The rivalry between Vasas and Honvéd is much more than a simple football match. The clashes between the two clubs have written important chapters in Hungarian sporting history, full of drama, legendary goals and unforgettable moments.
110 years ago, a match that descended into scandal launched the rivalry between Vasas and Budapest Honvéd, which has remained one of the most storied fixtures in Hungarian football ever since. The 1915 encounter, in which Kispesti AC eventually defeated Vas- és Fémmunkások SC 1–0, was hardly a model of sportsmanship. Two Kispest players were “kicked out of the game”, causing deep outrage among the home crowd. In the tense atmosphere, the hosts secured victory through a goal by Lajos Szűcs, but the events of the match already indicated that meetings between the two sides would never be peaceful kickabouts.
Over the decades that followed, Vasas and Honvéd have played a total of 220 competitive matches against each other in various league and cup competitions, with 180 meetings taking place in the top division. The goalscorers’ list speaks for itself: Ferenc Puskás with 19 and Lajos Tichy with 18 goals lead the Kispest scoring charts, while legendary Vasas forward Gyula Szilágyi I also earned a place on the roll of honour with 17 goals. Kispest have found the Vasas net a total of 301 times.
This happened during the week (November 24 — November 30)
100 years ago:
The Kispesti AC – BEAC league match scheduled for November 29, 1925 was not played. The KAC ground on Sárkány Street was covered by a thick blanket of snow.
50 years ago:
On November 29, 1975, in round 15 of NB I, Bp. Honvéd hosted Kaposvári Rákóczi in front of 3,500 spectators at the Honvéd ground in Kispest. Bp. Honvéd won the match 1–0 through István Weimper’s goal in the 75th minute.
Kispest’s line-up: Gujdár – Páncsics, Kocsis I., Szűcs, Lukács – Pál, Virágh – Morgós (Fehérvári 62.), Weimper, Pintér, Bartos. The team was coached by Dr Károly Lakat.
