Despite their success, Puskás remains deeply unpopular among Hungarian football fans. (source: Facebook - Puskás Akadémia)
Two decades ago, Puskás Akadémia FC did not exist. Today, the football club from the tiny Hungarian village of Felcsút sits atop the OTP Bank Liga, closing in on what would be a landmark league title, writes the Hospodárske noviny daily.
The club’s meteoric rise is no accident. It’s the pet project of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a man whose passion for football borders on obsession.
At the heart of this well-financed operation is Orbán’s close friend and Hungary’s richest man, Lőrinc Mészáros.
Unlike Ferencváros or Honvéd, clubs with storied pasts and deep fan bases, Puskás is an artificial creation, playing in the opulent Pancho Aréna – a stadium that would not look out of place in a Champions League setting but instead hosts league matches in a village of 1,800 people.
Yet, as the season reaches its decisive stage, Puskás finds itself in unfamiliar territory: first place. Under Slovak coach Zsolt Hornyák, they have amassed 44 points from 21 matches, sitting eight points clear of Ferencváros, who have a game in hand. The title race is far from over, but the balance of power in Hungarian football could be shifting.
“I’m not surprised,” says Hungarian football scout Bence Hurguly. “Puskás is well-funded. It was only a matter of time before everything clicked. Ferencváros, on the other hand, seems to struggle with motivation in the league after their European adventures. That’s playing into Puskás’ hands right now.”
The financial muscle behind Puskás is undeniable. Mészáros, once a humble gas fitter and later mayor of Felcsút, is now worth an estimated $3.5 billion, according to Forbes. His club’s squad is valued at nearly €15 million, second only to Ferencváros in Hungary. But while Ferencváros has faced managerial instability, Hornyák’s steady hand has guided Puskás to the summit.
Pancho Aréna (source: Puskás Akadémia)
“Hornyák has been here long enough to build strong relationships with key players,” Hurguly adds. “That’s reflected in their performances.”
Despite their success, Puskás remains deeply unpopular among Hungarian football fans. The club’s links to Orbán are one reason, but there are others. Traditionalists resent the club’s rise at the expense of historic teams like Honvéd. Then there’s the issue of youth development – despite being an academy club, Puskás rarely relies on homegrown talent, preferring experienced imports.
