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Márton Fülöp

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Márton Fülöp
Fülöp playing for Sunderland in 2010
Personal information
Full name Márton Fülöp[1]
Date of birth (1983-05-03)3 May 1983[1]
Place of birth Budapest, Hungary
Date of death 12 November 2015(2015-11-12) (aged 32)
Place of death Budapest, Hungary
Height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2002 MTK Budapest 0 (0)
2002–2003 BKV Előre SC 16 (0)
2003–2004 Bodajk 27 (0)
2004–2007 Tottenham Hotspur 0 (0)
2005Chesterfield (loan) 7 (0)
2005–2006Coventry City (loan) 31 (0)
2006–2007Sunderland (loan) 1 (0)
2007–2010 Sunderland 44 (0)
2007Leicester City (loan) 24 (0)
2008Stoke City (loan) 0 (0)
2010Manchester City (loan) 3 (0)
2010–2011 Ipswich Town 35 (0)
2011–2012 West Bromwich Albion 1 (0)
2012–2013 Asteras Tripolis 28 (0)
Total 217 (0)
International career
2004–2005 Hungary U21 11 (0)
2005–2011 Hungary 24 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Márton Fülöp (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈmaːrton ˈfyløp]; 3 May 1983 – 12 November 2015) was a Hungarian professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

After playing in Hungary for MTK Budapest, BKV Előre SC and BFC Siófok, he signed for English club Tottenham Hotspur, who loaned him to Chesterfield and Coventry, then to Sunderland with whom he permanently signed in 2007. Further loans to Leicester City, Stoke City and Manchester City ended with a transfer to Ipswich Town. He ended his career with spells at West Bromwich Albion and Greece's Asteras Tripolis.

Fülöp also represented his country at under-21 and full international level, earning 24 senior caps from his debut in 2005. He died in 2015 after a battle with cancer.[2][3]

Club career

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Career in Hungary

[edit]

Márton Fülöp was born on 3 May 1983 in Budapest[1] and was a graduate of the local club MTK Budapest FC. He was a squad member in the 2001/2002 season without playing a single league match. Between 2002 and 2004, Fülöp played on loan for two lower Hungarian division BKV Előre SC and BFC Siófok.

Tottenham Hotspur

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Fülöp signed for Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2004 from MTK Hungária FC after a successful trial with the club, and said: "The trial went well and I'm delighted the move has gone through, this is a big step for me."[4] On 11 March 2005, due to an injury to Carl Muggleton, he joined League One club Chesterfield on a month's loan,[5] making his English debut in a 2–1 home win over Huddersfield Town the following day.[6] This loan was extended until the end of the season.[7] He played in seven games before being recalled to Spurs as cover for Radek Černý due to an injury to Paul Robinson.

He joined Coventry City on a three-month loan on 28 October 2005,[8] and in the 2005–06 season he was the first-choice for the Sky Blues in the Championship, with 31 appearances. In early 2006 he stated that he did not intend to stay at Tottenham as he admitted it would be hard to get past number one Robinson, and expressed a desire to join Coventry in a permanent move.[9]

Sunderland

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However, in November 2006, he signed for another Championship team, Sunderland, on a month's loan, with a view to a permanent transfer once the transfer window opened in January. Fülöp made his debut for Sunderland on 9 December in the 2–1 victory over Luton Town. Afterwards, Fülöp expressed his desire to join Sunderland permanently.[10] His deal at Sunderland was made permanent for £900,000 on 2 January 2007, in a deal which involved fellow goalkeeper Ben Alnwick going to Tottenham Hotspur.[11]

Fülöp signed a year-long loan deal with Leicester City of the Championship on 16 August 2007,[12] making his debut against Crystal Palace two days later, which ended in a 2–2 draw. On 1 September, the goalkeeper made a string of superb saves against Plymouth Argyle to ensure Leicester a point at Home Park.[13] This would be the first of a number of fine performances from Fülöp. On 26 September, he made saves which contributed in the team's shock victory over top-flight Aston Villa in the League Cup.[14] He was twice named in the Championship Team of the Week, on 1 and 22 October.[15][16]

Fülöp made another fine performance against Chelsea in another League Cup match on 31 October, twice denying Claudio Pizarro and pushing an effort from Scott Sinclair onto the post, but could not prevent his side from losing 4–3 at Stamford Bridge.[17] His form during that season prompted the club to bid for him on a permanent basis in the January transfer window. Fülöp told Sky Sports on 21 December that he was interested in a permanent deal with Leicester,[18] and the club made an offer for him eight days later, together with Graham Kavanagh.[19] He played his last match for Leicester in a 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic at the Walkers Stadium on 29 December 2007.[20]

Fülöp was recalled to Sunderland on 31 December.[21] On 4 January 2008, Leicester manager Ian Holloway accused Sunderland counterpart Roy Keane of being greedy after his initial bid to sign Fülöp was rejected. A total of £1 million was offered, however Keane demanded £3 million. Holloway refused to pay more than £1 million, ending any hopes of keeping Fülöp.[22] Fülöp revealed on 25 January that he was unhappy to be recalled by Keane and that he actually wanted to stay at Leicester.[23]

Fülöp was loaned to Stoke City on 22 February 2008,[24] but was recalled by Sunderland just four days later as back up cover to Craig Gordon following Darren Ward's injury, making one appearance in the final Premier League game at home to Arsenal.[25] Stoke had a bid of £1.7 million for him rejected by Sunderland in June,[26] but the clubs later agreed a fee in July of £3m.[27] However, the deal collapsed after Stoke signed Thomas Sørensen on a free transfer instead, after the deal was stalled because of payments to Fülöp's agent. Due to Gordon's injury, Fülöp had taken over the goalkeeping position, and was in goal for the second Tyne–Wear derby of the season on 1 February 2009.

On 27 April 2010, Fülöp joined Manchester City on an emergency loan until the end of the 2009–10 season. City's first-team goalkeeper Shay Given suffered a dislocated shoulder against Arsenal, back-up goalkeepers Stuart Taylor and David González were both sidelined with injury, and Joe Hart on loan at Birmingham City, leaving City with only the inexperienced Gunnar Nielsen available to play.[28] His debut came at home against Aston Villa on 1 May in a 3–1 victory.[29]

Ipswich Town

[edit]

On 2 August 2010, it was reported that Ipswich Town had agreed a deal to sign Fülöp from Sunderland, with a medical the last remaining phase in the transfer left to be completed and joining under manager Roy Keane (who signed him for Sunderland in 2007).[30] He passed his medical and signed a two-year contract on 5 August.[31] Following his move to Ipswich Town, Fülöp revealed he choose to join Ipswich in order to play first-team football.[32] Fülöp made his debut for Ipswich Town in a 3–1 win over Middlesbrough.

West Bromwich Albion

[edit]

After staying for one season with Ipswich Town, Fülöp signed a one-year contract with West Bromwich Albion on 6 August 2011,[33] moving on a free transfer.[34] He was a replacement for Boaz Myhill, who left to join Birmingham City on loan, and Scott Carson, who joined Bursaspor. Fülöp was the second-choice goalkeeper for West Brom behind Ben Foster, who had joined on loan from Birmingham City. Despite this, Fülöp made his debut for West Brom in a League Cup 4–1 victory against AFC Bournemouth.[35] His next appearance for West Brom was again in the League Cup against Everton, Everton won the match 2–1 after their captain Phil Neville scored an extra-time winner.[36]

Fülöp played his only league game with West Brom against Arsenal on the last day of the 2011–12 season, in Roy Hodgson's last game in charge before becoming manager of the England national team. Arsenal won 3–2 with all three of their goals being widely considered preventable by Fülöp,[37] who was released from his contract days later.[38]

Asteras Tripolis

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After being released by West Brom, Fülöp moved to Greece, joining Asteras Tripolis on a two-year deal.[39]

International career

[edit]

Fülöp made his full international debut for the Hungarian national team on 31 May 2005, coming on at half-time for Gábor Király against France in a friendly at the Stade Municipal Saint-Symphorien in Metz. He did not concede a goal, but Hungary lost 2–1.

Fülöp earned his fifth and sixth cap against Bosnia and Turkey during the Euro 2008 qualifying.[40][41] He managed two clean sheets against Malta and Poland on 13 and 17 October, but conceded three goals against Moldova on 17 November. Fülöp conceded two more goals in Hungary's last match of the Euro 2008 qualifying, losing 2–1 to Greece. Hungary finished second last in Group C with 12 points.

Illness and death

[edit]

In 2013, Fülöp announced that he was taking a break from football after having a malignant tumour removed from his arm.[42] In 2014, he announced that he was preparing for a return to the sport.[43]

Fülöp died of cancer on 12 November 2015, aged 32.[42] On the day of his death, Hungarian internationals, wearing black armbands, won 1–0 away to the favoured Norway team in the first leg of their UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying play-off game.[43] Hungarian goalkeeper Gábor Király, who celebrated his 100th international appearance and was rated as the best player of the match,[44] said afterwards: "We simply could not afford to concede any goals on this match, out of respect to him".[45] When with only two minutes remaining from the game, Norway's Pål André Helland headed a rebounding ball against the crossbar with an open goal gaping, Hungarian commentator István Hajdú B. remarked: "This was probably tipped to the bar by Márton Fülöp...this was a helping hand from the sky".[46] Three days later, the rematch in Budapest started with a minute's silence in the memory of him (as well as former Golden Team member Pál Várhidi and the victims of the Paris terror attacks). Hungary beat Norway 2–1, and qualified for the Euros after 44 years, reaching a major international competition for the first time since the 1986 World Cup.[47] Several players commemorated Fülöp in their post match interviews, including goalscorer Tamás Priskin who paid tribute by dedicating his goal to his late teammate.[48]

The day after his death, Sunderland flew their flags at the Stadium of Light and their training ground at half-staff as a mark of respect.[49]

On 14 June 2016, before Hungary's first Euro 2016 match, the three goalkeepers of the Hungarian squad, Király, Dénes Dibusz and Péter Gulácsi, were noticed while being photographed together during the pre-game field walk, holding a pair of keeper gloves labelled with Fülöp's name. Király later revealed that he received the gloves from Fülöp's father, and he made a promise to bring them with him during the entire tournament.[50]

On 3 May 2023, which would have been Fülöp's 40th birthday, Zalaegerszegi TE won the Hungarian Cup. After the game Hungarian international goalkeeper Patrik Demjén dedicated the victory to Fülöp's memory.[51]

Career statistics

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Club

[edit]

Source:[52][53]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
MTK Budapest 2001–02 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BKV Előre SC 2002–03 Nemzeti Bajnokság II 16 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
Bodajk 2003–04 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 27 0 0 0 0 0 27 0
Tottenham Hotspur 2004–05 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2005–06 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2006–07 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chesterfield (loan) 2004–05 League One 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Coventry City (loan) 2005–06 Championship 31 0 2 0 0 0 33 0
Sunderland 2006–07 Championship 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
2007–08 Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2008–09 Premier League 26 0 2 0 2 0 30 0
2009–10 Premier League 13 0 1 0 0 0 14 0
Total 45 0 3 0 2 0 50 0
Leicester City (loan) 2007–08 Championship 24 0 3 0 0 0 27 0
Stoke City (loan) 2007–08 Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Manchester City (loan) 2009–10 Premier League 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Ipswich Town 2010–11 Championship 35 0 1 0 2 0 38 0
West Bromwich Albion 2011–12 Premier League 1 0 0 0 2 0 3 0
Asteras Tripolis 2012–13 Super League Greece 28 0 0 0 0 0 28 0
Career total 217 0 9 0 6 0 0 0 232 0

International

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Source:[53]

National team Year Apps Goals
Hungary 2005 1 0
2006 1 0
2007 9 0
2008 6 0
2009 3 0
2010 2 0
2011 2 0
Total 24 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 160. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ^ Bohus Péter, Csizmazia Zoltán. "Index - Sport - Meghalt Fülöp Márton válogatott kapus". index.hu.
  3. ^ Origo. "Meghalt Fülöp Márton válogatott futballkapus". origo.hu/.
  4. ^ "Spurs sign keeper Fulop". BBC Sport. 28 May 2004. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  5. ^ "Spireites swoop for Spurs stopper". BBC Sport. 11 March 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  6. ^ "Chesterfield 2–1 Huddersfield". BBC Sport. 12 March 2005. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Spireites extend Fulop loan spell". BBC Sport. 8 April 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  8. ^ "Sky Blues make Fulop loan swoop". BBC Sport. 28 October 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  9. ^ "Fulop wants a permanent City move". BBC Sport. 29 March 2006. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  10. ^ "Fulop keen on Black Cats switch". BBC Sport. 11 December 2006. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  11. ^ "Alnwick joins Spurs in swap move". BBC Sport. 2 January 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  12. ^ "Foxes sign Sunderland duo on loan". BBC Sport. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  13. ^ Plymouth 0–0 Leicester, BBC Sport 1 September 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2007.
  14. ^ "Villa out-foxed by Leicester". Sky Sports. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
  15. ^ "Team Of The Week". Leicester City F.C. 1 October 2007. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
  16. ^ "Team Of The Week (22 October 2007)" (PDF). The Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  17. ^ "Chelsea 4–3 Leicester". BBC Sport. 31 October 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  18. ^ "Fulop fancies Foxes switch". Sky Sports. 21 December 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2007.
  19. ^ "Leicester bid for Sunderland pair". BBC Sport. 29 December 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  20. ^ "Leicester 1–1 Charlton". BBC Sport. 29 December 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2008.
  21. ^ "Fulop Returns". Leicester City F.C. 31 December 2007. Archived from the original on 12 April 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  22. ^ "Holloway slams greedy Keane". Sky Sports. 4 January 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  23. ^ "I wanted to stay – Fulop". Leicester Mercury. 25 January 2008.
  24. ^ "Fulop signs!". Stoke City F.C. 22 February 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  25. ^ "Fulop Recalled". Stoke City F.C. 26 February 2008. Archived from the original on 28 February 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2008.
  26. ^ "Potters have Fulop bid rejected". BBC Sport. 30 June 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  27. ^ "Stoke agree fee for keeper Fulop". BBC Sport. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  28. ^ "Man City sign Sunderland keeper Marton Fulop on loan". BBC Sport. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  29. ^ "Man City 3 – 1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 1 May 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  30. ^ "Fulop deal agreed". Sky Sports. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
  31. ^ "Ipswich sign goalkeeper Fulop from Sunderland". ESPNsoccernet. 5 August 2010. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  32. ^ "Fulop happy with Town switch". Sky Sports. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  33. ^ "Fulop seals Baggies move". West Bromwich Albion official site. 6 August 2011. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  34. ^ "Official: West Brom complete Marton Fulop signing from Ipswich Town". goal.com. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  35. ^ "Bournemouth 1 – 4 West Brom". BBC Sport. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  36. ^ "Everton 2 – 1 West Brom". BBC Sport. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  37. ^ West Brom 2–3 Arsenal, BBC Sport
  38. ^ Marton Fulop one of five to leave West Bromwich Albion, BBC Sport
  39. ^ "Fulop goes Greek". Sky Sports. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  40. ^ "International Round Up". Leicester City F.C. 10 September 2007. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
  41. ^ "Turkey beats Hungary 3–0 in Euro 2008 qualifying". International Herald Tribune. 12 September 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
  42. ^ a b ESPN FC Staff. "Marton Fulop, former Hungary keeper, dies aged 32 after battle with cancer". Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  43. ^ a b Mason, Richard (12 November 2015). ""He was a genuinely lovely man" - Sunderland pay tribute to Marton Fulop as goalkeeper dies at the age of 32". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  44. ^ "International-EURO-Cup-2014-2015-Norway-Hungary". whoscored.com. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  45. ^ "A magyar kapu ma este érintetlen kellett, hogy maradjon!" (in Hungarian). kiralygabor.eu. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  46. ^ "Euro 2016 Team Focus: Hungary's Key Men, Expectations and More". 90min.com. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  47. ^ "Hungary beats Norway 2-1, qualifies for Euro 2016". yahoo.com. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  48. ^ "Hungary striker Priskin dedicates crucial goal to Fulop". FourFourTwo. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  49. ^ "Tribute: Marton Fulop". Sunderland AFC. 13 November 2015.
  50. ^ "Hungary using late keeper Marton Fulop's gloves as a lucky charm during Euro 2016". mirror.co.uk. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  51. ^ "Szívszorító szavakkal értékelte a kupagyőzelmet a Zalaegerszeg kapusa" (in Hungarian). origo.hu. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  52. ^ Márton Fülöp at Soccerway
  53. ^ a b Márton Fülöp at National-Football-Teams.com
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