The Hungarian national team is looking for a new captain

 

After the 1-0 win against Germany in the Nations League, the question that fans are really interested in is who Ádám Szalai's successor will be. The team captain, who scored a back-heel goal, put the armband around Dominik Szoboszlai's arm in a spectacular gesture when he was substituted in Leipzig. And the speculation has been ongoing ever since then: could the experienced footballer's gesture have been a sign of things to come? RB Leipzig's midfielder is 21 years old, perhaps young for such an honor, but there is an argument for him to be chosen. His role in the team is clear: he is a respected and well-liked squad member. His “promotion” could be a good decision from a pedagogical point of view: the responsibility that comes with the armband could make him even more serious and humble. The self-confidence that is natural among professionals, which may seem arrogant from the outside, can be considered rather irritating in Hungary only. In addition, the playmaker has made a lot of progress mentally, and the position of team captain could further enhance his development. He could be a captain now, but he will be one for sure in the years to come.

 

But... Next to Dominik Szoboszlai, or more precisely behind him on the pitch, is Péter Gulácsi, who is ten years ahead of him in age. He is intelligent, calm, and experienced, and could be the team captain with the authority he has; he is also the team captain for his club. However, his goalkeeper position is a disadvantage. Many people think a captain is needed at every point on the pitch: in a conflict near the opponent's goal, and the captain, respected by the opponent and the referee, could help solve the conflicts with the referee. But if he is a hundred meters away from the action... Oliver Kahn, Gianluigi Buffon, Samir Handanović have all given weight to the position of team captain as goalkeepers, but it is still a valid argument that a midfielder who can gently put pressure on the referee and constantly 'hum' into his ear would be ideal for the job. Based on the position, Ádám Nagy and András Schäfer would be a fit. The former has 65 caps, he is the “intellectual” of the dressing room, and others listen to his words. The latter player has suddenly become a very popular figure among his teammates and the fans, and his attitude to the game predestines him to be one: he lives and dies for the team, he's everywhere, and if necessary, he'll go toe-to-toe with the big boys. He was one of the last to join this team, so maybe that's his only drawback, but only for the time being.

If the indispensability of the performance on the pitch were the deciding factor, Willi Orbán would be wearing the armband with the letter C on it. He is the pillar of the defense line, he leads and organizes the team play from the back. If he isn't there, the team is much more vulnerable, and the NL series proved that he could be a starter for any opponent. Even though the English language is widely spoken, and the Leipzig defender is on speaking terms with everyone, it would be a bit strange to have a captain who doesn't speak Hungarian.

 

 

It is an interesting question who decides. Marco Rossi, the national team captain, has previously indicated that he is the one who decides, and he is not the only coach who reserves the right to do so. It is important to have a dominant personality on the pitch to represent him among the others. However, at the press conference after the 0-2 loss to Italy, he said that the role of a leader cannot be bought, and that the squad recognizes the best captain. But perhaps it was more like praising Ádám Szalai when asked aboutBalázs Dzsudzsák's farewell match. In any case, these two statements are not consistent with each other. Many people swear that the dressing room choses the best captain, but the decision on this matter also rests with the head coach.

 

 

On Nemzeti Sport Online, the readers could also vote on the topic: Péter Gulácsi won 42.2% of the votes, Willi Orbán came in second (17.1%) while Dominik Szoboszlai finished third (16.7%).

Translated by Vanda Orosz