György Kottán Explained

György Kottán
Birth Date:6 October 1946
Birth Place:Budapest, Hungary
Death Place:Budapest, Hungary
Position:Midfielder
Years1:1962–1972
Clubs1:MTK
Caps1:13
Goals1:1
Years2:1973–1975
Clubs2:VÖEST Linz
Caps2:80
Goals2:18
Years3:1975–1976
Clubs3:Bayer Uerdingen
Caps3:10
Goals3:0
Years4:1977–1978
Clubs4:Union Wels
Years5:1979
Clubs5:Los Angeles Aztecs
Caps5:8
Goals5:1
Years6:1981
Clubs6:SC Eisenstadt
Manageryears1:1979
Managerclubs1:Los Angeles Aztecs (assistant)
Manageryears2:1980–1983
Managerclubs2:1. FC Köln (assistant)
Manageryears3:1987–1988
Managerclubs3:Murcia (assistant)
Manageryears4:1990
Managerclubs4:Levante (assistant)
Manageryears5:2000–2003
Managerclubs5:Bangladesh
Manageryears6:2003–2005
Managerclubs6:Muktijoddha Sangsad
Manageryears7:2005–2006
Managerclubs7:Churchill Brothers
Manageryears8:2009–2010
Manageryears9:2015–2016
Managerclubs9:Dhaka Abahani
Medaltemplates: (as manager)

György Kottán (6 October 1946 – 25 September 2023), also referred to as a Georg Kottán or George Kottán, was a Hungarian-Austrian football manager and player. Kottan is regarded as the most influential coach in the history of Bangladeshi football. He guided the Bangladesh national team to their first SAFF Championship in 2003. Additionally, he holds the record for being the only coach to win the Bangladesh Premier League as an undefeated champion, with Abahani Limited Dhaka in 2016.[1]

Playing career

Kottán played as a midfielder and started his career at MTK. His first match in the first league was on 5 April 1970. He left in 1972 to play in the Austrian National League for SK VÖEST Linz where they won the title in 1974, becoming the first team from Linz to become Austrian champions.

Kottán then transferred to KFC Uerdingen 05 of the Bundesliga in 1976 before winding up his playing career in 1979 in the US for the Los Angeles Aztecs in the North American Soccer League, playing for them for one season as a player-coach under Rinus Michels.

Managerial career

The following season Kottan became Rinus Michels assistant at the Aztecs. After a break, he rejoined Michels at German club 1. FC Köln where they won the DFB-Pokal. In 1984 Kottan left to take charge of his first club in Austria, with Ch. Linz and stayed until 1987 when he left to become a coach under Antal Dunai first for Real Murcia and then moved with him in 1990 to Levante UD.

Then in 1993, he worked with Dunai for the Hungarian Olympic football team, reaching the 1996 Olympic games. Kottan remained as a technical director until 2000 when he had the opportunity to manage Bangladesh, taking them to victory in the 2003 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup.[2]

Kottán also managed Muktijoddha Sangsad of the Bangladesh Premier League and in the process won the Bangladesh Federation Cup. Later, Kottan took control of Indian National Football League club Churchill Brothers in 2005.[3]

Kottán became the Pakistan national team head coach on 20 February 2009. However, just one year later his contract wasn't renewed after mixed results. Then he joined Abahani Limited Dhaka, in 2015. In 2016, Kottán led Abahani to the 2016 Bangladesh Premier League trophy as unbeaten champions.[4]

Other work

Kottan also worked on FIFA's Goal Project in Berlin, Germany and had a degree from the German Sport University Cologne. He also held a UEFA Pro Licence.

Death

György Kottán died in Budapest on 25 September 2023, at the age of 76.[5]

Honours

Player

SK VOEST Linz

1973–74

Manager

Bangladesh

Muktijoddha Sangsad KS

2003

Abahani Limited Dhaka

2016

2016

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: একজন ‘বাংলাদেশপ্রেমী’ জর্জ কোটানকে ভোলা যাবে না কখনোই. bn. Alam. Masud. 28 September 2023. Prothomalo.
  2. https://infostart.hu/sport/2017/02/11/egy-magyar-futballedzo-aki-bajnoki-cimet-nyert-egy-kulfoldi-elso-osztalyu-bajnoksagban Egy magyar futballedző, aki bajnoki címet nyert egy külföldi első osztályú bajnokságban
  3. http://www.indianfootball.de/transfers2005.html Season ending Transfers 2005: India
  4. Web site: Abahani finish as unbeaten champs. 30 December 2016. New Age.
  5. Web site: বাংলাদেশকে সাফ জেতানো কোচ জর্জ কোটান আর নেই. bn. 28 September 2023. Bangla Tribune.