Nemzeti Bajnokság I
Founded1901 (1901)
CountryHungary
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toNemzeti Bajnokság II
Domestic cup(s)Magyar Kupa
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa League
UEFA Europa Conference League
Current championsFerencváros (34th title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsFerencváros (34 titles)
Most appearancesJózsef Bozsik (477)
Top goalscorerImre Schlosser (411)
TV partnersList of broadcasters
Websitewww.mlsz.hu
Current: 2023–24 Nemzeti Bajnokság I

The Nemzeti Bajnokság (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈnɛmzɛti ˈbɒjnokʃaːɡ], lit. 'national championship'), also known as NB I, is the top flight of Hungarian football league system. The league is officially named OTP Bank Liga after its title sponsor, OTP Bank.[1] UEFA currently ranks the league 28th in Europe.[2]

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 rounds for the UEFA Champions League, while the runner-up and the third place, together with the winner of the Magyar Kupa enter the UEFA Europa Conference League qualification rounds. 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 trophy of the Nemzeti Bajnokság

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, from the new cities Hungary had, could re-join the league such as Nagyvárad[13] and Kolozsvár, which are both nowadays in Romania.[14] The second half of the 1940s was dominated by Újpest by winning the championship in 1945, 1946, and 1947.[15] The 1940s also saw Nagyvárad winning the league, marking the only time the Hungarian league was won by a team that nowadays is not from a city located in Hungary (Nagyvárad, also known as Oradea is nowadays located in Romania.).

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]

Ferencváros legend Albert with Vasas legend Mészöly in the 1960s

Újpest 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] and 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.

Current clubs

As of the 2023–24 season, there are twelve clubs in the division, who play each other three times for a total of 33 games each. The bottom two clubs are relegated.[39]

Location of Budapest teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity[40] 2022–23
Debrecen Debrecen Nagyerdei Stadion 20,340 3rd
Diósgyőr Miskolc (Diósgyőr) Diósgyőri Stadion 15,325 1st (NB II)
Fehérvár Székesfehérvár Sóstói Stadion 14,144 10th
Ferencváros Budapest (Ferencváros) Groupama Aréna 22,043 1st
Kecskemét Kecskemét Széktói Stadion 6,320 2nd
Kisvárda Kisvárda Várkerti Stadion 2,993 6th
Mezőkövesd Mezőkövesd Városi Stadion 4,183 7th
MTK Budapest Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion 5,014 2nd (NB II)
Puskás Akadémia Felcsút Pancho Aréna 3,816 4th
Paks Paks Fehérvári úti Stadion 6,150 5th
Újpest Budapest (Újpest) Szusza Ferenc Stadion 12,670 8th
Zalaegerszeg Zalaegerszeg ZTE Aréna 11,200 9th

Champions

[41]

Notes

  • 1901–26: Amateur era
  • 1901–08: Teams only from Budapest took part
  • 1914–15: Cancelled due to war but from 1916 to 1918–19 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

  • Honvéd: (Kispest)
  • Csepel: 1912 CSTK, 1932 Csepel FC, 1937 Weizs Manfréd FC, 1945 CSMTK, 1946 Cs. Vasas, 1957, Csepel SC)
  • Ferencváros: (1899 FTC, 1926 Ferencváros, 1949 EDOSZ, 1951 Bp. Kinizsi, 1957 Ferencváros)
  • MTK: 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: 1885 ÚTE, 1926 Újpest, 1949 Bp. Dózsa, 1957 Újpesti Dózsa, 1991 ÚTE, 2000 Újpesti FC)
  • Fehérvár: Videoton, MOL Vidi FC
  • Győr: Győri ETO

Most titles

Below is a ranking of the clubs by most titles won.[42]

Club Titles Winning seasons
Ferencváros 34 1903, 1905, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1909–10, 1910–11, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1931–32, 1933–34, 1937–38, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1948–49, 1962–63, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1975–76, 1980–81, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2015–16, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
MTK 23 1904, 1907–08, 1903–14, 1916–17, 1917–18, 1918–19, 1919–20, 1920–21, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1923–24, 1924–25, 1928–29, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1951, 1953, 1957–58, 1986–87, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2002–03, 2007–08
Újpest 20 1929–30, 1930–31, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1938–39, 1945, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1959–60, 1969, 1970, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1989–90, 1997–98
Honvéd ± 14 1949–50 (I), 1950 (II), 1952, 1954, 1955, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1992–93, 2016–17
Debrecen 7 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14
Vasas 6 1957, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1965, 1966, 1976–77
Győr * 4 1963, 1981–82, 1982–83, 2012–13
Csepel 4 1941–42, 1942–43, 1947–48, 1958–59
Fehérvár 3 2010–11, 2014–15, 2017–18
BTC † 2 1901, 1902
Vác 1 1993–94
Nagyvárad ‡ 1 1943–44
Dunaferr 1 1999–2000
Zalaegerszeg 1 2001–02

Notes:

  • † Dissolved before World War II
  • ‡ Team from Oradea, which is now located in Romania
  • * Includes Rába Vasas ETO Győr, Győri Vasas ETO
  • ± The trophy of the 1956-57 championship would have gone to Honvéd, but the results of the championship were canceled due to the revolution.

Most seasons

The following clubs have spent 50 or more seasons in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I. Clubs in bold compete in the 2023–24 season.

For a complete list see: Most seasons

Top scorers

All time top scorers

As of July 2021.[43]

#NamePeriodClubsGoalsMatchesAverage
1. Imre Schlosser 1906–1928 FTC/MTK 368 284 1.36
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, Ferencváros, Erszébet, Szürketaxi 360 355 1.01
5. Ferenc Puskás 1943–1956 Honvéd 360 352 1.02
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 303 244 1.24
9. Ferenc Bene 1960–1978 Újpest 303 418 0.72
10. Géza Toldi 1928–1946 Ferencváros, Gamma-Budafok, Szegedi AK, MADISZ 271 324 0.84
11 Nándor Hidegkuti 1942–1958 MTK 265 381 0.70
12. Flórián Albert 1959–1974 Ferencváros 256 351 0.73
13. Sandor Kocsis 1945–1956 Kőbányai TC, Ferencváros, Honvéd 251 253 0.99
14. László Fazekas 1965–1980 Újpest 251 408 0.62

Players

Ferenc Puskás scored 360 goals in 352 matches for Honvéd

One of the most notable players of the Hungarian League was Ferenc Puskás who played for 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.[44]

Statistics

UEFA coefficients

The following data indicates Hungarian coefficient rankings between European football leagues.[45]

Attendance

Attendances reached peaks in 1955 and 1957.[48]

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 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.[49]

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 *[50] +5.1%
2020–21 covid-19[51] -
2021–22 2,781[52] -
2022–23 3,539 +27.3%
  • In the 2019–20 season 198 games were played, but only 160 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

  1. ↑ "Az OTP Bank az NB I új névadó szponzora" [OTP Bank is the new title sponsor of NB I] (in Hungarian). 23 June 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  2. ↑ UEFA. "Member associations – UEFA Coefficients – Country coefficients". UEFA. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  3. ↑ "1901.évi bajnokság". RSSSF. 1 June 2015. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "Hungary – List of Final Tables 1901-1910". RSSSF. 1 June 2015. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "Hungary – List of Final Tables 1911-1920". RSSSF. 5 April 2007. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Hungary – List of Final Tables 1921-1930". RSSSF. 25 June 2015. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "Újpest FC". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Gyula Zsengellér". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "György Sárosi". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  10. ↑ "László Cseh". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "Hungary – List of Final Tables 1931-1940". RSSSF. 1 June 2015. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  12. ↑ "Csepel SC". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  13. ↑ "Nagyváradi AC". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "Kolzsvári AC". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "Hungary – List of Final Tables 1941-1950". RSSSF. 1 June 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  16. ↑ "Ferenc Puskás". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  17. ↑ "József Bozsik". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  18. ↑ "Zoltán Czibor". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  19. ↑ "László Budai". magyarfutball.hu. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  20. ↑ "Hungary – List of Final Tables 1951-1960". RSSSF. 1 June 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  21. ↑ "Hungary – List of Final Tables 1961-1970". RSSSF. 1 June 2015. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  22. ↑ "Hungary – List of Final Tables 1971-1980". RSSSF. 1 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  23. ↑ "Hungary – List of Final Tables 1981-1990". RSSSF. 1 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  24. ↑ "Hungary – List of Final Tables 1991-2000". RSSSF. 1 June 2015.
  25. ↑ "Hungary round-up: Zalaegerszeg zoom to top". UEFA. 4 May 2002. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2002.
  26. ↑ "Hungary round-up: All too easy for Zalaegerszeg". UEFA. 15 March 2002. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2002.
  27. ↑ "First at last for Debrecen". UEFA. 20 May 2005. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  28. ↑ "Debrecen clinch title at the death". UEFA. 3 June 2006. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  29. ↑ "Debrecen did it again". UEFA. 19 June 2006. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  30. ↑ "Debrecen sign off in style". UEFA. 4 June 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  31. ↑ "Debrecen awaits victory parade". UEFA. 16 May 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  32. ↑ "Debrecen wrap up Hungarian honours". UEFA. 23 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  33. ↑ "Debrecen complete double with Hungarian Cup". UEFA. 26 May 2010. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  34. ↑ "MTK claim title after five-year wait". UEFA. 26 May 2008. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  35. ↑ "Hungarian League 2010–11: Champions Videoton proud of historic success". UEFA. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  36. ↑ "Videoton champions of Hungary again". UEFA. 4 May 2015. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  37. ↑ "Gutsy Győr crowned Hungarian champions". UEFA. 12 May 2013. Archived from the original on 12 October 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  38. ↑ "Debrecen crowned champions of Hungary". UEFA. 1 June 2014. Archived from the original on 16 July 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  39. ↑ "NB 1: 2014/2015". Soccerway. Perform. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  40. ↑ "NB I 2022–2023". magyarfutball.hu (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  41. ↑ "List of champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  42. ↑ Támas Kárpáti (28 July 2016). "Hungary – List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  43. ↑ "Hungary – All-Time Topscorers". RSSSF. July 2000. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  44. ↑ Glanville, Brian (17 November 2006). "Obituary: Ferenc Puskas". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
  45. ↑ "UEFA European Cup Coefficients Database". Bert Kassies. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  46. ↑ "UEFA Country Ranking 2021 – kassiesA – Xs4all". Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  47. ↑ "Club coefficients". Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  48. ↑ "Hungarian attendances". Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  49. ↑ "magyarfutball.hu: Nézőszámok". Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  50. ↑ "magyarfutball.hu: Nézőszámok". Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  51. ↑ "magyarfutball.hu: Nézőszámok". Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  52. ↑ "magyarfutball.hu: Nézőszámok". Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
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