is with fellow Budapest-based club Ferencváros, with whom they contest a local derby.

Újpest is part of the Újpesti TE family. The club includes other sports sections that represent the club at ice hockey and waterpolo.

History

See main article: article and History of Újpest FC.

Újpest was founded in 1885.[1] At that time, Újpest did not belong to Budapest. Újpest played their first Nemzeti Bajnokság I match in the 1905 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season. In the 1910–11 season, they were relegated.[2] Újpest won their first Hungarian league title in the 1929–30 season.[3]

At international level, Újpest's most successful period was in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In the 1968–69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, they were beaten in the final by Newcastle United. In the 1973–74 European Cup, they reached the semi-finals and were eliminated by Bayern München.[4]

Crest and colours

On 3 July 2017, Újpest announced that they changed their crest.[5] After a years of protests by supporters, and legal actions by UTE, the parent club, the management has decided to restore the traditional crest on 4 July, 2022.[6]

Naming history

Manufacturers and shirt sponsors

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

PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
adidas –
Budapest Bank
UmbroConCorde telecom
Havasi Kft.
2003–2006PumaWalton
2006–2007 –
2007–2009DHL
2009–2010Radisson Blu
2010–2011Birdland Golf & SPA Resort
2011–2012GDF Suez
2012–2016 –
2016–2017Joma –
2017–2018Gallica

Current sponsorships: Joma, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Acquaworld Budapest, Ramada Resort Budapest, Puebla ticket, Karzol Trans, Szókép Nyomdaipari Kft., Lamborghini

Stadium

See main article: Szusza Ferenc Stadion. Újpest's home stadium is Szusza Ferenc Stadion, which has been their home since the opening on 17 September 1922. It was known as Megyeri úti stadium until it was named after the club's legendary player, Ferenc Szusza in October 2003. After the renovations, which took place in 2000 and 2001, the ground can hold 13,501 spectators.[7]

Ownership

On 3 December 2008, it was revealed by BBC Sport that the Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers were considering an alliance with Újpest. Jez Moxey, the Chief executive officer of the club said: "We have had some initial discussions in Budapest with the officials of Ujpest. We touched on the issues of loaning players, academies and sharing of best practice on and off the field."[8]

Újpest approached Roland Duchâtelet to become the owner of the club. Although Duchâtelet refused the club's offer, he suggested his son to be the proprietor of Újpest.[9] Roland Duchâtelet is the owner of the Carl Zeiss Jena and former owner of the Standard Liège,[10] AD Alcorcón[11] and Charlton Athletic

On 19 October 2011, Roderick Duchâtelet, former director of Germinal Beerschot, bought 95% of the shares of the City Budapest Zrt.[12]

Roderick Duchâtelet said that he intends to bring back the glory of the 1970s.[13]

On 27 October 2011, Csaba Bartha, managing director of Újpest, confirmed that the club received 150 million Hungarian forint from Roderick Duchâtelet.[14]

In January 2022, Duchatelet was about to sell Újpest and found possible buyers. An agreement was also signed in January 2022 in which it was stated that the buyers should pay the remaining sum by the end of June. However, due the financial unpredictability caused by the Russo-Ukrainian War, the buyers could not transfer the remaining sum. Therefore, Újpest is still owned by the Belgian entrepreneur.[15]

On 27 April 2023, it was announced on Nemzeti Sport that Interactive Brokers Group, owned by Thomas Peterffy, is interested in purchasing the club.[16]

On 3 February 2024, it was revealed that Duchatelet would like to sell the club to Hungarian investors.[17] [18] [19] [20] On 6 February 2024, Roderick Duchâtelet sold the club to MOL.[21] [22] [23]

On 21 March 2024, the club was officially purchased by the MOL Group.[24] [25] Balázs Benczédi was elected as the managing director of the club. The price of the acquisition was around 15 million euros.[26] [27] [28]

Supporters

Supporters of Újpest are mainly from the fourth district of Budapest, the eponymous Újpest. Due to the success in the 1970s, the club gained supporters from all over Budapest and the country.

Famous supporters

Rivalries

See main article: Budapest derby.

Újpest are in rivalry with several teams from Budapest including Ferencváros, MTK Budapest, Budapest Honvéd and several provincial clubs such as Debrecen and Diósgyőr. Since Újpest have been the third most successful club of the Hungarian Football history by winning 20 Hungarian League titles and nine Hungarian Cup titles, and the most successful Hungarian club in the European football competitions in the 1970s, every club in the Hungarian League wants to defeat them.

See main article: Ferencvárosi TC–Újpest FC rivalry.

The rivalry with Ferencváros 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.[34] The matches between the two team often ends in violence which causes big trouble for the Hungarian football. The proposal of personal registration was refused by both clubs.

Honours

Domestic

International

Friendly

Players

Out on loan

Club officials

Board of directors

As of 21 December 2022[35]

PositionName
President Balázs Benczédi
Managing director György Doncsics

Management

As of 24 April 2024[36]

Position Name
Manager Bartosz Grzelak
Assistant manager Máté Szalai
Assistant manager Palkó Bozs
Goalkeeping coach Ferenc Márton
Fitness coach Szabolcs Varga
Fitness coach László Baráth
Physiotherapist Patrik Orbán
Physiotherapist Miklós Horváth
Club doctor Zsolt Keller
Masseur Gergő Fehér
Masseur Csaba Dénes
Video analyst Lukács Nagy
Kit manager Péter Zugló
Technical manager András György

Notable former players

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Magyarfutball.hu. Budapest, Újpest FC II. (history, data) • clubs • Magyarfutball.hu. 2021-10-14. www.magyarfutball.hu. en. 2021-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020061854/https://www.magyarfutball.hu/en/csapat/1197. live.
  2. Web site: Magyarfutball.hu. League table: I. osztály 1910/1911 • Magyarfutball.hu. 2021-10-14. www.magyarfutball.hu. en. 2021-10-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20211029171616/https://www.magyarfutball.hu/en/bajnoki-vegeredmeny/190. live.
  3. Web site: Magyarfutball.hu. League table: I. osztályú professzionista ligabajnokság 1929/1930 • Magyarfutball.hu. 2021-10-14. www.magyarfutball.hu. en. 2021-10-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20211029171616/https://www.magyarfutball.hu/en/bajnoki-vegeredmeny/91. live.
  4. Web site: Újpest FC Hungarian Football. 2021-10-14. HungarianFootball.com. en-GB. 2021-10-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20211008074519/https://www.hungarianfootball.com/ujpest-fc/. live.
  5. Web site: Újpest FC: eldőlt, mostantól ez a klub új címere – fotó. Újpest FC: It is decided, from now this is the new crest of the club. Nemzeti Sport. Hungarian. 3 July 2017. 9 July 2017. 5 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170705202037/http://www.nemzetisport.hu/labdarugo_nb_i/ujpest-eldolt-mostantol-ez-a-klub-uj-cimere-foto-2578513. live.
  6. Web site: Újpest: a klub újra a tradicionális címert használja. Újpest: The club uses the traditional crest again. Nemzeti Sport. Hungarian. 4 July 2022. 4 July 2022.
  7. Web site: Magyarfutball.hu . Budapest, IV. ker., Szusza Ferenc Stadion: photos, data • grounds • Magyarfutball.hu . 2022-12-21 . www.magyarfutball.hu . en . 2022-12-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221221110409/https://www.magyarfutball.hu/en/stadionok/adatlap/3/szusza_ferenc_stadion . live .
  8. Web site: Wolves consider Hungarian link-up. 3 December 2008. BBC Sport. 9 December 2014. 13 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141213101259/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/7762593.stm. live.
  9. Web site: 2018-07-24. The Duchatelet family's international football empire Hungarian Football. 2021-10-18. HungarianFootball.com. en-GB. 2021-10-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20211018141945/https://www.hungarianfootball.com/2018/07/24/the-duchatelet-familys-international-football-empire/. live.
  10. Web site: 2015-10-29. Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet sells Standard Liege. 2021-10-18. CityAM. en-GB. 2019-06-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20190607172959/https://www.cityam.com/charlton-owner-roland-duchatelet-sells-standard-liege/. live.
  11. Web site: Charlton Athletic: Owner Roland Duchatelet sells club to Abu Dhabi-based consortium. 2021-10-18. Sky Sports. en. 2021-10-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20211018143556/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11684/11873187/charlton-athletic-owner-roland-duchatelet-sells-club-to-abu-dhabi-based-consortium. live.
  12. Web site: A '70-es évek sikereit ígérte az Újpest új belga tulajdonosa. 19 October 2011. Nemzeti Sport. 7 December 2014. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305014355/http://www.nemzetisport.hu/labdarugo_nb_i/a-70-es-evek-sikereit-igerte-az-ujpest-uj-belga-tulajdonosa-2099584. live.
  13. Web site: "Vissza akarjuk hozni a hetvenes évek sikerkorszakát" – belga kézbe került az Újpest FC. 19 October 2011. Origo.hu. 7 December 2014. 24 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924144708/http://www.origo.hu/sport/magyarfoci/20111019-a-belga-roderick-duchatelet-lett-az-ujpest-fc-tobbsegi-tulajdonosa.html. live.
  14. Web site: Megkönnyebbülhet az Újpest: pénzhez jutott a klub. 27 October 2011. Heti Világgazdaság. 7 December 2014. 13 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141213012611/http://hvg.hu/sport/20111027_ujpest_foci_penz. live.
  15. Web site: TIBOR . PIETSCH . 2022-07-01 . Kovács Zoltán: Nem jött össze. Most még nem… - NSO . 2022-07-01 . NSO.hu . hu . 2022-07-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220701101911/https://www.nemzetisport.hu/labdarugo_nb_i/kovacs-zoltan-nem-jott-ossze-most-meg-nem-2900655 . live .
  16. Web site: nemzetisport.hu . NB I: milliárdos érdeklődők az Újpest iránt – sajtóhír - NSO . 2023-04-30 . www.nemzetisport.hu . hu . 2023-05-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230503231433/https://www.nemzetisport.hu/labdarugo_nb_i/nb-i-milliardos-erdeklodok-az-ujpest-irant-sajtohir-2953713 . live .
  17. Web site: 2024-02-03 . Itt a vége, Duchatelet eladja az Újpestet, jövő héten jöhet az aláírás – NS-infó . 2024-02-03 . Nemzeti Sport . hu . 2024-02-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203104049/https://www.nemzetisport.hu/labdarugo-nb-i/2024/02/itt-a-vege-duchatelet-eladja-az-ujpestet-jovo-heten-johet-az-alairas-ns-info . live .
  18. Web site: István . Kocsmár-Tóth . 2024-02-03 . Igazi korszakhatár lesz a Hungária körúti zakó, az újpestiek régi vágya válik valóra . 2024-02-03 . index.hu . hu . 2024-02-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240218081527/https://index.hu/sport/futball/2024/02/03/ujpest-tulajdonosvaltas-roderick-duchatelet-mol-csoport-labdarugo-nb-i/ . live .
  19. Web site: Origo . Bombahír: Roderick Duchatelet 13 év után eladja az Újpest FC-t . 2024-02-03 . www.origo.hu/ . hu . 2024-02-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203154158/https://www.origo.hu/sport/futball/20240203-labdarugas-ujpest-roderick-duchatelet-eladja-a-klubot-alairas.html . live .
  20. Web site: 2024-02-05 . Újpest: Duchatelet érkezik, eligazítást tart – NS-infó . 2024-02-05 . Nemzeti Sport . hu . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205090838/https://www.nemzetisport.hu/labdarugo-nb-i/2024/02/ujpest-duchatelet-erkezik-eligazitast-tart-ns-info . live .
  21. Web site: 2024-02-06 . Tulajdonosváltás! Duchatelet eladta az Újpestet a Molnak – hivatalos . 2024-02-06 . Nemzeti Sport . hu . 2024-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206153147/https://www.nemzetisport.hu/labdarugo-nb-i/2024/02/tulajdonosvaltas-duchatelet-eladta-az-ujpestet-a-molnak-hivatalos . live .
  22. Web site: Új fejezet a magyar labdarúgásban: nyáron érkezik a MOL Újpestre . 2024-02-06 . ujpestfc.hu . 2024-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206164616/https://ujpestfc.hu/component/content/article/uj-fejezet-a-magyar-labdarugasban-nyaron-erkezik-a-mol-ujpestre?catid=21&Itemid=288 . live .
  23. Web site: 2024-02-06 . A Mol vásárolja meg az Újpest FC-t, itt van minden, amit eddig tudni lehet . 2024-02-06 . telex . hu . 2024-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206152705/https://telex.hu/gazdasag/2024/02/06/ujpest-fc-mol-eladas-vasarlas-futball-nb-i . live .
  24. Web site: 2024-03-21 . Lezárult az adásvétel, a MOL-csoport lett az Újpest FC új tulajdonosa . 2024-03-22 . Nemzeti Sport . hu.
  25. Web site: László . Borbély . 2024-03-21 . Lezárult az adásvétel, az Újpest hivatalosan is a Mol-csoporté lett . 2024-03-22 . index.hu . hu.
  26. Web site: 2024-03-20 . Újpest: Duchatelet tényleg engedett – ennyit fizethet a Mol . 2024-03-22 . Nemzeti Sport . hu.
  27. Web site: Népszava . Mol: 6,2 milliárd az Újpest FC-ért . 2024-03-22 . Népszava . hu.
  28. Web site: 2024-03-20 . Népszava: A Mol 6,2 milliárd forintért veszi meg az Újpest FC-t . 2024-03-22 . hvg.hu . hu.
  29. Web site: Szurkolók és híresek. 30 April 2013. Magic Magyars. 8 December 2014. 23 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923055957/http://magicmagyars.blog.hu/2013/04/30/szurkolok_es_hiresek. live.
  30. Web site: Havas Henrik az Újpestről: Lila mezbe öltözött senkiháziak – tapló fradisták. 10 October 2010. pepsifoci.hu. 23 July 2015. 28 May 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090528220632/http://www.pepsifoci.hu/node/34978. dead.
  31. Web site: Zagyva vs. Lenhardt – avagy UTE és FTC szurkolók Parlamentben. 10 September 2010. szentkoronaradio.com. 23 July 2015. 21 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110921213458/http://szentkoronaradio.com/sport/2010_09_10_zagyva-vs-lenhardt-avagy-ute-es-ftc-szurkolok-parlamentben. dead.
  32. Web site: "Tűzpárbaj" és könnygáz Újpesten. 2015-07-23. 2009-08-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20090827044907/http://inforadio.hu/hir/sport/hir-293370. dead.
  33. Web site: Az UTE önkormányzati segítséget kap. 24 February 2011. 23 July 2015. 24 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150724031058/http://hvg.hu/sport/20110224_uta. live.
  34. Web site: The Budapest Derby. 20 July 2011. Football Derbies. 8 December 2014. 29 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080929085935/http://www.footballderbies.com/honours/index.php?id=136. live.
  35. Web site: Újpest Football Club. 2018-04-20. 2021-05-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20210526162615/http://ujpestfc.hu/club?filter=clubmanagement. dead.
  36. Web site: Újpest Football Club. 2024-04-24.
  37. Web site: Strack-Zimmermann. Benjamin. NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Theobald, Densill. National Football Teams. 2 February 2023. 6 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220206032814/https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/7982/Densill_Theobald.html. national-football-teams.com.