Nemzeti Bajnokság I. 1926/27 runners-up, Hungária F.C. classified to the final tournament which would send two Hungarian teams to fight for the Mitropa Cup. In this specific tournament, Hungária F.C. were first placed with all six points which they could have gotten. Hungára were another strong opponent who would fight for the glory of the Hungarian soil. Ferencváros F.C. did not classify, therefore they were considered the best team which Hungary sent to win the title. Hungária made some signings before Mitteleuropa, such as: Ferenc Hirzer and Kálmán Konrád. The plan was to build a strong side which would bring the glory days back. As a way of constructing this path, it was seen that a strong front line had to be built.

The Hungária team, as well as Újpest F.C., was not considered one of the main candidates for the title, no. The Czechs and Austrians, on the other hand, were seen as superior teams to the Hungarian teams, which lacked, due to other problems, Ferencváros F.C., the champion of Nemzeti Bajnokság I. 1926/27. However, Hungária's plan was notably to strengthen itself to, at least, rescue a title for the season.

BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT

The team was good, but not constant. Its main players could not maintain a regularity in tournaments. Names like Orth, Braun and Molnár were constantly making their way onto the injured list. In addition, other names no longer had great performances as in the past.

György Orth, for example, that even though he was no longer the exceptional player he was in the first half of the 1920s, he was still seen, when he was in top form, as the main centre-forward of the continent. The same applies to József Braun, who has been battling a string of injuries over the seasons. On the other hand, already on the defensive line, Gyula Mándi was already seen as a defender with an almost impeccable tactical sense; comparing himself to strategists like Josef Blum and Virgínio Rosetta in this regard. The half-back line was good, but below other teams' lines.

HIRZER & KONRÁD II.

The rumors had come true: Ferenc Hirzer would play for Hungária F.C. After many years on foreign soil, Hirzer would shine for a Hungarian team again. There was a time when the public didn't see that fast, agile player with a tremendous finish. Hirzer would arrive to strengthen the team. However, Hirzer would not be able to play the first two matches of the competition.

Being able to play both inside left and left winger, Hirzer, in addition to his exceptional effective qualities, was a very important tactical piece, due to his versatility on the left side.

Even before Hungária played its first match for the Mitropa Cup, negotiations with Konrád II. had already started. As much as Csámi played in New York, he still had a contract with F.K. Austria, so he would be stuck with them. Dr. Fodor and Konrád II. were in constant conversation to resolve the situation soon, thus for Konrád II. to become a player of Hungária again. Meanwhile, the leadership of F.K Austria believed that this was just a ploy by Kálmán Konrád to extort them. This, however, seemed to be contradicted by Konrád II. himself. As far as anyone had any idea, Konrád II. wanted not only to become a player, but to be a coach at the same time on Hungarian soil, too.

MITROPA CUP

There were still huge mistakes in the team. Some discussions were being debated to solve these problems. Hungária did not have to give their best against B.S.K. Beograd, but they would have to against the strong Czech side of A.C. Sparta. Hungária goes through but with some changes.

Gyula Feldmann made some changes. Since György Oláh and Géza Balasits were not great options, Hungária would play Ferenc Kocsis. The right side would be completed with the tactical Gyula Mándi.

One of the best Austrians left half-backs, Schneider was signed to solve the problems with the left side of the half-back line. Schneider had recently played against a Hungarian club, Ferencvárosi F.C., in a match which ended up being 4-2 for the Budapest side. For Wiener A.C., Schneider played his two last matches against Yugoslavia Beograd. Schneider would join the team after the first match against A.C. Sparta, thus Feldmann decided to play the following half-back line:

Kléber – Kvazs – Rebró

The only change would be the two wing halves. Rebró, who could not fit very well in the left half-back, would switch with Kléber. Kvazs would stay as the centre half-back.

Ferenc Hirzer as a forward would change some things. György Sárvári — Skvarek — would play as the inside right and Hirzer would replace György Molnár. With Hirzer in the team, the supporters expected Hungária’s game to increase. They would need a great result against A.C. Sparta, because the second match would be tough.

Jeny – Hirzer – Orth – Skvarek – Opata

Kálmán Konrád started his training two days after the match against B.S.K. Beograd, on 30/08/1927, Wednesday, but would not be prepared for the first match against the team from Prague. However, even if it was the case, Konrád II., according to the opinion of the Committee, would not be able to play the match because the was still irregular.

HUNGARY OR CZECHOSLOVAKIA?

On 03/09/1927, Sparta arrived in Budapest at half past nine. The team was really welcomed by Dr. Henrik Fodor and one of Sparta’s leaders, Náthán, who was already waiting in Hungary. The team, of course, was fully recovered and had their starts in great conditions. All over Central Europe, debates were constantly made. People would question which nation played the highest level of football. In some way, the semi-finals of the first Mitteleuropa Pokal gave a little spark on these debates.


— Is Czech football superior to ours? – Hungarians questioned.
— Yes, their National Team matches would confirm; SK Slavia and AC Sparta being on semi-finals would as well – some would think.


Two of Europe’s strongest sides, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, battle for the dominance in Continental’s professional football. Moreover, it is true that many balanced more the the Czech side. S.K Slavia & A.C. Sparta were, at that time, considered the two best teams in Central Europe.

The first leg showed a tough opponent. Sparta’s confirmed their fame of having a solid defense and also extremely technically gifted, fast and precise forwards. Even though they tied the first match, the Budapest team would have a hard mission of beating AC Sparta in Prague.

After four weeks of contract signed, Josef Schneider was finally legitimated to participate. Schneider already had played three matches of Nemzeti Bajnokság I. but, for the first time, would join Hungária against Sparta.

On 14/09/1927, wednesday, Hungary played Lipótváros in a training match. Orth played both halves and performed well. On thursday, Orth claimed that he was uncomfortable but was something to not take that seriously. On friday, things changed as Orth’s leg injury took him out of the match against Sabaria, on sunday, and the match which Hungary would face Austria.

Gyuri started his recovery but Hungaria’s leaders though he would not be able to be in form until the second match against A.C. Sparta. With Orth unable to play and Skvarek with stomach problems, Hungária would have to play the in the following forward formation: Jeny – Hirzer – Konrád II. – Molnár – Braun. However, due to the whole team’s weak performance against Sabaria, Gyula Feldmann decide to change the forward line. Molnár would be replaced and Jeny would not start the match. Then, Hungária traveled to Prague with the following forward line:

Hirzer – Skvarek – Opata – Konrád II. – Braun

This formation was expected to have balls played to both wingers. Kálmán Konrád would drop deep behind the four other forwards. Braun and Hirzer were a dangerous duo of wingers, both were precise, fast and had great dribbling. Braun was still not in a good condition, he played his first match against Sabaria and would face Sparta. Skvarek was recovered from his problems and was able to play.

A LATE WARNING FROM VIENNA

Even before the second match against A.C. Sparta, the delegation of Hungária F.C. I was aware that playing Kálmán Konrád would cause certain inconveniences. One of the rules regarding player transfers was that the player had to, at least, have been hired 30 days before being scheduled to play in the tournament. There was a delay in making Kálmán Konrád's contract official, therefore Hungária F.C. was in doubt about the line-up for Letná's departure. However, many speculated that Konrád II. could not be selectioned to play against the red team. On the other hand, on the Czech side specifically, they believed that the purpose of Kálmán Konrád's squad was that Hungária were afraid of defeat.


As far as the Konrád case is concerned, we will convene the Cup Committee and I hope we will be right. But otherwise, the match cannot be written in Sparta's favor, but must be destroyed and replayed.

Dr. Henrik Fodor.


According to several members of the tournament Committee and experts, the rules of the tournament were not very well defined. The word acquisition was not explained very well along the lines of the tournament rules, and the Committee was aware of other cases of player irregularity — Karl Reiner, for example, when he was about to play for S.K. Rapid. A long time before 09/09/1927, Hungária F.C. had already agreed with Konrád II. and he had already signed the contract. However, the Austrian Federation only carried out his extradition on 09/09/1927, thus, according to the tournament rules, Kálmán Konrád would only be regularized to play on 09/10/1927.

On 30/09/1927, Friday, Hungária received a telegram from Vienna. Hugo Meisl, on behalf of the Central European Cup Committee, informed the MLSz that Kálmán Konrád's participation in the cup matches would only be possible on 09/10/1927, since the members of the Committee believed that Konrád II. was not able to play yet.

Even so, trying to apply a diplomatic move, according to Lázslo Loos himself, Dr. Henrik Fodor wanted Hungária to line up Kálmán Konrád for the second match against Sparta. Many said that Dr. Fodor was to void the match, so it would be played on a date when Kálmán Konrád would be available to play.

THE DOWNFALL

As much as the Hungarian team had made high-caliber signings, the favorites to win the tournament were still S.K. Slavia & A.C. Sparta. Few people believed that Hungária could eliminate Sparta, but the second match, even being played in Letná, could have classified Hungária. Sparta was not up to the task at their own ground.

Not only Dr. Henrik Fodor, but many others wanted the match to be anulled and another one to be held, in the name of noble sporting acts. However, the Cup Committee decided to disqualify Hungária. This caused a lot of divided opinions and disagreements from Hungarians. Diplomacy between the tournament's four nations — Hungary, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Austria — was increasingly getting into a complicated state, even more so after this elimination of the Hungarian team. Dr. Henrik Fodor himself had mentioned that he would create another tournament with other nations and that Hungária F.C. would no longer be part of the Cup Committee.

In conclusion: the tournament was far from being advantageous for Hungária F.C. and ended through disagreements between the club's board and the Cup Committee. Furthermore, not only Hungary, but it caused diplomatic problems between MLSZ and the other federations.