In September, our players once again voted for the best player of the month. This time, Zoltán Szilágyi, one of the many new arrivals, received the most votes. This time, we are introducing him.
You joked about it, but in the end your teammates really did choose you as the best player of the month. Congratulations! Did you expect it?
I was a little surprised, I didn’t expect it! Of course, it feels great to have my performance recognized like this, but I didn’t achieve this alone. Everyone on the team contributes to our success, so I think this recognition belongs to the whole team. Everyone works hard in training and in matches, so this is a shared achievement.
You joined a team that was undergoing a complete transformation. How do you feel about that?
To be honest, it took me a while to find my footing at the beginning. There are a lot of new faces, including me, a new style, new dynamics, but now a really good community has formed. We’re slowly starting to think like a team and push each other forward. The atmosphere is excellent, everyone is motivated, and I think that’s the most important thing. It feels good to play soccer in such an environment!
Tell us a little bit about where you started playing soccer.
I started playing soccer as a child, when I was 10 or 12 years old, if I remember correctly, at BKV Előre, but I only went to training because I was too old for the U11 team. Back then, I spent almost all my free time on the pitch – after school, I would grab a ball and head to training! I learned a lot from my first coach, not only about technique, but also about what it means to think as a team. Soccer has been a part of my everyday life ever since, I couldn’t imagine my life without it.
Do you have a favorite team or player?
Of course I do. I’ve loved Manchester United since I was a kid. I loved watching them play, their style, their ball control, quick passes, fighting spirit, teamwork… it was simply amazing! It’s hard to single out anyone because I have quite a few role models, and I like different qualities in each of them.
What was the most memorable soccer-related experience of your life?
There have been many wonderful moments, but I would highlight two things. I will never forget my first championship victory. The moment when the game was over and we knew we had done it was an indescribable feeling. The second was when I was still doing gymnastics at KSI before I started playing soccer, and my brother and I were able to get the whole team onto the podium with our best results.
I didn’t know you did gymnastics. What other hobbies do you have besides soccer?
I think everyone has at least a hobby that calms them down or recharges them, and I have a lot of those things. I like playing table tennis (which I’m not too bad at), reading, writing poetry and song lyrics, hiking, and I’m also very interested in photography and videography. I’ve been doing these things since I was a kid and I’m still improving. Sometimes I need a little balance to stay motivated on the field.
Do you have a message for your teammates and supporters?
I would like to thank everyone for their tremendous support, encouragement, and kind words! It feels really good to have so many people behind me, even though I’ve only just arrived here, and believe me, it gives me a huge boost in every single match. I always try to give my best on the court and off the court. Everyone can count on me!