István Tóth-Potya

István Tóth-Potya was born as Istvan Tóth and later added Potya to his surname, derived from his childhood nickname “Potyka” (English: carp). He started his football career in 1904 playing for Budapesti TC together with György Hlavay. From 1906-12 he played as a defender for Nemzeti Sport Club (NSC) which was promoted to the top league in 1909. His best position in the championship with NSC was a third place in 1910. As a forward for Ferencvárosi TC in Budapest from 1912-26. During this time he helped them win two Hungarian championships (1913, 1926) and the Hungarian Cup in 1913 and 1922. Tóth-Potya played in 372 matches for FTC including 197 league games. He scored a total of 128 goals including 63 in the league.

In 1909, Tóth-Potya had his début with the national team losing a friendly against England 4-2. Until 1926 he earned a total of 19 caps and scored 8 goals. He was an unused reserve for the 1912 Olympic Games, where the Hungarian team placed fifth as winner of the consolation round.

After his active career he became one of Hungary’s outstanding football coaches of the interwar period. Tóth-Potya initiated the country’s first trainers’ school in the 1920s and introduced a number of methodological innovations into the football training. From 1925-30 he coached the team of Ferencvárosi TC to three consecutive league championships (1926-28), two Hungarian Cup victories (1927, 1928), and one Central European Cup (Mitropa Cup) in 1928. In 1929 he celebrated a legendary victory in Montevideo, when his team defeated the two-time Olympic champion and future world champion Uruguay 3-2. In the next 10 years Tóth-Potya mainly worked in Italy during three stints with Triestina (1930-31, 1934-36, 1938-39) and one year with Inter Milan (1931-32). In between, he worked for Újpesti FC (1932-34) and Elektromos (1937), both in Budapest. With Újpesti he claimed his last league title. His last assignment was in 1943 again for Ferencvárosi TC.

As a reserve officer during World War II, Tóth-Potya became a member of the anti-Fascist resistance organization “Dallam” (English: Melody) and harboured 100s of persecuted people in his house in Budapest. In the winter of 1944/45, he tried to stop the invading German armies by blowing up bridges in Budapest. In December 1944, Tóth-Potya was arrested by the Gestapo and imprisoned. In February 1945, members of the Hungarian Fascist Arrow Cross movement executed him together with Géza Kertész, another former international and coach. His wife was Vilma Julianna Kovács with whom he had one son.