As is known, we defeated Karcagi SC 5–2 in round 8 of the Merkantil Bank Liga. In addition to the excellent, eventful match, however, we also witnessed a piece of sporting history in the 77th minute, when Tamás Somogyi replaced Ádám Szamosi. Both are academy graduates: the former is 18, the latter just 16 years old. Before Somogyi, only one player had ever made his league debut for the first team at a younger age, and that was a long time ago. Twenty-time Hungary international Rudolf Jeny pulled on the Kispest shirt in March 1917, two days after his 16th birthday, in a 1–1 draw against Fővárosi TK.
Since Monday evening, Tamás Somogyi has followed him in the ranking – ahead of several legends, including his older brother Ádám, who was also still a teenager, just 17, when he made his senior debut on November 25, 2024 (aged 17 years and 2 days, Kisvárda–Budapest Honvéd FC).
„I had been training with the senior team for a while, then the coach told me on Sunday that I would be in the squad” – said Tamás, who learned that he had been included in the first-team squad after returning from youth international duty.
„Obviously there was no guarantee that I would get playing time, and the way the match developed probably played a part, but I was very happy to have the chance to prove myself. I was excited because I had rarely played in a stadium before – and never in front of this many spectators, so there were naturally some nerves” – added Tamás, who was also asked about his brother.
„My brother helped me a great deal, and I would like to thank him very much for that. I kept bombarding him with questions, but he supported me throughout. He told me not to try to show something extraordinary, but to start with simpler things and try to settle into the game. Obviously everyone is focused during the match, but even then he helped me a lot and looked after me. He tried to calm me down and kept checking how I was doing. Alongside him, I would also like to thank the coaching staff working at Honvéd, my previous and current coaches, and my parents for helping me.”
Our 16-year-old talent also came close to scoring on his debut.
„There was a loose ball and I could accelerate onto it. I got into a shooting position between the two defenders, but I felt that with one more move I could create an even better chance. I managed that, but I think I got a little too excited about the shot and it did not come off well. I feel I should have scored from there” – Tamás assessed his own performance self-critically, before also speaking about his future goals.
„I want to train with the first team as much as possible, but I know that for now it will be difficult to earn playing time there. With the second team, however, I want to become a regular starter and a leading player” – Tamás concluded.
HONVÉD'S YOUNGEST PLAYERS
1. Rudolf Jeny 16 years, 2 days
2. Tamás Somogyi 16 years, 40 days
3. Noel Keresztes 16 years, 49 days
4. Roland Vólent 16 years 217 days
5. Ferenc Puskás and Gergely Bobál 16 years 248 days
