Attila Szalai
Szalai with Hungary U-21 in 2017
Personal information
Full name Attila Árpád Szalai[1]
Date of birth (1998-01-20) 20 January 1998
Place of birth Budapest, Hungary
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back, left-back
Team information
Current team
 TSG Hoffenheim
Number 41
Youth career
2010–2012 Vasas
2012–2015 Rapid Wien
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Rapid Wien II 43 (1)
2016 → Rapid Wien 1 (0)
2017–2019 Mezőkövesd 45 (2)
2019–2021 Apollon Limassol 30 (2)
2021–2023 Fenerbahçe 84 (6)
2023– TSG Hoffenheim 4 (0)
International career‡
2014 Hungary U-16 1 (0)
2014–2015 Hungary U-17 5 (1)
2015–2017 Hungary U-19 13 (0)
2017–2019 Hungary U-21 18 (2)
2019– Hungary 41 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 December 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2023

Attila Árpád Szalai (born 20 January 1998) is a Hungarian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or left-back for Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim and the Hungary national team.

Club career

Early years

He started playing football in Göd, then moved to youth team of Vác FC and later to the youth team of Vasas's academy,

Rapid Wien

In 2012, the Austrian Bundesliga team Rapid Wien which has won the most Austrian championship titles (32), called him and after a week of trials, he was signed. First, he played in the club's youth and reserve teams, in the third division, and then he was promoted to the senior team. He made his debut as a professional at the age of 18 on 11 May 2016, starting in a 1–1 home tie against Altach.[3] It was the only one time to play for the team in professional level.

Mezőkövesd

On 1 July 2017, he had signed a three-year contract with Mezőkövesd.[4] In two seasons in the Hungarian top flight, he scored two goals in 45 matches for the club.

Apollon Limassol

On 1 July 2019, he had signed a four-year contract with Cypriot team Apollon Limassol.[5]

He made his debut in the Cypriot team on as a half-time substitute in the UEFA Europa League qualifying match against Kauno Žalgiris, which his team won 2–0 on 11 July 2019. He also scored his first goal in his new team in the second leg of the duel on 18 July 2019.

In November 2020, the Turkish club Galatasaray inquired about signing him.[6]

Fenerbahçe

On 17 January 2021, Szalai signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Fenerbahçe[7] On 25 January 2021, he made his debut for Fenerbahçe in a Süper Lig game against Kayserispor at the Ülker Arena, which Fenerbahçe won 3–0.[8]

On 8 March 2021, he scored his first goal in the Süper Lig against Konyaspor at the Konya Büyükşehir Stadium on the 29th matchday of the 2020–21 Süper Lig season. Fenerbahçe won 3–0.[9]

On 28 February 2022, he scored his first and only goal in the 2021–22 Süper Lig season against Kasımpaşa S.K. at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium, Istanbul. The match ended with a 2–1 victory for Fenerbahçe.[10]

In the 2022–23 Süper Lig season, he played 32 matches and scored two goals.[11] He scored his first goal of the season in a 4–0 victory against Konyaspor on 25 February 2023.[12] On 10 April 2023, he scored in a 2–1 away victory against Fatih Karagümrük S.K. at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul.[13]

On 11 June 2023, he won the 2023 Turkish Cup final with Fenerbahçe.[14] In the final, his club beat 2–0 İstanbul Başakşehir F.K.[15]

Although he was linked with a move to 1. FC Union Berlin early summer of 2023, he was purchased by TSG Hoffenheim.[16][17]

TSG Hoffenheim

On 24 July 2023, Szalai joined TSG Hoffenheim on a four-year contract deal, for a fee of €12.3 million.[18][19][20]

On 19 August 2023, he debuted against SC Freiburg in a 2–1 defeat at home in the 2023–24 Bundesliga season. He also scored an own goal in the 39th minute.[21] Consequently, he was substituted in the half time and not featured in the starting line-up in the club' subsequent match against 1. FC Heidenheim.[22] On 2 September 2023, he played against VfL Wolfsburg and he was not substituted.[23][24]

International career

Szalai against Pogba of France, during Hungary's second group match of UEFA Euro 2020

Szalai made his debut for Hungary national team on 15 November 2019 in a friendly against Uruguay. He was substituted for Botond Baráth in the 72nd minute.[25]

On 1 June 2021, Szalai was included in the final 26-man squad to represent Hungary at the rescheduled UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.[26]

He scored his first goal against Luxembourg in a friendly match at the Stade de Luxembourg in Gasperich, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg on 17 November 2022.[27][28][29]

Career statistics

As of 8 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rapid Wien 2015-16 Austrian Bundesliga 1000—10
Rapid Wien II 2015-16 Regionalliga Ost 20100—201
2016-17 23000—230
Total 43100—431
Mezőkövesd 2017–18 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 20020—220
2018–19 25250—302
Total 45270—522
Apollon Limassol 2019–20 Cypriot First Division 140307[lower-alpha 2]2242
2020–21 162003[lower-alpha 2]1193
Total 30230103435
Fenerbahçe 2020–21 Süper Lig 21310—223
2021–22 3112010[lower-alpha 3]0431
2022–23 3226014[lower-alpha 4]1523
Hoffenheim 2023–24 Bundesliga 40100050
Total 8661002411207
Career total 2041120034425816
  1. ↑ Includes Magyar Kupa, Cypriot Cup and Turkish Cup
  2. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ↑ Eight appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  4. ↑ Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, twelve appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played on 19 November 2023.[30]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Hungary 201910
202070
2021150
202281
2023100
Total411
As of match played on 20 June 2023[30]
Scores and results list Hungary's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Szalai goal.
List of international goals scored by Attila Szalai
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 17 November 2022Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg30 Luxembourg1–12–2Friendly

Honours

Fenerbahçe

Personal life

Szalai is the third most popular sportsperson in Hungary, based on followers on Instagram.[31]

In an interview with Nemzeti Sport, his father, also named Attila Szalai, said that in a transfer the most important factor is not the money, but being happy with the move.[32]

On 27 December 2022, he played an important role before the match against Hatayspor by holding a picture of a 6-year-old boy who suffers from Leukemia.[33] In this way, Mustafa Roni Güclü could 'participate' in the match.

He donated blood to the victims of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake along with other footballers of Fenerbahçe S.K..[34]

His nickname is Sancho (in Hungarian: Szancsó).[35]

References

  1. ↑ "UEFA Nations League 2021: Booking List before League phase Matchday 6" (PDF). UEFA. 16 November 2020. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "Attila Szalai". Fenerbahçe S.K. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  3. ↑ "Foci eredmények, Foci hírek". Rangadó (in Hungarian). Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "Mezőkövesd: U-válogatott védő érkezett Ausztriából – hivatalos". nemzetisport.hu.
  5. ↑ "Hivatalos: EL-induló csapathoz igazolt a magyar utánpótlás-válogatott védő". csakfoci.hu.
  6. ↑ "Galatasaray: a magyar válogatott alapemberét vinnék januárban – sajtóhír". nemzetisport.hu.
  7. ↑ "Fenerbahçemize hoş geldin Attila Szalai!" [Welcome to Fenerbahçe, Attila Szalai!] (in Turkish). Fenerbahçe S.K. 17 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "Fenerbahçe vs. Kayserispor - 25 January 2021 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  9. ↑ "Konyaspor vs. Fenerbahce - 8 March 2021 - Soccerway".
  10. ↑ "Kasimpasa vs. Fenerbahce - 28 February2022 - Soccerway".
  11. ↑ "Summary - Süper Lig - Türkiye - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "Fenerbahce vs. Konyaspor - 25 February 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "Fatih Karagümrük vs. Fenerbahce - 10 April 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  14. ↑ "FENERBAHÇE A.Ş. MEDİPOL BAŞAKŞEHİR FK - Maç Detayları TFF". tff.org. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  15. ↑ "Fenerbahce vs. Istanbul Basaksehir - 11 June 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  16. ↑ nemzetisport.hu (17 July 2023). "Fordulat: a Kicker szerint Szalai nem lesz az Union Berlin játékosa". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  17. ↑ "Szalai wechselt nicht zu Union". kicker (in German). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "Yolun açık olsun Attila Szalai" (in Turkish). Fenerbahçe S.K. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  19. ↑ "Futbolcumuz Attila Szalai'nin transferi hk" (in Turkish). KAP. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  20. ↑ "There is a new SZALAI in town". YouTube (in German). TSG Hoffenheim. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  21. ↑ "Hoffenheim vs. Freiburg - 19 August 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  22. ↑ "Heidenheim vs. Hoffenheim - 26 August 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  23. ↑ "Hoffenheim vs. Wolfsburg - 2 September 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  24. ↑ nemzetisport.hu (2 September 2023). "Bundesliga: Sallai csapatát kiütötték, Szalaiék hátrányból felállva". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  25. ↑ "Hungary v Uruguay game report". ESPN. 15 November 2019.
  26. ↑ "Válogatott: a Puskás Akadémia két játékosa és Szoboszlai Dominik maradt ki az Eb-keretből" (in Hungarian). 1 June 2021.
  27. ↑ "Luxembourg vs. Hungary - 17 November 2022 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  28. ↑ nemzetisport.hu (17 November 2022). "Felkészülés: döntetlenre végeztünk Luxemburgban - NSO". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  29. ↑ nemzetisport.hu (17 November 2022). "Videó: a védők összehozták, Orbán beadásából Szalai fejelt gólt - N". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  30. 1 2 "Attila Szalai". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  31. ↑ nemzetisport.hu (14 July 2023). "Dzsudzsák továbbra is az első, Hosszú a legnépszerűbb sportolónőnk". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  32. ↑ nemzetisport.hu (4 May 2023). "Idősebb Szalai Attila: Soha nem érdekelt egyikünket sem a pénz". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  33. ↑ nemzetisport.hu (27 December 2022). "Képek: Szalai Attila és klubja segítségével "vett részt" egy leukém". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  34. ↑ nemzetisport.hu (16 February 2023). "Szalai Attiláék véradást szerveztek a földrengés áldozatainak". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  35. ↑ "Szoboszlai: Milosnak három nyelven is elmondtuk, ne csináljon hülyeséget, erre kiállították". telex (in Hungarian). 18 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
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