NABI-Kaposvári Rákóczi FC
Encyclopedia
Kaposvári Rákóczi FC is a football
club in Kaposvár, Hungary
. Their home stadium is Stadion Kaposvár Rákoczi
. The team is named after Francis II Rákóczi
, a Transylvanian prince and national hero and they are also often referred to be the nickname Somogyiak, referring to Somogy County, where the team plays.
In 1941 the team awaited the arrival of István Avar
, but his debut with the team was delayed by the second world war. After the war, the team really got going in 1960, where they won the NB III under the name Kaposvár Kinizsi.
In 1970 the team took back its classic name, Rákóczi, but in 1971 they were relegated back to the NB III. They would put together a successful season afterward though, and return to NB II. At this time some good young talent joined from the team's youth organization, including Bőzsöny, Savanyó, and Hegedűs the goalkeeper, and in 1973 Imre Mathesz
took the helm as head coach. The team would add more key players and would finish 3 points behind Szeged for second place and the right to enter NB I.
The team's first NB I. match was played against Vasas SC
before 22,000 fans at Rákóczi Stadion. The Somogyiak won the match 2-0, behind two goals from Győző Burcsa
. By 2006, however, Burcsa left for Székesfehérvár
and the team finished the 1975-1976 campaign in 13th place. In 1976-1977 they finished 14th and by the next season they were relegated with a 17th place finish. They wouldn't have to wait long to return, however. They finished in 3rd place the following year in the NB II. and won it outright in 1979-1980 with a six point lead over Szombathelyi Haladás
.
The 1980-1981 season had a few noteworthy matches. On August 9th they beat Pécs 2-1 before a crowd of 12,000 at home. Later in the season they held on to a 3-3 draw against Újpest
in Budapest. Nevertheless, the team would end the season in 16th place and again face relegation. They would drop as far as the third division before finally returning to the NB I. again after winning the second division in 1987. This would be their final season in NB I. until the next millennium. Besides the first NB I. match between two teams from Somogy county (a 1-3 loss against Siófok FC) the year was mostly forgettable as Rákóczi finished in last place.
The rest of the 80s and 90s were spent entirely in the II. and III. divisions, though not without talent. In 1995 they won the NB III. with a goal difference of 76-11. They continued to be successful in the NB II. László Prukner
became the head coach in the summer of 2003, but the team lost several key players in the same year. The fans were worried that they would again slide into the III. division.
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...
club in Kaposvár, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. Their home stadium is Stadion Kaposvár Rákoczi
Stadion Kaposvár Rákoczi
Stadion Kaposvár Rákoczi is a multi-use stadium in Kaposvár, Hungary. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of NABI-Kaposvári Rákóczi FC. The stadium is able to hold 7,000 people. It has 4,500 seats.-External links:*...
. The team is named after Francis II Rákóczi
Francis II Rákóczi
Francis II Rákóczi Hungarian aristocrat, he was the leader of the Hungarian uprising against the Habsburgs in 1703-11 as the prince of the Estates Confederated for Liberty of the Kingdom of Hungary. He was also Prince of Transylvania, an Imperial Prince, and a member of the Order of the Golden...
, a Transylvanian prince and national hero and they are also often referred to be the nickname Somogyiak, referring to Somogy County, where the team plays.
1923-2003
The team was formed on 15 August 1923 as the Rákóczi Sport Club by workers of the local Mezőgazdasági Ipari Részvénytársaság sugar factory. Though they originally played as amateurs, they played their first professional match against MÁV I. the following year. From this time forward the team would bounce back between the NB III and NB II.In 1941 the team awaited the arrival of István Avar
István Avar
István Avar was a Romanian-Hungarian footballer and a legend of Újpest FC, most famous for playing for the Hungarian national team in the 1934 World Cup...
, but his debut with the team was delayed by the second world war. After the war, the team really got going in 1960, where they won the NB III under the name Kaposvár Kinizsi.
In 1970 the team took back its classic name, Rákóczi, but in 1971 they were relegated back to the NB III. They would put together a successful season afterward though, and return to NB II. At this time some good young talent joined from the team's youth organization, including Bőzsöny, Savanyó, and Hegedűs the goalkeeper, and in 1973 Imre Mathesz
Imre Mathesz
Imre Mathesz was a Hungarian football player and coach.-Playing career:Mathesz, who played as a midfielder, played club football for Vasas SC....
took the helm as head coach. The team would add more key players and would finish 3 points behind Szeged for second place and the right to enter NB I.
The team's first NB I. match was played against Vasas SC
Vasas SC
Vasas SC is one of Hungary's major sports clubs. Most of its facilities are situated in Budapest's 13th district in the north of the town. Members of the Hungarian Union of Iron Workers founded the club as Vas-és Fémmunkások Sport Clubja, the "Sport Club of Iron and Steel Workers", on 16 March 1911...
before 22,000 fans at Rákóczi Stadion. The Somogyiak won the match 2-0, behind two goals from Győző Burcsa
Gyozo Burcsa
Gyõzõ Burcsa is a Hungarian football player.He was a participant in the 1986 FIFA World Cup where Hungary was eliminated in the first round...
. By 2006, however, Burcsa left for Székesfehérvár
Videoton FC
Videoton FC is a Hungarian professional football club based in Székesfehérvár, playing in the Hungarian League as of 2011. Videoton has won one Hungarian League title, one Hungarian Cup title, two Hungarian League Cup titles and one Hungarian Super Cup title...
and the team finished the 1975-1976 campaign in 13th place. In 1976-1977 they finished 14th and by the next season they were relegated with a 17th place finish. They wouldn't have to wait long to return, however. They finished in 3rd place the following year in the NB II. and won it outright in 1979-1980 with a six point lead over Szombathelyi Haladás
Szombathelyi Haladás
Szombathelyi Haladás is a Hungarian football club based in Szombathely. Haladás is the Hungarian word for progress. The club, which was founded in 1919, plays its home games at Rohonci úti Stadion which has a capacity of 12,000 . The club colours are green and white.Haladás reached the Hungarian...
.
The 1980-1981 season had a few noteworthy matches. On August 9th they beat Pécs 2-1 before a crowd of 12,000 at home. Later in the season they held on to a 3-3 draw against Újpest
Újpest FC
Újpest Football Club , earlier known as Újpesti TE and Újpesti Dózsa, is a Hungarian football club, based in Újpest, Budapest. The club's colours are purple and white...
in Budapest. Nevertheless, the team would end the season in 16th place and again face relegation. They would drop as far as the third division before finally returning to the NB I. again after winning the second division in 1987. This would be their final season in NB I. until the next millennium. Besides the first NB I. match between two teams from Somogy county (a 1-3 loss against Siófok FC) the year was mostly forgettable as Rákóczi finished in last place.
The rest of the 80s and 90s were spent entirely in the II. and III. divisions, though not without talent. In 1995 they won the NB III. with a goal difference of 76-11. They continued to be successful in the NB II. László Prukner
László Prukner
László Prukner is a Hungarian football manager and former player, formerly managing Ferencvárosi TC, where he was in charge from 2010 to 2011. Prukner previously managed Kaposvári Rákóczi FC.- Playing career :...
became the head coach in the summer of 2003, but the team lost several key players in the same year. The fans were worried that they would again slide into the III. division.
NB I. Results
Since their formation Kaposvári Rákóczi FC has participated in 8 seasons at Hungary's highest professional level. In that time they're best finish has been 7th place (in both 2006 and 2007) and they've been relegated three times.| Year | MP | W | D | L | GF-GA | Dif. | Pts | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975-76 | 30 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 41-52 | -9 | 24 | 13th place |
| 1976-77 | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 39-45 | -6 | 27 | 14th place |
| 1977-78 | 34 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 32-61 | -29 | 23 | 17th place: Relegated to NB II. |
| 1980-81 | 34 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 34-67 | -33 | 24 | 16th place: Relegated to NB II. |
| 1987-88 | 30 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 25-63 | -38 | 17 | 16th place: Relegated to NB II. |
| 2004-05 | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 34-47 | -13 | 34 | 12th place |
| 2005-06 | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 35-41 | -6 | 37 | 7th place |
| 2006-07 | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 40-36 | +4 | 41 | 7th place |
| 2007-08 | 30 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 48-38 | +10 | 51 | 6th place |
| TOTALS | 282 | 77 | 80 | 125 | 328-450 | -122 | 278 | |
Current squad
Out on loan
Kaposvári Rákóczi FC
| Year | Division | Position |
| 2000–01 | Hungarian National Championship II Hungarian National Championship II NB II is the second tier of Hungarian football. At the end of the 2004/05 season, the tournament format was changed from one division of 14 teams to two divisions: Keleti and Nyugati , each with 16 teams... (II) |
|
| 2001–02 | Hungarian National Championship II | |
| 2002–03 | Hungarian National Championship II | |
| 2003–04 | Hungarian National Championship II | 1st ↑ |
| 2004–05 | Hungarian National Championship I (I) | 12th |
| 2005–06 | Hungarian National Championship I | 7th |
| 2006–07 | Hungarian National Championship I | 7th |
| 2007–08 | Hungarian National Championship I | 6th |
| 2008–09 | Hungarian National Championship I | 9th |
| 2009–10 | Hungarian National Championship I | 12th |
Honours
- Hungarian LeagueHungarian LeagueThe Nemzeti Bajnokság is a Hungarian professional league for association football clubs. The league is currently known as the OTP Bank Liga for sponsorship reasons, and it is the highest level of professional league since its inception in 1901. UEFA currently ranks the league 35th in Europe.Sixteen...
- NB II. Championship (2): 1980, 1987
- NB III. Championship (4): 1960, 1972, 1985, 1995