Once, I read a book in Hungarian that made this comparison. I found it interesting. I read and agreed with the author's opinion. I won't remember the name or author of the book, but it was of exceptional quality. I, moreover, felt that I should give my opinion in the comparison and use my own words to reach a conclusion. Both MTK-iskola products, Alfréd Schaffer & György Orth are among the best players of all time. The comparison came shortly after Orth exerted immense prominence as a center forward on the MTK team — and with a style that was somewhat similar to Schaffer's, in some ways.

First, it's good to mention which version of Schaffer will be compared, as MTK's Schaffer is quite different from Schaffer after 1919. During the period when MTK reached their peak, Schaffer was more of a goal-scorer and individual action player. He, however, soon after his departure from the Hungarian team, became a player who organized and created chances for his teammates. In fact, the comparison will mainly — mainly! — be with Schaffer from the MTK period, as it was there that he reached the peak of his career. Nevertheless, this article will still bring some other interesting informations regarding Schaffer's time abroad.

Schaffer's personality was intriguing. He was a prima donna player, yes, but he maintained a stoic calm that reflected his game. Schaffer had enviable confidence; he oozed certainty in his plays. Orth, on the other hand, was a more modest player than Schaffer, he always mentioned glory to his teammates and always aimed to improve, no matter how much his matches were of world-class performances.


Orth, the zseniális Orth.

In terms of his commitment to the sport, Orth is far above Schaffer. Orth was a player who always aimed at his physique and kept himself in a focus above even the main professionals on the British Isles. Schaffer was already a lazy, uncompromising player, and he enjoyed himself every night. So much so that Schaffer gained a lot of weight when he moved abroad. Furthermore, Schaffer was moving away from football for several reasons, one of them being billiards.

Following the line, the technique of both was the best ever inserted in the highest class of football players. The passing, ball control — condutioning and first touch —, shooting and dribbling were qualities of the highest class. Schaffer, however, was more artistic and had a more unique style. Orth, on the other hand, had more focused football and not so many Rastelli tricks.


A Hungarian, of course, but not as one generally imagines Hungary: blond, curly haired, broad, sedate. When he wears the Bavarian costume, then he looks like a Sennbub from a Ganghofer novel. He moves almost slowly on the field, but he handles the ball so that the whole game starts to dance around him — and when he shoots: he has a terrifying shot!

Richard Kirn on Schaffer


Their shooting style was almost similar, but Schaffer preferred balls closer to the ground. Orth, on the other hand, although was a player who represented the MTK-stílus, was as good with his head as he was with both feet — which Schaffer didn't come close to on this specific characteristic. Nevertheless, Schaffer — with both feet — sent shots with more speed, strength, and with greater precision than Orth. It looked like Schaffer put the ball into the goal with the precision of a surgeon. As much as Orth had a more complete finish, he didn't have the same shooting quality that Schaffer had with both feet.

Inherent versatility.

One of Orth's main known characteristics is that, in a standard tactical organization, he was a multi-purpose player, a widely versatile player. Orth was successful in both goal and field positions. However, he reached the peak of his performances as a centre-forward. Schaffer followed the same line, as he shone, mainly, in the offensive internal trio, more precisely as the centre-forward of his teams. Schaffer, however, was also a highly versatile player, having played as a winger — early in his MTK career — and acting as a centre-half a few times — for example, at F.K. Austria Wien 1924/25, when the young Matthias Sindelar was the team's centre-forward and Schaffer was the centre-half.

Nevertheless, it is necessary to recognize that Orth, in fact, was a versatile superior, as he stood out in more positions, in addition to having performed at a superior level in each of them. and far more often than Schaffer. Still, I say, it is necessary to point out the versatility in which Schaffer found himself, which was quite notorious.

Centre-forward.

Orth has always been a player, in general, more complete than Schaffer — and this was no different when they acted as attack leaders. Schaffer had a more prolific style than Orth, as he liked to finish more than create—of course, that soon changed when Schaffer ventured across the European Continent. Orth, on the other hand, was a more creative player, the bow, the arrow, the hub of not just the offensive line but all of his teams.

Defensively speaking, yes; Schaffer was a more impartial player, largely because of his prima donna behavior and his stoic attitudes. Orth, on the other hand, put more pressure and more often helped his teams' defenses.


Schaffer, the fussballkönig.

Schaffer was a slow player, almost stopping. Not because of his weight, as he was thin and athletic at the time of MTK, but because of his own style. The impression given is that Schaffer's style controlled the surroundings he was in, and with a simple intention, he performed his actions. Orth was a faster player than Schaffer, both physically and psychologically. In a simple blink of an eye, Orth worked magic and found the way out of a problem that seemed irresolvable. When the audience believed in a particular move, Orth did the unexpected, thus reflecting his genius.


He was unsurpassed in recognizing situations and preparing for them. In vain was he caught many times by two or three, after a move and a trick, he deceived his opponents by standing wonderfully uncovered in a second or two. That was enough for him to give the ball to his best-placed partner in the blink of an eye. If then someone scored from his pass, Orth was the first to rush to the goal-scorer and congratulate him from the bottom of his heart.

Gábor Kleber on Orth


Positioning.

Orth was a more mobile player and sensitive to tactical perception than Schaffer. Orth didn't stop, he was always moving all over the field, always aiming for the best space to receive the ball or drag an opposing player. In such a way, Orth confused the marking; bringing two or three players close to him, that way, with a single move, he would solve the situation in an exceptional way. In fact, he was the most mobile player on his team, as the fact that Orth was a general axis made him so. Schaffer, compared to the time he was abroad, didn't participate so much in the organization, no. He was a more aggressive and infiltrating player, however he would often stick with an opposing player to drag him out of position, thus, in such a way, creating a space for other teammates to explore.

Orth✳

The offensive line suited Orth and his style. Orth didn't infiltrate as much as other center forwards, no. Gyuri was a more organizing player for his teams and much less incisive. He, however, when he read the play perfectly, knew the exact time to infiltrate and try shot closer to the goal. Furthermore, Orth, due to his presence more outside the area, used to send long shots and score several goals like that.

Schaffer
Schlosser                                    G. Orth      
MTK 1918/19.

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G. Orth
Molnár                                    Schaffer
MTK 1922/23, Spanish tour.

Schaffer played with Orth on his two stints at MTK. In the second pass, right on a tour that MTK performed on Spanish soil, Schaffer played from the center with Orth acting as an insider and the opposite happened, too. When Schaffer and Orth acted together on the offensive line, in 1918/19, Orth played the role of playmaker and Schaffer a more incisive player, focused on the shot.

Coming to the conclusion of the matter: Schaffer was an exceptional player and one of the best of all-time, as well as a teacher, a master for many young people. Orth, on the other hand, went one step higher, he was a player of a single caliber ever seen in football. Players like Orth, until today, are rare to appear, because to be born a player like that, it is necessary to have all possible qualities and all world-class.