As is known, in February we launched our ‘ONLY KISPEST!’ podcast, taking listeners into the world of Kispest–Honvéd – supporters, footballers, parents of young players, district residents and every sports fan for whom the red-and-black community matters. The programme, in which our technical leaders as well as our footballers provide a glimpse into the club's everyday life, will be released twice a month.
In our first episode we spoke with the players voted our best of November, Dominik Csontos and Zoltán Medgyes. This time, our guests were academy technical director Attila Miskei, and academy director Dr Endre Bajúsz.
Attila Miskei joined our club in December 2024 and Endre Bajúsz in February 2025. Speaking about the club's strategy, our leaders revealed that the aim is for academy-developed players to form the core of the first team within three to five years.
“When we arrived, the owner set out the direction he wanted us to follow, and we were fully able to identify with it. The clear goal is that within three to five years, players trained at the academy should form the core of the senior team. High-quality work had taken place here before as well; it was almost a miracle how the team won the 2016-17 championship. Even then – following the owner's guidance – the club built around the academy, and that proved to be a viable direction” – said Attila Miskei. Regarding the three-to-five-year objective, our technical director explained that developing individual training is crucial during this period.
“Every day offers an opportunity for development, not only for the young players but also for the professionals, and there are many efforts in this direction. We have introduced a number of new programmes in which I involved every specialist area. The most important thing is developing individual training, which does not take place only on the pitch but off it as well. For individual development, we brought in four excellent professionals who can serve as role models. They can correct mistakes and explain the difficulties experienced on the pitch. Individual conversations, video sessions and team training all contribute to helping them become better players. Of course, the goal is not only to produce good footballers, but also to shape them into outstanding people.”
Endre Bajúsz stressed that when they arrived, the academy was going through significant change.
„When we arrived, the academy seemed somewhat without a clear owner. There had been personnel changes, and the first team was going through a long spell of poor results. We arrived in a situation where the professionals working here needed calm and confidence. That happened: the owner provided the sporting direction, and Attila filled it with content. After that we reached the point where we also had the opportunity to develop the infrastructure.”
“The balance between the first team and the academy players is very good"
Our academy's technical director said that six academy players regularly train with the first team, three of whom are permanent, stable members. He added that the more experienced players help the youngsters, while a natural competition for playing time also develops.
“That is club culture, that is football: there is competition, but always fairly. The young player's job is to push the older player, while the older player's task is to train even harder so the youngster does not take his place. Football has worked like this from the very beginning. It probably works well for us because Tomi – head coach Tamás Feczkó – ed. – is able to integrate a community and create a good atmosphere in the dressing room, which is one of his strengths.”
Endre Bajúsz stressed that fulfilling the sports institute's mandatory quotas is not an obstacle either, thanks to the large number of talented players.
“Many people in Hungary talk about the sports institute's mandatory quotas. We can say that we do not even look at them, because we generate so many extra minutes during the season that we do not need to pay attention to this. We have so many good players that the head coach can integrate them with ease.”
“The aim is to develop coaches too”
Attila Miskei stressed that when selecting coaches, the most important thing is choosing professionals based on human values.
“The first and most important thing is human values, and this is also the club's key criterion when selecting coaches. Fortunately, staff turnover is not high and many talented people work here. I would like coaches to have the opportunity to build a career path as well. Whether they are younger or older, I want to know where they see their future. A later goal is to develop coaches based on international models and give them opportunities. Just like the young players, the coaches are highly motivated and determined to progress, even into the staff of a senior team.”
The full episode of the ‘ONLY KISPEST!’ podcast can be watched here:
