History of Vasas SC

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Vasas Sport Club is a football club from Budapest, Hungary. They first reached the top Hungarian league, Nemzeti Bajnokság I (NB I), in 1916 and finished 6th in their debut season (1916–17). In the 1920s they were title contenders, finishing 3rd in 1924–25 and again in 1925–26, when they earned 29 points from 22 games under coach Vilmos Kertész (who led them from 1926–1930). They were relegated in 1928–29 and again in 1931–32, returning to the top flight in 1930–31 before dropping again.

After World War II, Béla Guttmann coached Vasas (1945–46). The club won its first Hungarian league title in 1957 and began European play that season. In the 1957–58 European Cup, Vasas beat CSKA Sofia and Young Boys, reached the quarterfinals, and then were eliminated by Real Madrid in the semi-finals, despite a 2–0 win at home.

Vasas became one of Hungary’s most successful clubs in European competition, alongside Győri ETO. They won the NB I title again in 1960–61 and 1961–62, and claimed the 1965 title, followed by an undefeated league season in 1966. In Europe they beat Sporting in 1966–67 before losing to Inter in the second round. They won another league title in 1976–77.

In the 2000s Vasas stayed in the top division and even avoided relegation in 2006 thanks to Ferencváros’ financial troubles. They celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2011 with a friendly against AS Roma. In 2015–16 they secured NB I membership on the last day by beating MTK Budapest 2–0.

The 2016–17 season saw Vasas finish third and reach the 2017–18 Europa League qualifiers, where they were eliminated by Beitar Jerusalem. In 2020–21 they finished third in NB II and were promoted in 2021–22, but were relegated from NB I in May 2023 after a 1–1 draw with Zalaegerszeg. In 2024 the club appointed Zoltán Gera as coach (with Csaba Csizmadia as his assistant) and later Attila Pintér as manager; they reached the Magyar Kupa quarter-finals in 2023–24, losing to Paks. Vasas won their first NB II match of the 2024–25 season on 20 October 2024, defeating Budapesti VSC 2–1.