Kalman Konrad
Encyclopedia
Kálmán Konrád an inside right, was one of the best football
players in the Kingdom of Hungary
in the 1910s, and played on the Hungarian National team
with his brother, Jenő Konrád
. Kálmán, who later played for Austria
, coached the Romanian National team for five games in the mid-1930s. In 1999, he was listed by World Soccer as one of the 100 greatest players of all-time.
, a town on the Danube River in Austria-Hungary
(now part of Vojvodina
, Serbia
), Konrád moved to Budapest as a small child. He joined the club MTK Hungária FC
in 1910 at the age of 14 and then joined the first team in the Hungarian League in 1913 at the age of 17. Konrád played for MTK from 1913-1919 and helped the team win the Hungarian Championship in 1914, 1917-1919 (there was no league in 1915 or 1916 because of World War I). In the three championship seasons between 1917-1919, MTK outscored their opponents, 376-46, and had an overall record of 60-4-2. Kálmán played in 94 games during this incredible run and scored 88 goals while a player for MTK. He was also a member of the National team, appeared in 12 games and scored two goals.
In August 1926, Kálmán was brought to the United States by Nat Agar
, the owner-manager of the Brooklyn Wanderers
of the American Soccer League
(ASL). Kálmán's talent was so legendary, that Agar was forced to keep the transfer a secret until he was on his way to the U.S. That year, Konrád played for Brooklyn and appeared in 27 games and scored two goals. That season, he also played in the International Soccer League, a new league of American and Canadian teams. The Wanderers of the ASL participated and won the league championship with a 5-3-1 record. Konrád scored four goals while playing in every game.
After his only season in the United States, Konrád returned to Hungary and ended his playing career with MTK during the 1927-28 season. He then became a world-renowned coach and led powerful clubs such as Bayern Munich, FC Zurich, and Slavia Prague. Konrád also coached a number of teams in Sweden, where he settled and lived until his death in 1980.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
players in the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
in the 1910s, and played on the Hungarian National team
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
with his brother, Jenő Konrád
Jeno Konrád
Jenő Konrád also referred to as Eugène Conrad or Eugenio Konrad was an Hungarian footballer and manager. He is most noted for his career as a football manager; he managed SC Wacker Wien, Chinezul Timişoara, Wiener AC, Hakoah Vienna, FC Nuremberg, Ripensia Timişoara, 1...
. Kálmán, who later played for Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, coached the Romanian National team for five games in the mid-1930s. In 1999, he was listed by World Soccer as one of the 100 greatest players of all-time.
Career
Born in BácspalánkaBacka Palanka
Bačka Palanka is a city and municipality located in Serbia, on left bank of the Danube, at 45.15° North, 19.24° East...
, a town on the Danube River in Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
(now part of Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
), Konrád moved to Budapest as a small child. He joined the club MTK Hungária FC
MTK Hungária FC
MTK Budapest FC or just MTK is a football club from Budapest, Hungary. The team plays in the second division of the Hungarian League. The club's colours are blue and white. As one of the most successful Hungarian football clubs, MTK has won the Hungarian League 23 times and the Hungarian Cup 12...
in 1910 at the age of 14 and then joined the first team in the Hungarian League in 1913 at the age of 17. Konrád played for MTK from 1913-1919 and helped the team win the Hungarian Championship in 1914, 1917-1919 (there was no league in 1915 or 1916 because of World War I). In the three championship seasons between 1917-1919, MTK outscored their opponents, 376-46, and had an overall record of 60-4-2. Kálmán played in 94 games during this incredible run and scored 88 goals while a player for MTK. He was also a member of the National team, appeared in 12 games and scored two goals.
In August 1926, Kálmán was brought to the United States by Nat Agar
Nat Agar
Nathan “Nat” Agar was an English-American soccer player, coach, referee, team owner and league executive. He was part of the formation of the United States Football Association, but later fought it as a team owner and league official of the American Soccer League and Southern New York State...
, the owner-manager of the Brooklyn Wanderers
Brooklyn Wanderers
The Brooklyn Wanderers was a U.S. soccer team which was a founding member of the National Association Football League in the late nineteenth century. It later joined the American Soccer League.-History:...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
(ASL). Kálmán's talent was so legendary, that Agar was forced to keep the transfer a secret until he was on his way to the U.S. That year, Konrád played for Brooklyn and appeared in 27 games and scored two goals. That season, he also played in the International Soccer League, a new league of American and Canadian teams. The Wanderers of the ASL participated and won the league championship with a 5-3-1 record. Konrád scored four goals while playing in every game.
After his only season in the United States, Konrád returned to Hungary and ended his playing career with MTK during the 1927-28 season. He then became a world-renowned coach and led powerful clubs such as Bayern Munich, FC Zurich, and Slavia Prague. Konrád also coached a number of teams in Sweden, where he settled and lived until his death in 1980.
Honours as manager
Malmö FF- AllsvenskanAllsvenskanAllsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
(2): 1949, 1950