CHAMPAGNE flowed under the players' feet as the coach was thrown into the air amidst jubilation. They were celebrating their first title in 30 years of drought, the fourth in the club's history. After months of fierce competition, they proudly lifted the championship trophy. They were at the peak, the main story of the country.

Two years later, they filed for bankruptcy. They were demoted from the first to the third, almost amateur league, and had to start from scratch. They fell, got up, and struggled until they returned to the top tier in 2024. The previous weekend, they reclaimed the championship, concluding 13 turbulent years of existence.

This is the story of the Hungarian club ETO FC from Győr, which on Saturday defeated Kisvárdu (0:1) to clinch first place ahead of Ferencváros, ending the latter's seven-year dominance.

Golden Generations and the 2013 Title

Győr ETO FC was founded in 1904. Their best eras were in the 1960s and early 1980s, winning three Hungarian championships, competing in European competitions against giants like Benfica, Juventus, and Manchester United, and reaching the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1965.

The most intriguing period is from 2013 to 2026. Győr won the Hungarian championship in 2013 under coach Attila Pintér, which led to his election as the Hungarian national team coach. His successor, Ferenc Horváth, was one step away from defending the title but lost it to Debrecen due to a goal difference of seven goals in 2014.

Almost a dynasty was created, but it collapsed in 2015.

Bankruptcy and Demotion to the Third Division

The Hungarian portal m4sport detailed what happened to Győr from 2013 to the present. The former owner, the Quaestor group under Czaba Tarsoly, issued fictitious debts to thousands of citizens to maintain liquidity, leading the Hungarian National Bank to revoke their license due to severe irregularities.

Legal proceedings were initiated against the Quaestor group and Czaba Tarsoly, the club's owner. Tarsoly resigned from his position on the Hungarian Football Association (MLSZ) board, and previous sponsors Audi and the city of Győr withdrew their support, leaving the club in a precarious state.

In March 2015, the club, which was competing for a new title, went bankrupt overnight. It became clear that without a new owner, there was no chance of obtaining a first division license. The club, which had played in the first division for 55 years without interruption, shocked the entire city and the football and fan community.

The Path to Recovery

To save the club, the Hungarian Football Association and the city government launched a joint action. The right to compete in a lower division was transferred from Győri ETO FC Kft. to ETO Futsal Kft., paving the way for competition in the third division after settling public debt from loans.

The senior team was released at the end of the season, but the academy produced Miloš Kerkez (22), today's Liverpool star. The first good news was that the football academy remained intact. The second was the loyal fans. The first match in the third division attracted 5,000 spectators, and they chanted "we will never die!" sending a message that the team was needed by the city and the community. The final obstacle on the path to complete recovery was the accumulated debts in 2017.