Hungarian Football: A Socio-historical Overview

This article provides a brief overview of the history of Hungarian football from the beginning to the years of post-Communist transition. In relying on both sport and more general historical Hungarian and English sources, it explores the political, cultural and social conditions that have had an impact on the development of Hungarian football throughout its history. The chief aim of this article is to draw attention to those historical periods and aspects of Hungarian football, which have not been extensively researched. In doing this, the development of Hungarian football will be outlined and links made with broader historical and social processes. Also, an attempt will be made to explain the ways these processes shaped and used football for various political purposes, from as early as the turn of the nineteenth century.