György Mezey
György Mezey (7 September 1941 – 8 October 2025) was a Hungarian football player and manager. He was born in Topolya (now Bačka Topola, Serbia) and grew up in Hungary after his family moved to Mezőberény and later to Rákoskeresztúr. Mezey played as a midfielder for several Hungarian clubs in the 1960s and early 1970s, including TFSE, Budafoki MTE, MTK and Budapesti Spartacus.
As a coach, Mezey led many teams and was Hungary’s national team manager from 1983 to 1986, guiding Hungary to the 1986 World Cup. He later worked with clubs in Hungary and abroad, and in 2006 he was part of FIFA’s Technical Study Group at the World Cup. Mezey is remembered for introducing a new football system that helped Hungary achieve success in the mid-1980s. Former players praised him, including Lajos Détári and Márton Esterházy, who called him the best coach he ever worked with.
He died on 8 October 2025 in Kápolnásnyék, Hungary, at the age of 84. His passing was mourned by fans, former clubs, and Hungarian leaders.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:27 (CET).