Zoltán Varga (footballer, born 1945)

Zoltán Varga (1 January 1945 – 9 April 2010) was a Hungarian footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s.[1] He was an Olympic gold medalist at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He played for Ferencvárosi TC when they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1965, beating Juventus 1–0 in the final. He also played for Ajax Amsterdam.

For other people with the same name, see Zoltán Varga (disambiguation).
The native form of this personal name is Varga Zoltán. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Zoltán Varga
Varga in 1973
Personal information
Date of birth (1945-01-01)1 January 1945
Place of birth Vál, Hungary
Date of death 9 April 2010(2010-04-09) (aged 65)
Place of death Budapest, Hungary
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1959–1961 Ferencváros
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1961–1968 Ferencváros 135 (53)
1968–1969 Standard Liège 0 (0)
1969–1972 Hertha BSC 34 (9)
1972–1973 Aberdeen 26 (10)
1973–1974 Ajax 12 (2)
1974–1976 Borussia Dortmund 51 (10)
1976–1977 FC Augsburg 8 (1)
1977–1978 Gent 0 (0)
Total 266 (85)
National team
1964–1968 Hungary 12 (2)
Teams managed
1981 Preußen Münster
1996–1997 Ferencváros
1997 Budapest Honvéd
2000 Diósgyőr
2001 Győr
2003 Győr
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Hungary
Olympic Games
1964 TokyoTeam competition
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He played in Germany for Borussia Dortmund and Hertha BSC, but was banned after he was caught taking bribes to lose matches.[2]

During the period of his ban he played for Aberdeen F.C. in Scotland.[2]

Club career

Career in Hungary

The Ferencváros his professional career. In the professional team played between 1961–1968, a period which is the club's history after World War II was one of the most successful. Varga made 135 career appearances, scoring 53 goals. The club became champion in 1962 and '63, 1964, 1967 and 1968 NB I-season as well.

In these years, Fradi, as one of Europe's best club teams, qualified for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup series called the International Festival of the major European Football Confederation tournament as well. Today's successor to the European leagues.

In 1962–63 seasons in the semi-finals in a row Varga, and two years later, 1964–65 they won it. Success is not interrupted in 1967, 68 in the runner. Since the Mexican Olympic Games, Varga left the country, so successfully ended the era of Ferencváros.

Career in Europe

Between 1969 and 1972, the German Hertha BSC scored nine in 34 games, 26 games for Aberdeen in Scotland (where he is still considered by many to be the finest foreign import ever to play for the club) scored ten of the Netherlands Ajax 12 games scored two goals, the German side Borussia Dortmund 51 games scored 10. Last was a team player in the Belgian Gent.

International career

Between 1964 and 1968 he had been included in the Hungarian national team 12 times and scored 2 goals. In 1964, Spain's European Championship team bronze medal for the author made his debut as a member of the team. In 1966 he participated in the World Cup in England, but could not play due to an earlier injury.

He received a gold medal as member of Hungary's Olympic Team in the Tokyo Olympic Games, in 1964. During the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City he had left the Hungarian Team Camp before the matches and did not return to Hungary.

Death

On Friday 9 April 2010, Varga was playing in an old-boys football match at Danuvia when he was taken ill. He collapsed and, despite efforts by teammates and emergency responders to resusciate him, died at the age of 65.

References
  1. Obituary London Independent, 29 April 2010.
  2. "Varga tunes in to red corner", The Scotsman
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