Nemzeti Bajnokság I
The Nemzeti Bajnokság (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈnɛmzɛti ˈbɒjnokʃaːɡ], "National Championship"), also known as NB I, is the top level of the Hungarian football league system. The league is officially named OTP Bank Liga after its title sponsor OTP Bank.[1] UEFA currently ranks the league 33rd in Europe.[2]
Founded | 1901 |
---|---|
Country | Hungary |
Confederation | UEFA |
Number of teams | 12 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | Nemzeti Bajnokság II |
Domestic cup(s) | Magyar Kupa |
International cup(s) | UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League UEFA Europa Conference League |
Current champions | Ferencváros (31st title) (2019–20) |
Most championships | Ferencváros (31 titles) |
TV partners | List of broadcasters |
Website | Magyar Labdarúgó Szövetség |
Current: 2020–21 Nemzeti Bajnokság I |
Twelve teams compete in the league, playing each other three times, once at home, once away, and the third match is played at the stadium that the last match was not played at. At the end of the season, the top team enters the qualification for the UEFA Champions League, while the runner-up and the third place, together with the winner of the Hungarian Cup enter the UEFA Europa League qualification round. The bottom two clubs are relegated to Nemzeti Bajnokság II, the second-level league, to be replaced by the winner and the runner up of the NB2.
History
The first championship in 1901 was contested by BTC, MUE, FTC, Műegyetemi AFC and Budapesti SC, with the latter winning the championship.[3] Although the two first championships were won by Budapesti TC, the other titles that decade were won by FTC and MTK.[4]
In the 1910s and 1920s the championship was dominated by Ferencváros and MTK.[5][6]
In the 1930s, the rivalry between Ferencváros and MTK Budapest expanded with another club, Újpest FC (at that time not part of Budapest).[7] One of the most iconic figures of the 1930s Hungarian football was Újpest's Zsengellér who managed to top goalscorer three times in a row in the 1930s.[8] Ferencváros's Sárosi[9] and MTK Budapest's Cseh[10] and Újpest's Zsengellér were the embodiment of the rivalry of the three clubs from Budapest, named Budapest derby.[11]
In the 1940s, Csepel could win its first title which was followed by two other titles in 1942 and 1943.[12] During the World War II there were no interruptions in the Hungarian league. Due to the expansion of the territories of the country, new clubs could re-join the league such as Nagyvárad[13] and Kolozsvár.[14] The second half of the 1940s was dominated by Újpest by winning the championship in 1945, 1946 and 1947.[15]
In the 1950s, the dominance of Ferencváros and MTK weakened by the emergence of Honvéd with players such as Puskás,[16] Bozsik,[17] Czibor[18] and Budai.[19] Later these players played in the final of the 1954 FIFA World Cup. In the 1950s, Honvéd could win the championship five times. During the early 1950s, Honvéd players formed the backbone of the legendary Mighty Magyars. In 1956 the Hungarian league was suspended due to the Hungarian Revolution. The league was led by Honvéd after 21 rounds but the championship has never been finished.[20] In the first season (1955-56) of the European Cup, MTK Budapest reached the quarter-finals while in the 1957-58 season Vasas Budapest played in the semi-finals of the European Cup.
Vasas won four titles in the 1960s (1960/61, 1961/62, 1965 and 1966).[21]
Ujpest dominated the 1970s, winning seven titles.[22]
In 1982 Győr won the championship becoming the first non-Budapest team who could win the Hungarian league (except Nagyvárad during the World War II). Győr could repeat the triumph in the following year in 1983. However, the 1980s was dominated by Honvéd who celebrated its second heyday during the 1980s.[23]
Due to the collapse of communism, Hungarian football clubs lost the support of the state. Therefore, many clubs were faced with financial problems the effects of which are still present in Hungarian football. However, the 1990s were still dominated by the 'traditional' clubs of the championships such as Ferencváros, MTK and Újpest. Ferencváros always finished in the top three, except for the 1993–94 season, when they finished 4th. The financial problems affected the performance of the clubs outside the Hungarian League as well. Hungarian clubs could not compete with their European counterparts. Moreover, the Bosman ruling also had a deep impact on the Hungarian League. Since big European clubs could invest loads of money into football, clubs from the Eastern Bloc were restricted to employing only home nationals.[24]
In the 2000s new clubs became champions, mainly from rural Hungary. In 2002 Bozsik's Zalaegerszeg won the championship.[25][26] Debrecen won the Hungarian league in 2005,[27] 2006,[28][29] 2007,[30][31] 2009,[32] 2010.[33] In 2008 MTK could win.[34]
The dominance of the rural clubs continued in the 2010s. In 2011[35] and 2015[36] Székesfehérvár's Videoton won the championship. In 2013[37] Győr and in 2014[38] Debrecen could win the Hungarian League title.
Format
As of the 2016–17 season there are 12 clubs in the division, who play each other three times for a total of 33 games each. The bottom two clubs are relegated.[39]
Season | Number of teams |
---|---|
from 1901 to 1902 | 5 teams |
in 1903 | 8 teams |
from 1904 to 1905 | 9 teams |
in 1906-07 | 8 teams |
from 1907-08 to 1909-10 | 9 teams |
from 1910-11 to 1913-14 | 10 teams |
from 1916-17 to 1918-19 | 12 teams |
in 1919-20 | 15 teams |
in 1920-21 | 13 teams |
from 1921-22 to 1925-26 | 12 teams |
in 1926-27 | 10 teams |
from 1927-28 to 1934-35 | 12 teams |
from 1935-36 to 1940-41 | 14 teams |
from 1941-42 to 1943-44 | 16 teams |
in 1945 | 28 teams |
in 1946-47 | 16 teams |
in 1947-48 | 17 teams |
from 1948-49 to 1950 | 16 teams |
from 1951 to 1955 | 14 teams |
in 1957 | 12 teams |
from 1957-58 to 1966 | 14 teams |
from 1967 to 1973-74 | 16 teams |
in 1974-75 | 15 teams |
in 1975-76 | 16 teams |
from 1976-77 to 1981-82 | 18 teams |
from 1982-83 to 1995-96 | 16 teams |
from 1996-97 to 1999-00 | 18 teams |
in 2000-01 | 16 teams |
from 2001-02 to 2003-04 | 12 teams |
from 2004-05 to 2014-15 | 16 teams |
from 2015–16 to present | 12 teams[40] |
Champions
Notes
- 1901–26: Amateur era
- 1901–08: Teams only from Budapest took part
- 1914–15: Cancelled due to war but from 1916–18/19 war championships operated and are recognized by the FA.
- 1926: The professional league was introduced with 10 participants also from other cities than Budapest, like Szombathely, Szeged etc.
- 1935: The first National Championship was held. (Nemzeti Bajnokság, NB) 14 teams.
- 1940: Hungária (MTK) was banned by the fascist government. During the war teams from the neighboring countries participated, since the territories were adjoined to Hungary, which is how Nagyvarad became champions that year.
- 1944: It was abandoned due to war.
- 1945: New Nemzeti Bajnokság I starts.
- 1956–57: abandoned due to revolution.
Name changes
- Budapest Honvéd FC: (Kispest)
- Csepel FC: 1912 CSTK, 1932 Csepel FC, 1937 Weizs Manfréd FC, 1945 CSMTK, 1946 Cs. Vasas, 1957, Csepel SC)
- Ferencvárosi TC: (1899 FTC, 1926 Ferencváros, 1949 EDOSZ, 1951 Bp. Kinizsi, 1957 Ferencváros)
- MTK Budapest FC: 1883 MTK, 1926 Hungária, 1945 MTK, 1949 Textiles, 1951 Bp. Bástya, 1953 Vörös Lobogó, 1957 MTK, 1974 MTK-VM, 1991 MTK, 1997 MTK Hungária)
- Újpest FC: 1885 ÚTE, 1926 Újpest, 1949 Bp. Dózsa, 1957 Újpesti Dózsa, 1991 ÚTE, 2000 Újpesti FC)
Most titles
Below is a ranking of the clubs by most titles won.[42]
Notes:
- † Dissolved before World War II
- ‡ Team from Oradea, which is now located in Romania
- * Includes Rába Vasas ETO Győr, Győri Vasas ETO
Most seasons
The following clubs have spent more than 50 seasons in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I. Clubs in bold compete in the 2020–21 season.
Season | Number of teams |
---|---|
116 | Ferencváros |
113 | Újpest |
109 | MTK Budapest |
106 | Budapest Honvéd |
86 | Vasas |
69 | Győr |
63 | Szombathely |
53 | Diósgyőr |
51 | Csepel, Pécs |
51 | Fehérvár |
For a complete list see: Most seasons
Top scorers
All time top scorers
As listed at RSSSF in July 2000.[43]
# | Name | Period | Clubs | Goals | Matches | Average |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Imre Schlosser | 1906–1928 | FTC/MTK | 411 | 301 | 1.33 |
2. | Ferenc Szusza | 1940–1961 | Újpest | 393 | 462 | 0.85 |
3. | Gyula Zsengellér | 1935–1947 | Salgótarjáni BTC, Újpest | 387 | 325 | 1.22 |
4. | József Takács | 1920–1940 | Vasas Budapest, Ferencváros, Erszébet, Szürketaxi | 360 | 355 | 1.01 |
5. | Ferenc Puskás | 1943–1956 | Kispest-Honvéd | 357 | 354 | 1.01 |
6. | György Sárosi | 1931–1948 | Ferencváros | 351 | 383 | 0.92 |
7. | Gyula Szilágyi | 1943–1960 | Debrecen, Vasas | 313 | 390 | 0.80 |
8. | Ferenc Deák | 1944–1954 | Szentlőrinc, Ferencváros, Újpest | 305 | 238 | 1.28 |
9. | Ferenc Bene | 1960–1978 | Újpest | 303 | 418 | 0.72 |
10. | Géza Toldi | 1928–1946 | Ferencváros, Gamma-Budatok, Szegedi AK, MADISZ | 271 | 324 | 0.84 |
11 | Nandor Hidegkuti | 1942–1958 | MTK-Hungaria | 265 | 381 | 0.70 |
12. | Flórián Albert | 1959–1974 | Ferencváros | 256 | 351 | 0.73 |
Top scorer in a season
Correct as of 2018–19.[44]
Once |
Once |
Twice 3 times |
4 times 5 times 7 times |
Players
One of the most notable players of the Hungarian League was Ferenc Puskás who played for Budapest Honvéd. He played for Honvéd from 1943 to 1955 and then for Real Madrid. He made his first senior appearance for Kispest in November 1943 in a match against Nagyváradi AC.[45]
Statistics
UEFA coefficients
The following data indicates Hungarian coefficient rankings between European football leagues.[46]
UEFA League Ranking as of 16 December 2019:[47]
|
UEFA 5-year Club Ranking as of 16 December 2019:[48]
|
Attendance
Attendances reached peaks in 1963, 1968, 1977 and 2007, and were at their lowest in 1986.[49]
The record for highest average home attendance for a club was set by Budapest Kinizsi in 1955 (49,077 over 13 home matches). 27 March 1955 saw the record for highest attendance at a match, with 98,000 in the game between Budapest Honvéd and Budapest Kinizsi at Ferenc Puskás Stadium. The highest ever average attendance for NB I as a whole was set in 1955 with 17,151.[50]
Year | Average | Change |
---|---|---|
1957 | 17,083 | / |
1957/58 | 14,668 | -14,1% |
1958/59 | 14,659 | -0,1% |
1959/60 | 16,712 | +14,0% |
1960/61 | 15,198 | -9,1% |
1961/62 | 12,951 | -14,8% |
1962/63 | 14,184 | +9,5% |
1963 | 13,649 | -3,8% |
1964 | 16,151 | +18,1% |
1965 | 14,521 | -10,1% |
1966 | 11,951 | -17,7% |
1967 | 11,368 | -4,9% |
1968 | 9,392 | -17,4% |
1969 | 8,343 | -11,2% |
1970 | 8,668 | +3,9% |
Year | Average | Change |
---|---|---|
1970/71 | 7,067 | -18,5% |
1971/72 | 6,135 | -13,2% |
1972/73 | 7,208 | +17,5% |
1973/74 | 8,163 | +13,2% |
1974/75 | 8,717 | +6,8% |
1975/76 | 10,108 | +16,0% |
1976/77 | 8,834 | -12,6% |
1977/78 | 8,026 | -9,1% |
1978/79 | 6,606 | -17,7% |
1979/80 | 7,588 | +14,9% |
1980/81 | 6,835 | -9,9% |
1981/82 | 7,039 | +3,0% |
1982/83 | 9,576 | +36,0% |
1983/84 | 7,896 | -17,5% |
1984/85 | 7,812 | -1,1% |
Year | Average | Change |
---|---|---|
1985/86 | 7,581 | -3,0% |
1986/87 | 7,683 | +1,3% |
1987/88 | 7,977 | +3,8% |
1988/89 | 6,925 | -13,2% |
1989/90 | 5,888 | -15,0% |
1990/91 | 5,307 | -9,9% |
1991/92 | 5,586 | +5,2% |
1992/93 | 5,398 | -3,4% |
1993/94 | 5,355 | -0,8% |
1994/95 | 5,842 | +9,1% |
1995/96 | 4,965 | -15,0% |
1996/97 | 4,443 | -10,5% |
1997/98 | 5,786 | +30,2% |
1998/99 | 5,009 | -13,4% |
1999/00 | 3,686 | -26,4% |
Year | Average | Change |
---|---|---|
2000/01 | 4,420 | +12,0% |
2001/02 | 3,961 | -10,4% |
2002/03 | 3,396 | -14,3% |
2003/04 | 3,406 | +0,3% |
2004/05 | 3,291 | -3,4% |
2005/06 | 3,136 | -4,7% |
2006/07 | 2,755 | -12,1% |
2007/08 | 2,975 | +8,0% |
2008/09 | 2,953 | -0,7% |
2009/10 | 3,115 | +5,5% |
2010/11 | 2,812 | -9,7% |
2011/12 | 3,858 | +37,2% |
2012/13 | 2,844 | -26,3% |
2013/14 | 2,993 | +5,2% |
2014/15 | 2,505 | -16,3% |
Year | Average | Change |
---|---|---|
2015/16 | 2,602 | +3,9% |
2016/17 | 2,705 | +4,0% |
2017/18 | 2,907 | +7,5% |
2018/19 | 3,300 | +16,0% |
2019/20 | 3,467 * | +5,1% |
- In season 2019/20 198 was played, however only 160 games were played without covid-19 limitations.
554 741 tickets were sold for 160 games without crowd limitations - season`s average 3 467 per game. 599 676 tickets were sold for all 198 games - season`s average 3 029 per game, not including 8 games behind close doors, 190 games - season`s average 3 156 per game.
See also
References
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- "Újpest FC". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016.
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- "László Cseh". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016.
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- "Ferenc Puskás". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016.
- "József Bozsik". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016.
- "Zoltán Czibor". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016.
- "László Budai". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016.
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- "Hungary round-up: Zalaegerszeg zoom to top". UEFA.com. 4 May 2002. Retrieved 4 May 2002.
- "Hungary round-up: All too easy for Zalaegerszeg". UEFA.com. 15 March 2002. Retrieved 15 March 2002.
- "First at last for Debrecen". UEFA.com. 20 May 2005.
- "Debrecen clinch title at the death". UEFA. 3 June 2006.
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- "Debrecen sign off in style". UEFA. 4 June 2007.
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- "Hungarian League 2010–11: Champions Videoton proud of historic success". UEFA.com. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
- "Videoton champions of Hungary again". UEFA.com. 4 May 2015.
- "Gutsy Győr crowned Hungarian champions". UEFA.com. 12 May 2013.
- "Debrecen crowned champions of Hungary". UEFA.com. 1 June 2014.
- "NB 1: 2014/2015". Soccerway. Perform. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- "MLSZ: 12 csapattal indul az NB I, dán modell a lebonyolításban". Nemzeti Sport. 2 June 2015.
- "List of champions". rsssf.com.
- Támas Kárpáti (28 July 2016). "Hungary - List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- "Hungary - All-Time Topscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.com. July 2000.
- "Hungary - Topscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.com. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- Glanville, Brian (17 November 2006). "Obituary: Ferenc Puskas". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
- "UEFA European Cup Coefficients Database". Bert Kassies. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- "UEFA Country Ranking 2019 – kassiesA – Xs4all". Kassiesa.home.xs411.nl. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- "Club coefficients". uefa.com. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- "Hungarian attendances". Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- "magyarfutball.hu: Nézőszámok". Retrieved 15 March 2019.