Károly Szittya

Károly Szittya (born Schäfer) began his sports career at the age of 12 in UTE before continuing in Ferencváros from 1948. He swam excellently and in 1940 he was a member of the Újpest river swimming champion team. He was only able to join the polo team after Olivér Halassy retired, but helped his team to the championship title four times.

Szittya played for the national team twenty-one times. He played at the European Championships in Monte Carlo in 1947, where he came fourth, at the Olympics in London in 1948, where he came second, and finally in Helsinki in 1952, where he became Olympic champion. In the latter tournament he was one of the team’s best players during the victory over the defending champions Italy.

After his sports career Szittya also worked successfully as a coach. He worked as the head coach of Gheorghiu Dej Hajógyár from 1954, Budapesti Spartacus from 1962, Budapesti Vasas Izzó from 1963, Újpesti Dózsa from 1965, Ferencváros from 1973, and Szeged University and Oil Miners Athletic Club from 1978 until his death. He won the national championship with Újpesti Dózsa in 1967.