Jillian Sakovits is one of the busiest reporters for Major League Soccer on Apple TV, serving as both a studio host and sideline reporter for many of the league’s marquee events, including the MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup. She has also worked on the sidelines for ESPN and FOX’s soccer coverages. In addition, she co-hosts Full Time, the podcast from The Athletic, and serves as a freelance host for the CBS Sports Golazo Network. She also created and hosted Beyond the Stands, a global series highlighting the philanthropic work of MLS players.

Over the years, Jillian has interviewed global stars such as David Beckham, Thomas Müller, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Wayne Rooney, and Tim Howard — and like Howard, she is of Hungarian descent. In an exclusive interview with YankeeFooty, Jillian spoke about her grandfather’s extraordinary life as a Hungarian freedom fighter and her own journey in sports media.

- It is well known that you are of Hungarian descent. Could you tell us more about that?

- I am of Hungarian descent on my father's side. My grandmother and grandfather are from the same village, both were born in Szentpéterfa in western Hungary. But there is a twist in the story: they didn't meet there, but in New York. My grandfather fled communist Hungary for North America in 1949, but my grandmother was already living here at the time. My father was granted asylum in Canada. Shortly after, he learned that there was a community from Szentpéterfa in New York. He wanted to visit them because my grandmother's family had once helped my grandfather's parents when their house burned down. My father thought he would repay this kindness with the money he had earned in Canada. When he went to New York to repay the debt, he met my grandmother. It was destiny. They got married in 1951.

- You mentioned that your grandfather was forced to flee Hungary. Can you tell us a little about his story?

- My grandfather's story is quite incredible. His name was Lajos (Louis) Sakovits, and he was born in Szentpéterfa in 1927 - a town of about 1,000 people. Even as a young man, he fought hard against communist oppression; he was a true freedom fighter. His uncle, Ferenc Harangozó, was a priest and secretary to the famous Cardinal Mindszenty. My father helped his uncle a lot in smuggling political refugees, priests, and people declared enemies of the Soviet Union to Austria. Then one day, the communist secret police noticed their activities. His uncle was arrested, convicted, and sent to a Siberian hard labor camp - where he would survive and serve nine year. He himself, however, escaped thanks to a lucky coincidence: the secret police were looking for him under the name Lajos Harangozó, while his real name was Lajos Sakovits. The secret police went to the town hall to obtain information about his whereabouts. However, my grandfather had a friend at the town hall who warned him of the danger in time. That night, at 17 years old, he slept in a barn, then said goodbye to his mother and set off for the Austrian border. From there, he first traveled to Canada, then to New York. He did not return to Hungary until the 1990s, and he never saw his mother again.

- I saw a post on your Instagram page where you mentioned that your grandfather was involved in the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. Did he ever tell you about it?

- My grandfacther wasn't the type to brag, so he didn't talk about it much. You have to understand that he came to the United States without any professional qualifications, no high school diploma, and no English. He started working in a steel mill in the Bronx. He entered as the lowest-paid employee, and left as the highest. By the time he retired, he was the manager of the steel mill. When the Statue of Liberty was renovated in the 1980s, he participated in the work as a foreman. If you ever go, there is a final, very narrow spiral staircase in the statue's torch. Once, when I was a child, my father took me up there, looked at me and said, "You know, Jillian, your grandfather built this staircase." There is something poetic about the fact that he arrived in America as a Hungarian refugee, without any qualifications or language skills, and then, many years later, he was the foreman on the renovation of one of America's greatest national symbols. A symbol that represented freedom and a new life for many others.

- Have you ever been to Hungary yourself?

- I've been to the country once, in 2010. My grandfather had three siblings, his two brothers also moved to America, but his sister lived her life in Hungary. She had her own family and children. In 2010, I was an exchange student in Spain when my sister and I found my second cousins on Facebook. On a sudden impulse, we decided to visit them. On New Year's Day, my sister and I traveled to Hungary and met them. They had never seen me before and didn't know me at all, yet they were incredibly hospitable to me. My cousins borrowed a car from a friend to pick me up at the airport, and then we stayed at another friend's apartment in Budapest. Everyone wanted to help, everyone wanted us to feel comfortable. Not only my cousins, but their friends too. I was impressed by this kind of Hungarian hospitality, this willingness to help. Then we went to Szentpéterfa, where we experienced even more of this hospitality. There are at most 100 houses in the village, and I think we visited at least a quarter of them. Everyone knew my grandfather and everyone was curious about us. Word quickly spread that Lajos Sakovits' grandchildren were in the village, straight from America. So we went from house to house. Since we don't speak Hungarian, we had no idea what was going on around us. But in every house, we were welcomed with some alcohol and a little cake. By the end, we were almost sick, but we didn't want to refuse them. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

- In terms of sights, what was the most memorable experience for you in Hungary?

- In Budapest, I was captivated by the view of the Danube. Of course, you see it in photos and on TV, but it's completely different in real life. The whole setting, together with the Parliament, was so iconic. In Szentpéterfa, the house where my grandfather grew up meant the most to me.

- Did you learn any Hungarian words or expressions during your stay here?

- My favorite word is "aranyos" (cute). American girls often use the word "cute" when they want to describe something beautiful or interesting. So when my cousins took me to a small bakery or shop in Budapest, I always said how "cute" it was. They took it upon themselves to teach me the Hungarian equivalent. Besides that, "szia" is my other favorite because it's very similar to the English "see you."

- Let's talk about your career. What attracted you to the world of soccer? Was it always your plan to become a sports reporter?

- Let's just say that it was my dream to work in television. But I wouldn't call it a plan, because it seemed so distant and unrealistic. My Hungarian grandfather played a huge role in getting me interested in soccer. Whenever there was a game on TV, he always watched it. And soccer broadcasts were certainly a rarity in the United States at the time. When I was five years old, I started playing soccer myself and loved it. I played until I finished college. But then I gave it up because I felt I needed to find a job. My first real television job was as a production assistant. That might sound exciting at first, but basically I was editing late-night baseball highlights for peanuts. I was still living with my parents at the time. Later, I also worked for a local news station. I tried many things to gain experience and try to find a place in the sports world. Finally, I got the opportunity to appear on camera. And I have to say, I did terribly at first. But my passion for sports and my determination helped me overcome the difficulties, and eventually I felt more and more comfortable in my role. Meanwhile, soccer became increasingly popular and more and more opportunities arose to work in the soccer industry. And I seized them.

- How did you end up working for MLS?

- I started working for Major League Soccer in 2015. The year before that, I was a presenter on a late-night online show for the National Hockey League (NHL). However, the whole project only lasted a year. I was very disappointed when it ended. I started asking around to see if anyone knew of any job opportunities in the world of sports. Someone told me that MLS was worth trying. So I quickly searched for all the recordings of interviews or reports I had done related to soccer. Back in high school, when I was 14, I interviewed the players on the school team, so I dug that up too. I made a compilation video from this small collection and sent it to the league. After that, I spent nearly six months just going to interviews. Then, in October 2015, they called me and said they needed someone in Portland for the final round of the regular season, an event called Decision Day. They asked if I could travel to Oregon to cover the game. It's important to note that this was a decisive match for the Portland Timbers. Depending on the result, they would either make the playoffs or miss out. In the latter case, it was almost certain that the coach, Caleb Porter, would be fired. So the match carried enormous weight. And they sent me, who barely knew any of the players or staff. It's no exaggeration to say they threw me in at the deep end. Fortunately, the Timbers won the match, made it to the playoffs, and went all the way to the final, which they then won. And because MLS liked my performance on Decision Day, they sent me back to Oregon for the playoff matches. So you could say that saving the Timbers paved the way for my MLS career.

- That was the playoff season when the Timbers played Sporting KC in the first game. In that game, Hungarian Krisztián Németh scored a goal against the Timbers…

- Yes, I remember it, it was a crazy game. And in the end, it was decided by a marathon penalty shootout, during which one of the Sporting KC players hit the crossbar twice. It was pure madness, the stands were going wild. I looked around and asked myself... is this what happens at every MLS game?

- During your MLS career, you've interviewed many famous players. You've talked to David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Josef Martinez, Tim Howard, Nani, Landon Donovan, and others. Who was the most pleasant surprise for you, who was the friendliest?

- That's a very good question. It would be difficult to choose. One thing is certain: MLS players, including the biggest stars, know that they need to promote the league and the sport, as it is in their best interest. When I interviewed Zlatan, they had just lost a game. Still, he answered two or three questions, didn't roll his eyes, and didn't treat the whole thing as a burden. It was the same with Nani and Wayne Rooney. I have to say, though, that Zlatan is the most intimidating person to talk to among reporters. Not because he's rude or anything like that. But he never looks you in the eye, he answers while staring into the distance, as if he were in a completely different world, his own world.

As for the more pleasant interviewees, well, I can mention Tim Howard, for example, who is incredibly friendly. I interviewed him in Colorado about how soccer helps him manage the symptoms of his Tourette syndrome. When the interview was published, he wrote a message saying I had done a great job. He wasn't obligated to do so; it was just a nice gesture on his part. Then, a few years later, we were looking for a guest for our podcast, The Call Up. It was a last-minute thing because someone had canceled. I wrote a message to Tim on one of his social media pages to ask if he was available. He replied almost immediately. Unfortunately, he wasn't available, but he took the time to reply and say that he would love to be on the show, but unfortunately he couldn't make it. Then, a few episodes later, he was our guest. The point is, he's a polite and great guy, who also happens to be one of the most well-known and influential figures in American soccer.

- Did you know that Tim's mother is Hungarian?

- Yes. In fact, I even mentioned to him during an interview about Tourette's that I also have Hungarian roots. He is very proud of his heritage and often talks about it.

- And did you have the opportunity to tell Peter Vermes the same thing?

- Yes, but you have to understand that Peter is very professional and only concerned with soccer. So when I told him that I am also of Hungarian descent, he replied, "Wow, that's cool," and then went right back to talking about soccer. But I know that Peter pays close attention to Hungarians and that this kind of family heritage is important to him.

- Have you interviewed any Hungarian MLS players?

- I think I've only spoken to Krisztián Németh once or twice. Dániel Sallói, on the other hand, was our guest on the podcast for a longer conversation, and I've interviewed him several times after matches. I immediately felt that certain "Hungarian connection" with him. I just said "szia" to him and we were immediately on the same wavelength. It's wonderful that people from such a small country can find each other in different parts of the world.

I’ve also had the chance to interview Dániel Gazdag. He’s unbelievably welcoming and friendly. There’s always a certain comfort — and excitement — among the handful of Hungarian players in the league, and Gazdag is no exception. Even though we don’t know each other particularly well, when I interview him for TV, it almost feels like talking to family. There are so few Hungarians here that even being semi-Hungarian — like me — is enough to create that instant bond. I really enjoyed watching Daniel during his years as one of the league’s top goal scorers, and I’m hopeful that with a new coach in Columbus, this could be a fresh start for him and we’ll get to see that version of Gazdag again.

- What do you think is the reason why more and more Hungarian players have chosen to sign with MLS over the past 10 years?

- I think that technological advances have played a part in this. More and more leagues around the world can be watched, and it is possible to explore the players who play there in greater depth. Another factor is that it only takes one person to start such a wave of players. Peter Vermes has excellent connections in Hungary, and he brought Krisztián Németh here, who performed very well. Seeing this, Chicago signed Nikolic, who won the Golden Boot, and then Dániel Sallói arrived. So it always starts with one person…

- When you talk to soccer players, you often touch on their lives beyond professional soccer. For example, there is your earlier documentary series Beyond the Stands, which even won an award at the 41st Telly Awards. What did this show mean to you?

- This series was a real passion project for me. I put my heart and soul into it. Don't get me wrong, I love doing interviews on the sidelines, but this project allowed me to feel like I was contributing in some small way to changing the world. I was able to show how much humanitarian work MLS players do, how many areas they try to make a difference in, how many people they try to help. I was able to draw attention to issues and problems that were very important to me.

- Thanks to the series, you were able to film in several countries. Which episode and which location was the most special for you?

- It would be difficult to choose. We visited a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, which affected me deeply. But we also visited a terribly impoverished region of Honduras that had been completely destroyed by gang wars. However, what had the biggest impact on me was Ghana, where I visited with Jonathan Mensah, the Ghanaian national team defender who was playing for Columbus Crew at the time. Jonathan got married a week before we arrived and skipped his own honeymoon so that we could film the material about the foundation he had set up to help disadvantaged children and orphans in Ghana. Shortly after filming, he had to return to the U.S. for preseason. Instead of spending his honeymoon, he drove us around for a few days with his new wife. It was very special to see how much this meant to him.

- It meant a lot to me that you talked to me and took time for Hungarian MLS fans. What message do you have for our community at YankeeFooty?

- First of all, I want to send everyone a big "szia." And I ask you all to follow me ont he social platforms, so we can stay in touch! You are like a big family to me, and I think about you and Hungary a lot!

Interview by Tamás Kun, author of Jenkifoci.

A magyar bajnoki címvédő Ferencváros kedden jelentette be, hogy Griffin Garnett személyében 19 éves amerikai középhátvédet igazoltak az amerikai harmadosztálynak megfelelő USL League One-ban szereplő Richmond Kickers együttesétől. Garnett 17 kapott profi szerződést az amerikai klubnál, majd nem sokkal később debütált is a Kickers felnőtt csapatában, ahol összesen 56 tétmérkőzésen kapott lehetőséget 4319 játékpercet a pályán töltve.

"Griffin most elsősorban a Ferencváros második csapatában fog szerepelni, de úgy ítéltük meg, hogy olyan potenciállal rendelkezik, ami közép és hosszú távon lehetővé teszi, hogy a felnőtt kerethez is el tudjon érni. Az előttünk álló időszakban intenzíven fogunk dolgozni, hogy közösen a lehető legtöbbet hozzuk ki belőle" – mondta a Fradi sportigazgatója, Hajnal Tamás a fradi.hu-nak.

A transzfer Amerikában is visszhangot kapott: a USL League One-ból ugyanis még sosem értékesítettek olyan drágán egy játékost, mint a most Magyarországra szerződő Garnettet.

„Ez az átigazolás egy az Európa Ligában versenyző történelmi klubhoz bizonyítja a Richmond Kickers és az USL által biztosított lehetőségeket” – mondta Mark Cartwright, az USL sportigazgatója. „Azok a fiatal játékosok, akik jelentős játékidőt kapnak az USL bajnokságaiban, kiérdemlik az európai klubok figyelmét. Örömmel támogattuk a Richmond Kickerst abban, hogy a Griffinbe fektetett befektetésük rekordösszegű átigazolási díjjal legyen elismerve.”

A Kickers elnöke és vezérigazgatója, Rob Ukrop így nyilatkozott:

„Nagyon örülünk Griffinnak, hogy a következő lépést megteheti a karrierjében a Ferencvárosnál. Az ő fejlődési íve az akadémiától a profi csapatig, majd az U20-as válogatott kerettagságig jól illusztrálja azt, hogy ilyen milyen jövőt képzelünk el a fiatal játékosaink számára itt Richmondban. Hiányozni fog Griffin, de alig várjuk, hogy szurkoljunk neki, miközben új csapatával európai sikerekért küzd."

Hogy jobban megismerjük az amerikai tehetséget, megkerestem Militár Ivánt, a Richmond Kickers utánpótlás-bázisának számító Richmond United akadémiai igazgatóját, hogy mutassa be a Jenkifoci olvasóinak az richmondi születésű amerikai hátvédet.

"Mindig azt szoktam mondani, hogy az életemnek két teljesen különálló dimenziója van: az egyik az amerikai életem, a mindennapi valóság. Illetve a magyarországi kapcsolódási pontjaim, a családom, a barátaim, a sportmédia világa, és a kapcsolattartás a futballszakmai ismerősökkel. Griffin ferencvárosi átigazolása a két világot most összekötötte, ez először történt meg velem." - kezdte mondandóját a szegedi gyökerekkel rendelkező futballszakember.

"Griffin a játékosom volt U16-os évében, majd nem sokkal később profi labdarúgóvá vált az amerikai harmadosztályban (USL League One) szereplő Richmond Kickers-nél. A télen a helyi elitjátékosoknak tartottunk mini tábort, ahova elhívtam Griffint és más korábbi játékosaimat is, például Nick Simmondsot, aki Griffin csapattársa volt anno, most pedig az MLS SuperDraft harmadik kiválasztottja lett." - idézte fel Militár.

"Ebben a táborban ott beszélgettem Griffinnel és akkor említette a ferencvárosi lehetőséget. Fontos tudni, hogy nekem ehhez a transzferhez semmi közöm, bár legalább húsz üzenetet kaptam erre vonatkozóan... Viszont Griffin játékosügynökének olyan kapcsolatai voltak Magyarországon, ami lehetővé tette, hogy az ifjú hátvéd Ferencvárosnál képbe kerüljön. Éppen a Fradinál, ahol volt már amerikai játékos Henry Wingo személyében is."

"Összességében azt várom, hogy Griffin bebizonyítsa, hogy a USL kontextusa mostanra európai szemmel is értelmezhetővé nívót üt meg. A jelenlegi szemléletet jól illusztrálja, hogy Griffinnek próbajátékon kellett bizonyítania, pedig lejátszott már negyvenvalahány profi meccset a Kickersben... A USL és főleg a USL League One imázsa szempontjából különösen fontos lehet ez a transzfer. Ennek az ügynek az előrevitelében Griffinnek nagy felelőssége lesz." - zárta gondolatait Militár, majd rátért a futballista szakmai profiljának bemutatására.

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Játékosprofil – Griffin Garnett

Kor: 19 éves
Pozíció: Bel­ső védő / védekező középpályás (képes mindkét szerepkörben játszani)
Korábbi klub: Richmond Kickers (USL League One)
Új klub: Ferencváros NB3
Bajnoki mérkőzések a Kickersnél: 42+ mérkőzés, 37 kezdő szereplés

Védekezés

• Okos, a játék olvasásában erős – helyezkedése átlagon felüli, taktikai értelemben intelligens.
• Anticipáció és gyors reakciók jellemzik labda nélküli játékát
• Fizikális kicsit lemaradott, későn érő alkat; nem a “kemény, erőből belső védő” típus jelenleg, de a magassága megvan hozzá.
• Fejlődési potenciál: Amint erősödik fizikálisan, képes lesz testi dominanciára is, ami kulcs a NB3-ban és felett is.

Összességében egy intelligens, játékolvasásban kiemelkedő, kiváló védekező játékos, akinél a fizikai fejlesztés lehet a következő legnagyobb előrelépés.

Labdabirtoklás és játéképítés

• Labdabiztosság: Technikailag átlag feletti, kifejezetten a pass and move szituációkban, de nyugodtan játszik pozíciós játékhelyzetekben is, ami nagy érték a belső védőknél.
• Profil: Valójában sok szempontból védekező középpályás profilra emlékeztet, de magassága és a fizikális kategóriában mérhető potenciál miatt eddig belső védőként szerepelt a profik között – nálam, utánpótlásban hatos szerepkörben volt.
• Előny: A labdabirtoklása, passzolási készsége és döntéshozatali képessége miatt könnyen építhet játékot hátulról vagy középpályáról egyaránt.

Erősségek

Játékintelligencia és pozíciós játék
Labdabirtoklás és labdabiztosság
Passzpontosság és döntéshozatal védőként
Gyors fejlődési ív fiatal kora ellenére

Potenciál

A legnagyobb potenciál Griffin Garnett esetében abban rejlik, hogy ha fizikailag megerősödik, akkor egy:

labdaügyes
intelligens
több poszton is használható

...futballistává válhat, aki bel­ső védőként és hatos (védekező középpályás) szerepkörben is dominálhat.

Ez a kombináció ritka és keresett a modern futballban, különösen olyan játékelképzelésben, ahol a labdakihozatal és pozíciós játék kulcsfontosságú.

Az elemzést késztítette:
Militár Iván, a Richmond United akadémiai igazgatója. 

According to Tom Bogert of Athletic, Inter Miami will soon announce the signing of  18-year-old Dániel Pintér as a homegrown player. The official announcement is still pending and is expected early next week. I also wrote about the start of negotiations on YankeeFooty (a.k.a. Jenkifoci) at the end of December. Now, in light of recent developments, it is worth recalling the highlights of my previous interviews with this talented youngster.

I first had the opportunity to interview the young forward in the summer of 2023. At that time, he was considered one of the brightest talents at Inter Miami's academy, having won the MLS Youth Championship in the U15 age group a year earlier. He contributed to the success with 31 goals and 10 assists.

Pintér mainly operates as an attacker, mostly on the wing, usually on the left side. However, he can be deployed anywhere on the attacking line. He is mainly left-footed, a creative player, with excellent positioning and active in attacking combinations, with a high football IQ. Overall, he is a truly promising attacker with great potential.

In 2023, he was called up to both the American and Hungarian youth national teams. Shortly afterwards, Lionel Messi announced that he would continue his career at Inter Miami. Pintér had this to say about the arrival of the World Cup-winner superstar:

"When I first heard that Messi was signing with us, I thought it was a joke. It's amazing that a player I admired on TV as a kid is now playing for our team. I think his arrival will give American soccer a huge boost. I'm sure that many more people will pay attention to MLS and realize that the players here should be taken seriously. And Messi's arrival will probably attract even more stars to America," said Pintér.

By then, the young talent had already completed several training sessions with the senior team, as the club's youth development coaches had recognized his talent early on. I asked him if he saw a chance to one day make his debut for Inter Miami's MLS team. At the time, he said the following:

"Yes, I can do it. Of course, I still have a lot of work to do, but I feel it's an achievable goal. It would be a fantastic feeling to pass the ball to Messi, to be on the field with such a role model. The fact that he's signing with us will only motivate me even more to do everything I can to make my debut," said Pintér, adding: "I still need to get stronger physically and, above all, prepare myself mentally for professional life, because it's a big challenge mentally. Technically, I feel mature, my coaches praise my passing a lot, and I think I have good vision on the pitch. In addition, I usually make good decisions inside the box. Perhaps these are my greatest strengths." - Pintér said back in 2023.

After that, Pintér continued to develop rapidly. In 2024 he won the prestigious international youth tournament, the Generation Adidas Cup's Premier Division with Inter Miami's U17 team. He was the captain of the team. In March 2024, he was named Inter Miami's Youth Player of the Month after scoring on his debut (as an amateur player) in the reserve team in the MLS Next Pro. Since then, he has signed a professional contract with Inter Miami II, scoring 9 goals and providing 3 assists in 17 games. He has averaged 0.77 goals per 90 minutes.

Then came the next step: in the fall of 2025, the MLS-team loaned him from Inter Miami II for a few games, and in September 2024, he made his debut in the first team alongside Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Rodrigo De Paul, and Sergio Busquets in an away game against Charlotte. He came on as a substitute in the 70th minute of the match. This made him the first player of Hungarian descent to play alongside Lionel Messi.

Javier Mascherano told Pintér the day before the match that he was expected to play in the MLS match against Charlotte:

"Mascherano told me personally after training on the day before the trip that I would be included in the match squad. The coaches praised me several times during training, so I felt that it was in the air," said Pintér, who added that he wasn't too worried about his debut and felt ready for the task. "I wasn't too nervous, as I've worked really hard over the past few years for this opportunity. I felt ready for this moment. It made things easier for me that the playing system and tactics are very similar to what we use in the reserve team. However, everything is much faster, much more dynamic, and you have to run a lot more.

The young striker revealed that Miami's veteran world stars helped him a lot to make his transition smooth:

"Suarez helped me a lot during training. He gave me little tips, such as how to attack open spaces when I break into the box. During the match, Busquets and Jordi Alba also gave me some advice."

Pintér added that he has a good friend on the senior team in the form of 18-year-old American youth international Santi Morales, who has also helped him a lot in recent days. Returning to the world stars of Miami, the Florida-born Hungarian striker said that Messi and his teammates are on another level even in training.

"Even in training, they make good decisions in an amazingly short time, even when they don't have the ball, they are already thinking several steps ahead. They see almost every game situation extremely quickly and react appropriately."

Pintér also spoke highly of the standard of MLS - and Charlotte FC in particular - after his first game:

"The pace of MLS is incredibly fast, and compared to MLS Next Pro, there was a lot of running. On top of that, I had to make my debut against a particularly strong opponent. Charlotte is a very good team, representing a completely different level than the teams I've had the opportunity to play against in my career so far."

Miami lost the match 3-0, but after the final whistle, almost all of his teammates, even Lionel Messi, congratulated Pintér on his debut.

"Messi also praised me for my debut, which made me very happy, but of course the mood wasn't that festive. We lost, and everyone in this team always wants to win," - said the 18-year-old striker.

The young striker receives some "Hungarian assistance" in Florida to help him achieve his goals: György Cséke, a former Hungarian top-flight player, helps him develop through individual training sessions. The pair have been working together for many years. Cséke - who played for firt division teams like Honvéd and Nyíregyháza in Hungary - settled in Florida a few years ago, where he is involved in individual player development and training. In response to a question from YankeeFooty, he also assessed Pintér's progress to date and the milestone he has now reached:

"It was definitely time for his debut, there was a lot of hard work behind it and Dani totally deserved it. This is a huge thing. We've been working together since 2019, and right from the start, my colleagues and I knew that this guy had serious potential." - said Cséke. "I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate his parents on his debut, who have created a wonderful supportive environment for Dani. At the same time, I would like to thank them for the boundless trust they have placed in us from the very beginning. I would also like to highlight two of my colleagues, Bence Házi and László Dajka, who also put in a lot of hard work to make this moment happen. Dani was one of our first clients, one of the first young talents we trained. He practically grew up before our eyes, so yesterday was very emotional for us. Our credo is to create value. We want to educate valuable people we can be proud of. Dani means a lot to us not because he wears the Inter Miami jersey alongside Messi, but because of the person he has become. He is a decent, good guy who works hard for success."

Pintér is a player with dual American-Hungarian citizenship, and he has recently worn the jerseys of both national teams, so the question arises as to which country's jersey he will wear in the long term. In response, György Cséke said that the young talent is currently receiving a great deal of respect and attention from the US national team, so at the moment, it is most likely that he will wear the US U19 national team jersey in the coming period.

"We don't know what the future holds beyond that..." he added.

As a former Hungarian first division player, Cséke has extensive connections in Hungary, raising the question of whether he has already brought the young talent to the attention of the Hungarian Football Association. In response, he said the following:

"In October 2021, I sent all the information I had about Dani to Dr. Róbert Barczi, the sports director of the Hungarian Football Association. I already indicated at that time that this was a player with serious potential. I gave him all the data, information, and personal observations, emphasizing how talented he is. That was all I could do on my part. How seriously the association took this and what it did to convince the player to join the Hungarian national team is something you will have to ask them. We now have to focus on the tasks ahead of us, such as the next training day, where we will continue to work with Dániel to help him achieve his goals."

 [Interview by: Tamás Kun, author of Jenkifoci]

10 years ago, Krisztián Németh, former U19 European Championship bronze medalist and U20 World Cup bronze medalist, signed with Major League Soccer with the intention of giving his career a new boost. He was so successful that he won the US Open Cup in his first year and scored the MLS Goal of The Year, and later participating at the European Championship at the senior level. After a spectacular first MLS season, he somewhat unexpectedly signed a contract in the Middle East, but that was not the end of his American dream. In 2017, he returned to MLS, where five years ago, wearing the Columbus Crew jersey, he lifted the MLS Cup trophy. The only Hungarian champion in MLS history, the current MTK Budapest striker recalled his American career in an exclusive interview with YankeeFooty.

- Looking back after many years, how do you feel about when you first arrived in MLS in 2015? What was the biggest culture shock when you arrived?

- István Urbányi, my compatriot who played in the MLS in the 1990s, told me a lot about the league long before I signed here. He specifically recommended it to me. Later, when he was working at the Sporting Kansas City academy, he recommended me to head coach Peter Vermes. Vermes trusted Urbányi's advice because they had known each other for a long time, having been teammates at the club in my Hungarian hometown of Győr. So Urbányi played a big role in launching my MLS career. He gave me a lot of information in advance, but there were still things that were difficult to get used to. For example, there are many different time zones within the country, as well as different climates, which I had to adapt to quickly from one game to the next. One day you're playing in the Texas heat, the next day you're up north in Vancouver or the Rocky Mountains. And speaking of travel, the many flights were also a challenge. At that time, we still traveled on regular commercial flights, and I often had to squeeze myself into the middle of the row. This improved later on, as we were given better seats on the planes, and then came the charter jets. At first, we only had the opportunity to use them a few times, but now the players can fly on them to almost every game. Another challenge was being so far away from my family, and the time difference made it difficult to communicate with them and my friends.

- From a sporting perspective, what was the biggest difference compared to Europe?

- The positive attitude that was present everywhere. I received such energy and encouragement from the fans out there, which is something you rarely experience anywhere else. Even after a bad game, they didn't boo us, they supported us throughout and stood by the team. It was a great experience.

- Was there anything in which MLS was ahead of European soccer back in 2015?

- The infrastructure wasn't bad. For example, the stadiums and training centers were easily on par with those of my former Greek team, Olympiacos. In fact, MLS was even ahead of the Dutch league in terms of conditions. Okay, I'm not talking about Ajax or PSV, but even my former team, Roda, was already outclassed by Sporting Kansas City in terms of infrastructure and club structure. I should add that SKC was a model club in the US at the time, and the conscious development carried out in Kansas City under the leadership of Peter Vermes was on a par with European standards.

- How were you received when you first arrived at Sporting Kansas City? How enthusiastic or confident were they?

- The environment was very welcoming. Of course, I have Peter to thank for that. Many people know that he is of Hungarian descent, so even back then, the club staff and fans had a positive view of Hungarians

.

Am I right in saying that you found a real home at Sporting Kansas City?

I had the best period of my entire career there. Interestingly, I played there as a winger, which is not my natural position. Peter Vermes was the first person to see my potential in that position. Thanks to that, I was able to play for the national team in a European Championship and was an important player in the qualifiers as well. I really enjoyed playing as a winger facing the goal, not with my back to it. I was able to develop much better, I had a greater influence on the game, and my individual skills were more effective. In addition, the whole team was very good around me. If we hadn't had such terrible luck against Portland in the playoffs, I think we would have won the championship. It was a crazy game. I scored our second goal, and the final score was 2-2, so it went to penalties. After my goal, I felt pain in my leg and asked to be substituted. In hindsight, I really regret that, as it would have been good to be on the field for the penalty shootout. But even so, the guys almost pulled it off, we could have advanced twice, but one of our decisive penalties hit both posts and went wide.

- Then Portland went all the way to MLS Cup, which they won...

- Yes, and if we look at all the teams, I think Portland and maybe Seattle were the best teams besides us. If we had gotten past Portland, I think we would have made it to the MLS Cup.

- But you also have fond memories of Portland. It was recently the 10th anniversary of you receiving the MLS Goal of the Year award for the goal you scored against them in the regular season. It was a spectacular solo effort

- There's an interesting story behind that goal. We had just won the US Open Cup and there was a big celebration afterwards, so we weren't exactly fresh. I started the game on the bench. Vermes knew I was coming home to join the national team and he took that also into account. Then he subbed me in during the second half. I was full of confidence because of the cup success, and I was playing as a striker rather than on the wing, which was unusual for me. Then that particular situation arose, and I started running toward the goal from the halfway line...

- How conscious and how instinctive was that goal?

- It was completely instinctive. It's like you get into a "flow," the defenders come at you and you just do what comes naturally. Then suddenly I find myself with the ball in the net and my teammates are clebrating with me.

- What did you feel when you found out that this goal had been voted the best goal of the season?

- I didn't even know there was such an award at the time, my teammates told me it would definitely be "Goal of the Year." Everyone has moments in their career that they will remember forever. This goal is one of those moments for me…

- Peter Vermes played a big part in making 2015 such a memorable season for you. Tell us a little about him! What kind of coach is he on a day-to-day basis?

- He always stands up for his players, but he has a system that he believes in very strongly. And that system comes before everything else. This particular tactical approach worked very well for SKC at the time. The results proved that his approach was the right one. I was able to benefit from this, as I was placed in a system that was in line with my strengths. Peter is a person with such a strong charisma and such a decisive confidence that he inspires the players. This is what helped me to be successful.

- Many people describe him as strict, stubborn, and tough coach...

- That's true, but we Hungarian players always joked among ourselves that if you wanted to get something done with Peter, you had to speak to him in Hungarian. Because when you communicate with him in English, he has a very strong charisma, but when he hears Hungarian, his American assertiveness disappears and you get a completely different Peter. That's when his Hungarian roots come out and his Hungarian heart softens.

- When you signed with the Qatari team Al-Gharafa in 2016, many people were surprised by your decision because it seemed that you had finally found your place in the United States where you could thrive. Can you tell us what motivated you to make the change?

- No one expected me to have such a good season in 2015. My salary did not reflect the status I had earned for myself on the team with my performance. When I signed with Sporting KC, we agreed that we would sit down again after my first season and discuss my contract. However, the salary cap in MLS made negotiations difficult. If you have a valid contract, the club has some leeway, but it's not easy to suddenly make you a "designated player." And if you don't fall into that category, they can only raise your salary to a certain extent because that's what the salary cap allows. It was a stalemate. And that was the moment when Sporting KC received a phone call from Qatar offering the club several million dollars for me. This was extremely tempting for SKC as well. I would have been happy to stay in America for a slightly higher salary, but SKC was not willing to give me that. In fact, I felt pressure to accept the Qatari offer because it was extremely lucrative for the club.

- You ended up spending a year and a half in Qatar. Then you returned to MLS, to New England Revolution. How different was your second "American era"?

- Looking back, I can say that New England wasn't the ideal choice...neither the team's playing system nor the city itself suited me, but at least I was back in MLS. However, it was a completely different league from the one I had left a year and a half earlier. The league had become much stronger.

- What do you mean by "the league was much stronger"? In what ways did you feel the difference?

In almost every way. The standard was much higher in both matches and training sessions. I was surrounded by much better players. The conditions were also much more professional, whether it was the infrastructure or traveling to away games. But that didn't come as a surprise to me. When I first signed with Kansas City in 2015, Peter Vermes outlined the league's five-year plan for me, which is aligned with the TV contract and the collective bargaining agreement with the players. This five-year plan sets out various milestones that need to be achieved. And these ideas have been implemented to the letter. No one in Hungary was aware of this at the time. When I signed with MLS, many people in Hungary began to write off my career, saying that I was signing with a "retirement league". But at the time, they outlined exactly how this league would develop. It was great to see and experience all of this come to fruition.

- When you returned to MLS, you worked with Brad Friedel at New England, who was just starting his coaching career at the time. Many people in Hungary are familiar with the former iconic goalkeeper of Tottenham and the Premier League. What was he like as a coach?

- Back then, I was signed by Jay Heaps, who was dismissed shortly afterwards. Then the new season came and Friedel arrived. As a person, I can only say the best things about him, I had a very good personal relationship with him. But as a player, I wasn't his type, that's just how it is. He mainly focused on physical play. His training sessions were so tough that I lost weight to an unhealthy extent. This kind of power football doesn't suit my game at all. I couldn't perform at a high level at New England, there's no point in sugarcoating it. But then Peter (Vermes) came along and saved my career... for the second time.

- Peter Vermes brought you back to Kansas City in August 2018. Did Sporting Kansas City change a lot during your absence, just like the league did?

- The difference was huge. We got a state-of-the-art training center. The roster also got a lot stronger. It was harder to make the team because there were much tougher rivals around.

- How would you rate your second stint in Kansas?

- It didn't go as well as it could have. I had a really good six months, scoring goals in both MLS and the CONCACAF Champions League. But I had a lingering injury that I didn't talk about at the time. I had a groin injury, which I later had surgery for. It had a significant impact on my performance at the time, and I couldn't get the most out of myself.

- This period was also memorable because Sporting KC had three Hungarian players at the same time. Alongside you, Dániel Sallói and Botond Baráth also played regularly for the team. How do you remember the everyday life of the little "Hungarian colony"?

- I think we worked well together, there was a brotherhood between us. But at the same time, we were careful not to form a separate clique in the locker room, all three of us were on good terms with the whole team. Unfortunately, we didn't manage to achieve anything memorable on the field, as we didn't make it to the playoffs. That's why I feel a bit disappointed.

- Your last MLS club was Columbus Crew. Shortly before your arrival, the team escaped relocation, largely thanks to the incredible solidarity of its fans. How much did you feel this unparalleled fan passion?

- The Crew fans are truly incredible, but to be honest, I had similar feelings in Kansas City. The SKC and the Crew are two teams where the fans really are the 12th player. I should add that I played for Columbus during COVID, so we couldn't have sold-out games and had much less direct interaction with the fans. But of course, I was aware of the team's rich history and what the local fanatics had done to keep the team alive. That carries a lot of weight there. You can feel this atmosphe, even when the stands aren't full. The Columbus fan base has a history, and it's an honor to play in front of them.

- With Columbus, you became the first – and so far only – Hungarian champion in MLS history. Although you didn't play in the MLS Cup final, you scored a crucial goal in the penultimate round of the regular season, which ultimately secured home field advantage in the playoffs. Overall, what did this championship title mean to you?

- There have been many ups and downs throughout my career, with beautiful high points and disappointing moments. I see the MLS Cup title as a kind of gift. Obviously, I contributed to the success, but at times like this, I always think that I could have joined this team much earlier, as they had contacted me several times in previous years, but somehow the transfer never went through. Anyway, for some reason, it turned out that I only got half a year at the club. So, overall, I see this championship title as the icing on the cake of my American career. Obviously, I wasn't the one of the star players in those six months, but overall, I'm very proud to have this beautiful championship ring.

- As far as I know you still follow MLS today. How would you describe the progress that has been made in the 10 years since you joined in 2015?

- The improvement in standards since then has been staggering, whether in terms of conditions, travel, stadiums, training centers... Over the next 10 years, some very high level players will sign here to continue their development. And players with world-class potential will emerge from this league. MLS is no longer a "retirement league". North America is now a serious recruitment base for the top European leagues. No one can deny this. I think the next step will be that more and more top players will want to sign here in their prime years. That's the next milestone. The prime example of this is Sergio Reguilón, who recently signed with Inter Miami. In the coming years, after the top European leagues, MLS could be the biggest market for the top players.

- So you think this is entirely realistic?

-    Absolutely. But of course, it depends on what they do with the salary cap and the number of desiganted players. But TV companies and fans are also insisting that the time has come for MLS to move to a new level. Of course, we know that salary caps and strict economic regulations are fundamental to all American sports, so the question is how they will be able to change this deeply rooted sports culture.

- In MLS, you played against star players such as Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Carlos Vela, Sebastian Giovinco, Andrea Pirlo, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miguel Almirón, Robbie Keane, Clint Dempsey, Josef Martínez, and Tim Howard. Who was the most exciting opponent to play against, and who proved to be the most difficult?

- Because of my years at Liverpool Academy, it was a great experience to play against Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane. It was also a great experience to compete against Andrea Pirlo. But the best of them all was Sebastian Giovinco at Toronto. I think what he did in the MLS was amazing.

Zlatan was also an interesting character. He scored an incredible number of beautiful goals, but at the same time he pretty much walked through the game. But that's just the kind of person he is, and he has a special aura that people either love or hate. You can see that in interviews, and you could feel it on the pitch too. But he's a bit like Cristiano Ronaldo, who I was also lucky enough to play against during my career: both of them are worth watching even when they don't have the ball. But overall, it can be said that almost all the stars took MLS very seriously and contributed to the development of the league. These legends didn't just come to collect their big paychecks, they really tried to give their best. Their attitude was exemplary without exception. And even so, one or two of them still struggled.

- But I think these stars were able to reach the top of the soccer world precisely because they have a mentality that takes every single game and every single training session seriously, no matter where they are in the world.

- That's right. But this was a common thing in MLS, every player was like that. What struck me very quickly was that the players here are incredibly conscious and professional. They took themselves very seriously, whether it was proper nutrition, sleep, or similar daily routines. This attitude is now present in Europe as well, but that wasn't the case back then. I could mention planning for life after soccer as an example. The MLS was also a pioneer in this area: the league supports players' higher education and offers financial advisory programs, for example. It was good to experience this. I also learned in the MLS how to manage my finances and think about my life after soccer.

- We talked about famous opponents, but you also played alongside excellent USMNT players such as Benny Feilhaber, Gianluca Busio, Aiden Morris, Darlington Nagbe, Matt Turner, and the then young Sebastian Berhalter. Who do you consider the best player among them?

- I would definitely mention Benny from Sporting KC, who didn't play in the Bundesliga by accident. But the one with the best skills by far is Nagbe. It's unbelievable that he didn't play in Europe. He could have performed at a very high level practically anywhere in the world. Anyone who knows him knows what a tremendous work ethic he has. He brings a balance to the team that very few players in Europe are capable of. He was also incredibly confident on the ball; when he had it, there was no chance for the opponent to get it back. I can say without exaggeration that he was easily a Premier League-level player.

- And he wasn't the only one. In recent years, the league has produced players such as Thiago Almada, Taty Castellanos, Tyler Adams, Alphonso Davies, Diego Gómez, Tanner Tessmann, Ricardo Pepi, and Cucho Hernandez for Europe's top leagues. Based on this list, where would you place MLS in the ranking of world soccer leagues and in the global soccer market?

- As I mentioned, this is no longer an easy league. It is much more of a strong springboard to Europe's top leagues. It is a great opportunity for young players who are not yet ready for a top league but want to reach that level. Because, as the examples listed above show, after a couple of good MLS seasons, a European club will come knocking on their door.

- If we translate this into a European context, does this mean the level of the Dutch or Belgian leagues? Is MLS equivalent to them?

- I think it's stronger than that. The designated players alone raise this league above the Belgian or the Dutch league. In terms of quality, I would currently place MLS directly behind the top five European leagues.

- Since we mentioned the USMNT players earlier... In 2026, the United States will co-host the World Cup with Mexico and Canada. What are your expectations for the World Cup?

- After the last World Cup in the US, there was a huge boom in the popularity of soccer, and I expect the same thing to happen this time. With Messi's arrival, the signs of this ’soccer boom’ are already beginning to show, but the real breakthrough is expected during and after the World Cup. The combination of Messi and the World Cup will open previously impenetrable doors and attract countless children to the world of soccer. Now the US has the infrastructure to absorb this flood of talent. This wasn't the case after the 1994 World Cup, so I'm expecting an even bigger breakthrough this time around. I believe that American soccer will produce many more star players.

- What do you expect from the US team at the World Cup?

- I thnk they have a couple of holes in their lineup. If they can fill those positions before the World Cup starts, they could go far. I think they're fine on the offensive front thanks to Folarin Balogun, who plays great for Monaco and the national team. I could also mention Ricardo Pepi from PSV. But I feel the US team is a little shaky at the back. If they can solve this problem, they could go far. But if not, they'll be out quickly. I think they'll advance from the group stage, but from then on it'll depend on the draw. If they face a stronger team, I think they will struggle, as their defensive weaknesses will prevent them from causing any surprises.

- Who do you consider to be the best American players right now?

- Christian Pulisic is clearly the best, and Balogun is also very promising. I think Tyler Adams is a good player too. McKennie is a bit inconsistent for me. He has some good moments, but Adams and Pulisic are on another level. Then there's Antonee Robinson, who plays at a very high level in the Premier League week in, week out. But I think this team is lacking in the center back position, and there are also serious question marks in the goalkeeper position. I think this is cause for serious concern.

- Can Mauricio Pochettino's personality and professional expertise overcome these problems?

- He is a world-class, top coach. I am familiar with his working style because Brad Friedel also came out of the Pochettino school. Based on this, I believe that Pochettino will get the most out of this team. We'll see how far that takes them. I hope they make it to at least the round of 16, but we'll see.

- Let's end our conversation by looking ahead to the future. Soon, you will inevitably have to hang up your boots. After your playing career, do you have any plans to return to America and work in the world of MLS?

- I have that ambition. I would like to be a link between America and Europe. What position or role I will be able to do that in is still to be seen...

 [Interview by: Tamás Kun, author of Jenkifoci]

Az egykori U19-es EB-bronzérmes és U20-as VB-bronzérmes Németh Krisztián tíz évvel ezelőtt azzal a szándékkal igazolt a Major League Soccerbe, hogy új lendületet adjon karrierjének. Ez olyannyira jól sikerült, hogy első évében US Open-kupagyőztes lett és a szezon legszebb találatát szerezte, később pedig felnőtt Európa-bajnokságon is részt vett. Parádés első MLS-szezonja után némileg váratlanul a Közel-Keletre szerződött, de az amerikai álom ezzel nem ért véget. 2017-ben visszatért az észak-amerikai profi ligába, ahol öt évvel ezelőtt, a Columbus Crew mezében a bajnoki serleget is magasba emelhette. Az MLS történetének egyetlen magyar bajnoka, az MTK jelenlegi csatára a Jenkifocinak adott exkluzív interjúban emlékezett vissza amerikai pályafutására. 

Sok év távlatából miként tekintesz vissza arra, amikor először, 2015-ben megérkeztél Amerikába és az MLS-be? Mi jelentette a legnagyobb kultúrsokkot amikor megérkeztél?

Az MLS-ben egykor játékosként is megforduló Urbányi István már az Amerikába igazolásom előtt is sokat mesélt nekem a bajnokságról, kifejezetten ajánlotta nekem ezt a ligát. Neki klomoly szerepe van abban, hogy az MLS-ben kötöttem ki, hiszen a Sporting Kansas City akadémiáján dolgozott, amikor beajánlott Peter Vermes vezetőedzőnek. Szóval Urbányi jó előre beavatott sok mindenbe, de azért voltak dolgok, amit nehéz volt megszokni. Ott van például az országon belül rengeteg eltérő időzóna, valamint a különböző éghajlatok, amihez gyorsan alkalmazkodni kellett egyik meccsről a másikra. Egyik nap még a texasi hőségben játszol, másik nap már északra Vancouverbe, vagy a Sziklás-hegységbe. És ha már az utazás: a sok repülőút is kihívást jelentett. Abban az időben még sima kereskedelmi járatokkal utaztunk, nem egyszer a sor közepén kellett meghúznom magam. Ez aztán később fejlődött, egyre jobb helyeket biztosítottak nekünk a repülőkön, aztán jöttek a magángépek. Először csak néhány alkalommal volt lehetőség az igénybe vételére, most meg már majdnem minden meccsre azzal mehetnek a játékosok. Aztán emellett még kihívást jelentett az is, hogy ilyen messze voltam a családomtól és a nagy időeltolódás miatt a velük és a barátokkal való kommunikációt is kihívás volt megoldani.

Sportszakmailag mi volt a legnagyobb különbség Európához képest?

 A pozitivitás, ami az egész közeget jellemezte. Olyan energiát és biztatást kaptam odakinn a szurkolóktól, amit nagyon kevés helyen lehet megtapasztalni. Még egy rosszabb meccs után sem szidalmaztak, végig támogattak és a csapat mellett álltak. Ezt nagyon jó volt átélni.

Volt olyan dolog, amiben már akkor, 2015-ben előrébb járt az MLS az európai labdarúgáshoz képest?

Az infrastruktúra nem volt rossz. Teszem azt, az Olimpiakosszal például bőven felvették a versenyt a stadionok és az edzőközpontok. Sőt, még a holland bajnokságnál is előrébb járt az MLS a körülményeket illetően. Jó, nem az Ajax-ra vagy PSV-re gondolok, de egykori csapatomnál, a Rodánál már akkor előrébb járt a Sporting Kansas City az infrastruktúrát és a klub felépítését illetően is. Hozzáteszem, az SKC akkoriban egy mintaklub volt Amerikában, az a tudatos építkezés, amit Peter Vermes vezetésével véghez vittek Kansas City-ben, az európai szintű volt.

Milyen volt a fogadtatásod, amikor először megérkeztél a Sporting Kansas City-hez? Mennyire lelkesen, vagy bizakodva fogadtak?

 Befogadó volt a közeg. Ezt persze Peternek is köszönhetem. Sokan tudják róla, hogy magyar származású, ezért már akkoriban pozitívan tekintettek a klubnál dolgozók és a szurkolók a magyarokra.

Nem tévedek, ha azt mondom, hogy a Sporting Kansas City-nél igazi otthonra leltél?

Egész pályafutásom legjobb korszakát ott éltem meg. Méghozzá érdekes módon szélsőként, ami elvileg nem is az én posztom. Először Peter Vermes volt az, aki ott látta meg bennem a potenciált. Ennek köszönhető az, hogy aztán a válogatottban ott lehettem egy Európa-bajnokságon és fontos játékos voltam a selejtezőkön is. Nagyon élveztem, hogy szélsőként a kapuval szemben játszhatok, nem háttal vagyok a mezőnynek. Sokkal jobban ki tudtam bontakozni, nagyobb befolyással voltam a játékra, az egyéni megoldásaim jobban érvényesültek. Emellett az egész csapat nagyon jó volt körülöttem. Ha akkor ott a rájátszásban nincs olyan borzasztó balszerencsénk a Portland ellen, akkor szerintem megnyerjük az egész playoffot és magasba emelhettük volna a bajnoki serleget.. Az egy őrült meccs volt. Én rúgtam a második gólunkat, a vége aztán 2-2 lett és a büntetők döntöttek. A gólom után fájdalmat éreztem a lábamban és cserét kértem. Utólag ezt nagyon bánom, jó lett volna pályán lenni a tizenegyeknél. De így is majdnem behúzták a srácok, kétszer is továbbjuthattunk volna, az egyik sorsdöntő büntetőnk mindkét kapufát érintve maradt ki.

Utána ez a Portland egészen a Nagydöntőig menetelt, amit meg is nyertek…

Igen és ha megnézzük akkor a bajnokság teljes mezőnyét, akkor szerintem ők és a Seattle voltak rajtunk kívül a legjobb csapat. Ha túljutottunk volna a Portlanden, akkor szerintem ott lettünk volna a döntőben.

De azért vannak kellemes emlékeid is a Portlandről, nemrég volt a 10 éves évfordulója annak, hogy megkaptad „Az Év MLS-gólja”-díjat azért a találatért, amit ellenük lőttél az alapszakaszban. Parádés szóló volt!

Érdekes sztorija van annak a gólnak, épp előtte nyertük meg a US Open-kupát és volt utána egy nagy ünneplés, tehát nem voltunk a legfrissebbek. Én a kispadon kezdtem a mérkőzést. Vermes tudta, hogy jövök haza majd a válogatotthoz és ezt is figyelembe vette. Aztán becserélt a második félidőben. Én a kupasiker miatt tele voltam önbizalommal, ráadásul kivételesen nem a szélen, hanem csatárként szerepeltem. Aztán jött az a bizonyos szituáció és a félpályáról megindultam.

Mennyire volt tudatos és mennyire volt ösztönös az a gól?

Teljesen ösztönös volt. Ez olyan, hogy az ember bekerül egy „flow”-ba, csak jönnek előtted a védők és csinálod amit úgymond „dob a gép”. Aztán hirtelen azon kapom magam, hogy a labda ott van a hálóban és a csapattársaim letepernek.

Mit szóltál, amikor megtudtad, hogy megválasztották ezt a találatot az év legszebb góljának?

Én akkoriban nem is tudtam, hogy van ilyen díj, a csapattársaim mondták, hogy ez biztosan „Goal of the Year” lesz. Mindenkinek van olyan pillanat a karrierjében, amire örök időkig emlékezni fog. Nekem ez a gól is ilyen, ez örökre megmarad.

Peter Vermesnek, nagy szerepe volt abban, hogy ilyen emlékezetes év szezon lett számodra 2015. Mesélj kicsit a magyar származású edzőről? Milyen típusú szakvezető ő a mindennapokban?

 Játékospárti edző, de van egy rendszer, amiben nagyon hisz. Ez a konkrét taktikai elképzelés abban az időben nagyon jól működött az SKC-nél. Ezt az eredmények is igazolták. Én ennek az előnyét élvezhettem, hiszen egy olyan rendszerbe kerültem bele, amibe összhangban volt az én erényeimmel. Peter egy olyan ember, akinek olyan erős kisugárzása van, olyan határozott magabiztossággal rendelkezik, ami a játékosokat is viszi magával. Engem is ez segített hozzá a sikerességhez.

Sokan vasszigorú, makacs, kemény emberként jellemzik őt...

Ez így is van, de mindig arról poénkodtunk egymás közt a magyar játékosokkal, hogy ha valamit szeretnél elérni Peternél, akkor magyarul szóljál hozzá. Mert amikor angolul kommunikálsz vele akkor van egy nagyon határozott karizmája, de amikor magyar szót hall, akkor az amerikai határozottsága elillan és egy teljesen más Petert kapsz. Olyankor ellágyul az a magyar szív..

Amikor 2016-ban a Közel-Keletre távoztál, sokakat meglepett a döntés, mert úgy tűnt, az KSC -nél végre megtaláltad a helyedet, kezdtél kiteljesedni. Tudsz mesélni, mi motivált akkor a váltásban?

Senki sem számított arra, hogy 2015-ben ilyen jó szezont futok. A csapaton belül a fizetésem közel sem tükrözte azt a státuszt, amit a teljesítményemmel kivívtam magamnak. Amikor aláírtam a Sporting KC-hez, abban maradtunk, hogy az első szezonom után újra leülünk egymással és átbeszéljük a szerződésemet. Az MLS-ben alkalmazott fizetési plafon azonban megnehezítette a tárgyalást. Ha van egy élő szerződésed, akkor a klubnak van ugyan mozgástere, de nem könnyen tud hipp-hopp „kiemelt fizetésű játékost” (designated player) csinálni belőled. Ha pedig nem kerülsz be ebbe a kategóriába, akkor csak egy bizonyos mértékben tudják emelni a béredet, mert a bérplafon ennyit tesz lehetővé. Patthelyzet volt. ÉS ez volt az a pillanat, amikor befutott a Sporting KC-hez a a katari ajánlat, többmillió dollárt kínálva a játékjogomért. Ez rendkívül csábító volt az SKC számára is. Én egy kicsivel több fizetésért szívesen maradtam volna Amerikában, de azt az SKC nem akarta megadni. Sőt, már-már nyomást érzékeltem annak irányába, hogy fogadjam el a katari ajánlatot, mert az a klubnak is rendkívül jövedelmező volt.

Végül másfél évet húztál le az Al-Garafánál, utána visszatértél az MLS-be, a New Englandhez. Mennyiben volt más ez a második „amerikai korszakod”?

Utólag most már azt mondhatom, hogy a New England nem volt ideális választás…sem a csapat játékrendszere, sem maga a város nem illet hozzám, de legalább visszakerültem a bajnokság vérkeringésébe. De ez már egy teljesen másik bajnokság volt, mint ahonnan másfél évvel azt megelőzően távoztam. Sokkal erősebb lett a liga.

Ez miben nyilvánult meg?

Majdnem mindenben. A színvonal sokkal magasabb volt a meccseken és az edzéseken is. Sokkal jobb játékosok vettek körül. A körülmények is sokkal profibbak voltak, legyen szó az infrastruktúráról vagy az idegenbeli meccsekre való utazásokról. De ez nem ért engem meglepetésként. Amikor anno 2015-ben a Kansas City-hez igazoltam, akkor Peter Vermes felvázolta nekem a liga ötéves tervét, ami igazodik a tévés szerződéshez és a játékosokkal kötött kollektív szerződéshez. Ebben az ötéves tervben különböző mérföldkövek vannak kijelölve, amiket el kell érni. És ezeket az elképzeléseket betűről betűre megvalósították. Itthon ezzel akkor senki sem volt tisztában. Amikor én kiigazoltam az MLS-be, Magyarországon sokan temetni kezdték a karrieremet azzal a szöveggel, hogy „nyugdíjasligába” szerződök és „levezetek”. De nekem akkor pontosan felvázolták, hogyan fog fejlődni ez a liga. Nagyon jó volt látni és megtapasztalni, hogy mindez megvalósult.

Amikor visszatértél az MLS-be, a New Englandnél Brad Friedelnél dolgozhattál együtt, aki akkor kezdte edzői pályafutását. Magyarországon is sokan ismerik a Tottenham és a Premier League egykori ikonikus kapusát. Edzőként ő milyen volt?

Anno engem még Jay Heaps igazolt le, akit azonban utána nem sokkal menesztettek. Utána jött az új szezon és jött Friedel. Emberileg csak a legjobbakat mondhatom róla, nagyon jó volt a személyes kapcsolatom vele. De játékosként nem én voltam a típusa, van ilyen. Ő főként a fizikális játékra fektette a hangsúlyt. Olyan kőkemény edzések voltak nála, hogy én már-már egészségtelen mértékben lefogytam. Ez a fajta erőfutball az én játékomhoz egyáltalán nem illet. Nem is ment úgy ott a játék, nem kell szépíteni. De aztán jött Peter és megmentette a karrieremet…másodszor.

Peter Vermes 2018 augusztusában vitt vissza téged a Kansas City-hez. Ahogy a bajnokság úgy a Sporting Kansas City is sokat változott a távolléted alatt?

Brutális volt a különbség. Lett egy csúcsmodern edzőközpontunk. A játékoskeret is sokkal erősebb lett. Nehezebb volt a csapatba kerülni, mert sokkal komolyabb riválisok vettek körül.

Hogyan értékeled ezt a második kansasi időszakodat?

Nem sikerült annyira jól, mint amennyire sikerülhetett volna. Volt egy kifejezetten jó fél évem, a bajnokságban és a Bajnokok Ligájában is rugdostam a gólokat. De közben volt egy lappangó sérülésem, amiről akkor nem beszéltem. Lágyéksérvem volt, később műtöttek is vele. Ez akkoriban elég erősen befolyásolta a teljesítményem, nem tudtam kihozni magamból a maximumot.

Ez az időszak arról is emlékezetes volt, hogy egy időben három magyar játékost is foglalkoztatott a Sporting KC. Melletted Sallói Dániel és Baráth Botond is rendszeresen játszott a csapatban. Miként emlékszel vissza a kis „magyar kolónia” mindennapjaira?

Szerintem jól működött köztünk az összhang, összetartottunk mi hárman. De közben azért arra is komolyan odafigyeltünk, hogy ne klikkesedjünk, vegyültünk az egész csapattal. A pályán sajnos nem sikerült együtt olyan emlékezeteset alakítanunk, hiszen nem jutottunk be a rájátszásba. Emiatt van bennem némi hiányérzet.

Utolsó MLS-klubod a Columbus Crew volt. Az együttes nem sokkal a megérkezésedet megelőzően menekült meg az elköltöztetéstől, jórészt a hihetetlen szurkolói összefogásnak köszönhetően. Te mennyit érzékeltél ebből a páratlan szurkolói szenvedélyből?

 Valóban hihetetlenek a Crew szurkolói, de megmondom őszintén, nekem Kansas City-ben is hasonló érzéseim voltak. A New Englandnél nem. A bostoni csapatnál nem érzékeltem ilyen erős szurkolói bázist. De Az SKC és a Crew is olyan együttes, ahol tényleg a drukkerek jelentik a tizenkettedik játékost. Hozzáteszem, Columbusnál a koronavírus időszakában futballoztam, így nem lehettek teltházas meccseink és sokkal kevesebb volt a közvetlen interakciónk a szurkolókkal. De természetesen tisztában voltam az együttes komoly múltjával és azzal, mit tettek azért a helyi fanatikusok, hogy életben tartsák az együttest. Ennek ott komoly súlya van. Egésze egyszerűen az ember a zsigereiben érzi ezt az atmoszférát még akkor is, ha nincs tele a lelátó. A Columbus szurkolótáborának történelme van, megtiszteltetés előttük játszani. Ezt érzik a játékosok is.

A Columbus-szal te lettél az MLS történetének első – és mindmáig egyetlen - magyar bajnoka. A Nagydöntőben ugyan nem léptél pályára, de az alapszakasz utolsó előtti fordulójában egy olyan fontos gólt szereztél, amely végül a hazai pálya előnyét biztosította a rájátszásban. Összességében mit jelentett számodra ez a bajnoki cím?

Sok hullámzás volt az egész pályafutásomban, voltak benne emelkedettebb pillanatok és csalódást keltő momentumok is. A bajnoki címet egyfajta ajándékként fogom fel. Nyilván hozzátettem azért valamit én is a sikerhez, de azért ilyenkor mindig az jut az eszembe, hogy sokkal korábban is odakerülhettem volna ehhez az együtteshez, hiszen a korábbi években többször is felvették velem a kapcsolatot, de valahogy sosem sikerült végül az átigazolás. Mindegy is, ez anno valamiért így alakult, hogy végül csak fél év jutott nekem Columbus-ban. Úgyhogy összességében ezt a bajnoki címet egyfajta ajándékként fogom fel, ami felteszi a koronát az amerikai pályafutásomra. Nyilván abban a fél évben nem én voltam a főszereplő, de összességében nagyon büszke vagyok rá, hogy van egy gyönyörű bajnoki gyűrűm.

Úgy tudom, a mai napig követed az MLS-t. Miként tudnád jellemezni azt a fejlődést, ami a 2015-ös odaigazolásod óta eltelt 10 évben végbement?

Döbbenetes az a színvonal-emelkedés ami azóta végbement, legyen szó a körülményekről, az utazásokról, a stadionokról, az edzőközpontokról… Ez olyan szintű fejlődés, ami alapján szerintem a következő 10 év arról fog szólni, hogy milyen komoly kaliberű játékosok fogják ezt a bajnokságot választani, vagy éppen innen kikerülni. Ez már nem egy „nyugdíjas-liga”, ahova levezetni jönnek. Észak-Amerika már komoly felvevő-bázisa a legjelentősebb európai bajnokságoknak. Emellett már nem lehet szó nélkül elmenni. A következő lépés szerintem az lesz, hogy egyre több topon lévő játékos akar majd ide igazolni. Ez a következő cél. Ennek ékes példája Sergio Reguilón, aki nemrég írt alá a Miamihoz. A következő időszakban az európai topligák után az MLS lehet az európai sztárok legnagyobb felvevő piaca.

Akkor ezt te teljesen reálisnak érzed?

Abszolút. De persze természetesen ezt attól függ, mit kezdenek a fizetési plafonnal és a kiemelt fizetésű játékosok számával. De a tévétársaságok és a szurkolók is amellett kardoskodnak, hogy elérkezett az idő arra, hogy új szintre lépjen az MLS. Persze tudjuk, hogy a fizetési plafon és a komoly gazdasági szabályozások alapvetésnek számítanak minden amerikai sportban, így kérdés, hogyan fognak tudni változtatni ezen a mélyen gyökerező szokáson.

Az MLS-ben olyan sztárok ellen játszottál, mint Rooney, Gerrard, Vela, Giovinco, Pirlo, Schweinsteiger, Almirón, Robbie Keane, Clint Dempsey, Josef Martínez vagy Tim Howard. Ki ellen volt a legkellemesebb szerepelni és ki bizonyult a legbosszantóbb, legkellemetlenebb ellenfélnek?

A liverpooli éveim miatt nagyon nagy élmény volt Steven Gerrad és Robbie Keane ellen pályára lépni. Hatalmas élmény volt megmérkőzni Andrea Pirlóval is. De a legjobb mind közülük a Torontót erősítő Sebastian Giovinco volt. Szerintem döbbenetes volt az, amit ő az MLS-ben nyújtott.

Zlatan is érdekes figura volt. Hihetetlen mennyiségben termelte a szebbnél-szebb gólokat, de közben nagyjából végig sétálta a mérkőzéseket. De ő egy ilyen figura, emellett van egy különleges aurája, amit az emberek vagy szeretnek, vagy nem. Ezt láthatjuk az interjúkban és megtapasztalható volt a pályán is. De ő kicsit olyan mint Cristiano Ronaldo, akik ellen szintén volt szerencsém játszani pályafutásom során: mindkettőjüket érdemes nézni akkor is, amikor nincs náluk a labda. De összességében elmondható, hogy majdnem az összes sztár nagyon komolyan vette az MLS-t és hozzátettek a liga fejlődéséhez. Ezek a legendák nem levezettek, hanem igyekeztek a legjobbjukat nyújtani. A hozzáállásuk kivétel nélkül példa értékű volt. És egy-kettő még így is megszenvedett.

De azt hiszem ezek a sztárok pont azért juthattak el anno a futballvilág csúcsára, mert van bennük egy olyan mentalitás, hogy minden egyes meccset, minden egyest edzést komolyan vesznek, bárhol is legyenek a világban.

 Ez így van. De ez összességében jellemző volt az egész MLS-re, minden játékosra. Ami nekem nagyon hamar feltűnt, hogy itt elképesztően tudatosak és profik a játékosok. Nagyon komolyan foglalkoztak magukkal, legyen szó a megfelelő táplálkozásról, az alvásról, vagy hasonló mindennapi rutinokról. Most már Európában is jelen van ez a szemlélet, de anno ez nem így volt. De említhetném itt példaként a futball utáni élet tervezését. Az MLS ebben is az élen járt: a liga támogatja a játékosok felsőoktatási képzését és például pénzügyi tanácsadói programok is vannak. Jó volt ezt megtapasztalni. Én is az MLS-ben tanultam meg, hogy miként figyeljek a pénzügyi életemre és hogyan gondoljak a futball utáni életemre.

Beszéltünk a neves ellenfelekről, de közben együtt is játszottál kiváló amerikai válogatott játékosokkal, mint Benny Feilhaber, Gianluca Busio, Aiden Morris, Darlington Nagbe, Matt Turner, vagy az akkor még ifjú Sebastian Berhalter. Közülök kit tartasz a legjobb futballistának?

Benny-t a Sporting KC-ből mindenképp megemlíteném, ő azért anno nem véletlenül játszott a Bundesligában. De aki magasan a legjobb képességű, az a Nagbe. Egészen hihetetlen, hogy ő nem játszott Európában. Ő bárhol képes lett volna egészen különleges futballra. Aki ismeri őt, az tudja, hogy milyen hatalmas munkabírása van. Olyan egyensúlyt ad a csapatnak, amire nagyon kevés játékos képes akár Európában is. Emellett elképesztőén labdabiztos volt, ha nála van a játékszer, akkor esélytelen volt, hogy az ellenfél labdát tudjon szerezni. Túlzás nélkül mondhatom, hogy ő simán Premier League-szintű játékos volt.

De szerencsére nem ő volt az egyetlen, a liga az elmúlt években olyan futballistákat adott az európai élbajnokságoknak, mint Thiago Almada, Taty Castellanos, Tyler Adams, Alphonso Davies, Diego Gómez, Tanner Tessmann, Ricardo Pepi, vagy Cucho Hernandez. Te ez alapján a lista alapján hova helyeznéd az MLS-t a világ labdarúgó-bajnokságainak rangsorában és világfutball piacán?

 Ahogy említettem, ez már nem egy levezető-bajnokság. Sokkal inkább ugródeszka Európa topligái felé. Ez egy nagyon jó lehetőség olyan fiataloknak, akik még nem készek egy topligára, de azt a szintet szeretnék elérni. Mert, ahogy azt a felsorolt példák mutatják, egy-két jó MLS-szezon után bejelentkezik értük egy európai együttes.

Ha átültetjük ezt európai viszonylatba, akkor ez a holland-belga szintet jelenti?

 Szerintem annál már erősebb. Már csak a kiemelt fizetésű játékosok miatt is. Én az MLS-t jelenleg közvetlenül az európai topligák mögé helyezném a rangsorban.

Ha már az előbb az amerikai válogatott játékosokat említettük… 2026-ban az Egyesült Államok Mexikóval és Kanadával közösen világbajnokságot rendez. Mit vársz a világbajnokságtól?

 Az előző világbajnokság után volt egy hatalmas bumm a futball népszerűségében, most is erre számítok. Messi érkezésével ennek a robbanásnak a jelei már most kezdenek megmutatkozni, de az igazi áttörés a világbajnokság alatt és után várható. Messi és a világbajnokság kombója eddig áttörhetetlen kapukat fog megnyitni, rengeteg gyereket fog bevonzani a sportág világába. Most már az infrastruktúra is megvan ennek a tehetségáradatnak „felszívásához”. Az 1994-es világbajnokság után ez még nem volt adott ezért én most egy még jelentősebb robbanásra és áttörésre számítok. Hiszek abban, hogy az amerikai labdarúgás még nagyon sok sztárt fog kitermelni.

Az amerikai válogatottól mire számítasz a VB-n?

 Van egy-két hiányposztjuk. Ha ezeket a világbajnokság rajtjáig ki tudnák pótolni, akkor sokra lennének hivatottak. Támadó-fronton szerintem rendben vannak Folarin Balogunnak köszönhetően, ő a Monacóban és a válogatottban remekül játszik. Vagy említhetném Ricardo Pepit is a PSV-ből. De hátul kicsit bizonytalannak érzem az amerikai csapatot. Ha ezt problémát meg tudnák oldani, akkor sokáig juthatnak. De ha nem, akkor hamar ki fognak esni. A csoportból szerintem tovább fognak jutni, onnantól kezdve pedig sorsolásfüggő. Ha egy komolyabb kaliberű csapattal találkoznak, akkor szerintem el fognak vérezni, a védelem hiányosságai miatt nem fognak tudni meglepetést okozni.

Kiket tartasz most a legjobb amerikai játékosoknak?

 Christian Pulisic egyértelműen a legjobb, Balogun is nagyon ígetes. Tyler Adamst is jó játékosnak tartom. McKennie nekem kicsit hullámzó. Vannak jó megoldásai, de Adams és Pulisic más szintet képvisel. Aztán még ott van Antonee Robinson, aki a Premier League-ben játszik nagyon magas szinten hétről-hétre. De középhátvéd poszton szerintem most lyukas ez az együttes és kapus-poszton is vannak komoly kérdőjelek. Ez szerintem komoly aggodalmakra adhat okot.

Mauricio Pochettino szövetségi kapitány személye és szakmai tudása orvosolhatja ezeket az aggodalmakat?

Ő egy világszínvonalú topedző. Ismerem a munkastílusát, mert Brad Friedel is a Pochettino-iskolából került ki. Ez alapján azt gondolom, hogy Pochettino a maximumot ki fogja hozni ebből a csapatból. Azt meglátjuk majd, meddig lesz elég ez. Én bízom legalább egy nyolcaddöntőben, de majd meglátjuk.

Beszélgetésünk végén kicsit tekintsünk előre a jövőbe. Hamarosan elkerülhetetlenül szögre kell akasztanod a stoplist. Pályafutásod után vannak-e arra vonatkozó terveid, hogy visszatérsz Amerikába és az MLS világába?

Van ilyen ambícióm. Szeretnék kapocs lenni Amerika és Európa között. Hogy ez milyen pozíciót, milyen szerepkört jelent, az még a jövő zenéje…

 Szóval álmaidban Amerika még visszainteget…

 Vissza fog, legalábbis én őszintén bízom benne.

Az interjút készítette:
Kun Tamás,
a Jenkifoci szerzője