MLS Sporting Kansas City

Wizards Sign Hungarian Striker Zoltan Hercegfalvi

Published on July 28, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


(July 28, 2009) -The Kansas City Wizards announced Tuesday that the club has signed Hungarian striker Zoltan Hercegfalvi to a Major League Soccer contract. Zoltan, as he will be identified on his jersey and in official communications by the team, joins the Wizards from Honved FC in Budapest, Hungary. Zoltan has played for three clubs in his native Hungary and Slavia Prague, one of the top teams in the Czech Republic. He has also appeared three times for the Hungarian National Team.

Zoltan has received his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate and is eligible for selection immediately. Per League and club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Zoltan will be available to Kansas City media members Thursday at the team's weekly press conference starting at 12:30 p.m. CT at Kansas City's Swope Park Training Center. Technical Director Peter Vermes will translate for the media.

"After seeing Zoltan in person, we recognized his technical abilities as well as his tactical understanding of the game," Vermes said. "We feel that he will provide us with additional attacking options."

Zoltan joined Honved FC at age 6 and played all the way through their system before making his initial first-team appearance in 1998. He played at Honved until 2003, and then rejoined the club in 2006 after stints with FC Feherver, Lombard-Papa TFC and Slavia Prague. In total, Zoltan spent more than 20 years at Honved FC before deciding to join Kansas City.

"I've always had the desire to play outside of Hungary," Zoltan said. "Now that soccer in the United States has taken a big step forward, I'm very excited to come here. I describe myself as a very technical player. I have a great love for the game of soccer, and people will see that when I play. I consider myself to be a complete forward. I can finish, and I also set up opportunities for other players."

Zoltan becomes the first Hungarian player in Kansas City Wizards history, though Vermes is of Hungarian descent and speaks Hungarian. Zoltan becomes the second Hungarian in MLS history. Istvan Urbanyi played 23 games for San Jose in 1997.

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