Alfréd Schaffer explaining the MTK-iskola
Alfréd Schaffer | 06/10/1939

Before we go any further, we need to note something about this and the essence of the following figures. By no means does the setup shown in the figure mean that players always play in this shape. The notation in the figures expresses the basic principle of the system in question, we can say perhaps: the starting point of the players, their main duty, the main characteristic of their position. For example, a connector drawn slightly backwards by no means means that the connector can never precede the winger or centre-forward. The sign drawn backwards means that the connector is the one who primarily goes back for the ball or to help the defense.

⬤                     ⬤                     ⬤
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⬤              ⬤              ⬤

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Representative figure of what Alfréd Schaffer drew.

As an old forward, maybe I’ll start on the forward line. As you can see, I didn't draw the connectors in line with the other forwards, because it was a long time ago that 

the connector went backwards mainly for the ball,

that is, if the opponent disarmed one attack, the whole strike did not stop and they didn't wait for the ball — in line. Naturally, the whole line backed away, the connectors went back to show themselves to their half-backs, maybe to fight for the ball themselves, and the other three forwards, the two wingers and the centre-forward, with a little backward position, made it easier for the connectors to more easily, they can pass. In the old days, the word connecting did not mean that the player in question was a link between the winger and the centre-forward, but also that

it was a link between the forward line and the half-back line.

It so happened that when the opponent kicked a corner, our connectors came up all the way to our area. This is certainly what the MTK aranycsapat did, because there has to be unity in the team, every player has to play, and you can’t expect good luck with five people resting while the others are working in the back.

The centre-forward and the two wingers 

used to be one hundred percent offensive strikers,

the wingers never retreated to the defense, as happened with the connectors, the centre-forward only, in the rarest of cases.

Let's turn to the duty of centre-half. Also in the MTK aranycsapat, catching the opponent's centre-forward was the first duty of the centre-half. He could have taken the lead in the attack, but only enough that he could always go back to his defense if the opponent swung into an attack. 

It was already a mistake if the centre-half was very adventurous and had fun with goal shots,

for example. Why the? What are the forwards for? True, there were forwards then...

The wing half-backs were usually located between the opponent's connector and the winger. Ready to attack either the connector or the winger. I have to note that they were more confronted with the connectors than with the wingers.

The defenders were located around the edge of the area and intervened as needed. The defender on the side without pressure stays a bit withdrawn, not just to benefit from the off-side rule, but to able to cross if it is necessary. I remember our defenders tackled a lot the wingers and they catched a lot of long passes to them. They were, of course, confronted by any member of the strike line.

Of course there were a lot of other things that made MTK great, I could talk about a lot more, but now it was just about the system. This was, therefore, the MTK system and the role of individuals in this system.

All I want to note is that we did not make much use of the set-off, that is, we did not take advantage of the old offside rule. Sometimes, however, we didn’t even take advantage of other benefits, we were so much better than the others. I have to say: unfortunately, we didn’t have an equal opponent.