Hungary’s second most successful football club went through a series of identity changes in this era after being taken over by the secret police (the State Protection Authority as they called themselves) and were known at different times as Textiles SE, Bastya SE, Voros Lobogo (Red Banner) SE and eventually back to MTK, standing for Magyar Testgyakorlok Kore Budabest Futball Club which translates to Circle of Hungarian Fitness Activists. Despite this upheaval, they remined one of the greatest sides on the continent at the time. With the country experiencing a revolution, MTK were experiencing a revolution of their own – a tactical one. Names like Palotas, Hidegkuti, Lantos and Zakarias, all of whom played for MTK, evoke a time when Hungarian football ruled Europe and the countries clubs, especially MTK, Ferencvaros and Honved, utilized advanced tactics and an understanding of the passing game to run rings around all opposition.

 

Coached by Marton Bukovi, MTK collected three Hungarian league titles in the 1950’s, one each under their different names, plus a domestic Hungarian cup and a Mitropa Cup. In 1955, as Voros Lobogo, they became the first ever Hungarian team to play in the European Cup and in this competition, Peter Palotas scored a hat-trick as MTK defeated Anderlecht 6-3 in the first leg of the first round. In doing so, he became the first player to score a hat-trick in the European Cup. Simultaneously, MTK were responsible for providing a major contribution to the Hungarian national team – the legendary Mighty Magyars as they were then known. MTK coach Bukovi is credited with developing the 4-2-4 formation, later adopted by Hungary manager Gusztav Sebes (a former MTK player himself) to great effect. Bukovi also shaped Palotas and Hidegkuti to form the critical deep lying centre-forward position, which could pull opponents out of position and was ground breaking at the time. For Hungary, Hidegkuti devastated England in this position when the latter were belted by the Hungarians 6-3 at Wembley Stadium in 1953, handing the Brits a lesson in modern football tactics. MTK’s Lantos and Zakarias were defenders in that game. These three MTK stars helped the national team to win gold at the Olympics in 1952, become Central European Champions the following year, defeat England twice and make it to the 1954 World Cup final.

 

After 1958, MTK experienced a title drought that lasted 30 years, but they experienced success in other tournaments. They reached the semis of the 1962 Intercities Fairs Cup and the final of the 1964 European Cup Winners Cup after finishing second in the league with some great wins along the way against the likes of Fernebache and Celtic, however they tasted defeat in the final when it truly counted, with a loss to Sporting CP. In 1963, MTK won the Mitropa Cup for the second time by defeating fellow Hungarians, Vasas. The fact that two Hungarian sides reached the final of a European competition shows the strength of Hungarian football at the time. In 1968, MTK won the Hungarian domestic cup, the Magyar Kupa, but since then, MTK’s fortunes have waned, lacking the fan support enjoyed by the leagues heavy hitters. Their stadium rarely fills up, but it is notable in that it served as the main filmin location for the cult 1980 football film, Escape to Victory, about a team of Allied POW’s taking on a team of Nazis in World War II. The film starred a number of iconic footballers including Bobby Moore, Osvaldo Ardiles and Pele. 

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Achievements: 
Hungarian league – Champions x3
Magyar Kupa – Winners x2
Mitropa Cup – Winners x2, runners up x1
European Cup Winners Cup – Runners up x1

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Star player: Nandor Hidegkuti, dob 3 March 1922, pob Budapest, Hungary

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As a forward or attacking midfielder, Hidegkuti played for MTK for the majority of his career and was also a key member of the fabled Mighty Magyars. He began to play for MTK in 1947, two years before Hungary became a Communist state and the team was taken over by the secret police. He formed a dangerous deep-lying centre forward partnership with Joszef Zakarias and in this position he scored after 45 seconds against England at Wembley Stadium, the end result a famous 6-3 Hungary win, and he tore the Brits apart in the rematch, this time winning 7-1. He also scored twice as MTK romped Anderlecht 10-3 over two legs in the European Cup. Hidegkuti racked up 69 appearances for Hungary in which he scored 39 times. Two of these goals were on his debut, a 7-2 win over Romania. Another three came with a hat-trick against Finland in 1953. The trio of Hidegkuti, Puskas and Kocsis provided Hungary with 198 goals during their time together. Hidegkuti went on to manage teams in Hungary, Italy, Poland and Egypt, including victory with Fiorentina in the first ever European Cup Winners Cup. He took Hungarian side Gyori ETO to the semi finals of the European Cup in 1965 and then introduced a 5-3-2 formation to Al-Ahly. He was awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award in 1993 for his model behaviour as both a player and coach.