György Mezey


György Mezey was a Hungarian football player and manager.
Mezey was coach of the [Hungary national association football|football team|Hungary national team] from 1983 to 1986, leading the team to the 1986 FIFA World Cup. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup he was part of FIFA's Technical Study Group.

Career

Mezey was born in Topolya on 7 September 1941. His family moved to Mezőberény in Békés county, and later to Rákoskeresztúr.
In an interview with Nemzeti Sport, Mezey said that Hungary qualified too early for the 1986 FIFA World Cup that resulted in euphoria in Hungary. However, he saw the early signs of the big defeat from the Soviet Union national football team.
One of his former player, Lajos Détári, said in an interview with Nemzeti Sport that Mezey taught the national players a new football system that resulted in huge success in the mid 1980s.
Márton Esterházy said that Mezey was the best coach he ever worked with.

Death

Mezey died in Kápolnásnyék on 8 October 2025, at the age of 84.
His former and other Hungarian clubs also commemorated him after his death, including MTK Budapest FC, Vasas SC, Videoton FC Fehérvár, Budapest Honvéd FC, Újpest FC, Puskás Akadémia FC, and Győri ETO FC. Political figures also posted on their social media saying goodbye to him including András Cser-Palkovics and Viktor Orbán.

Honours

Manager

Budapest Honvéd
Budapesti VSC
MOL Fehérvár

Individual