Bertalan Bicskei
Encyclopedia
Bertalan Bicskei was a football goalkeeper and coach
, and he also honed his skills in Honved
and MTK Budapest, both Premier Division Hungarian sides. As a goalkeeper of great talent, he played many games for the National Youth Team of Hungary
, as well as the 13 and A senior National teams. After his playing days were over, he devoted much of his time to coaching and teaching young soccer players on the highest level.
. As one of his greatest achievements on that level, under his coaching and guidance, the Under-18 National Team of Hungary
, captured the European Youth Championship in Moscow
, in 1984.
Before moving on to the senior level, Bicskei successfully completed the, work, and graduated at the world renowned soccer academy in Cologne
, Germany
in 1986. He is one of just a few Hungarian
-born coaches who was able to earn one of the most respected coaching diplomas in the world. While in Germany
, he also studied philosophy, and learned to speak excellent German
.
In 1987/88 Bicskei become head coach of Honved Budapest, (that year, Honved won the National title and the Hungarian cup) and his professional career was off to a flying start. In 1999/90 he, was selected to coach the senior national team of Hungary. In 1991 he could not refuse a challenging offer from South Korea
and he become head coach of Daewoo Royals. Under his direction, the club won the national title, national cup, and he was voted, coach of the year in South Korea
. From 1992 to 1994 he coached club FC Luzern in Switzerland
. In the 1995/96 he returned home briefly to coach MTK Budapest.
Bicskei packed his suitcase again in 1995, this time to Saudi Arabia
where he coached the Al-Riyadh
club in the 1995/96 seasons. During his stay in Saudi Arabia
, he started working on his book, "Preparation of Young Footballs", a soccer achievement that not only complements, but also challenges everything that was written thus far on teaching young soccer players to achieve the highest level. After returning home, he coached Honved Budapest once again, 1996/97 seasons, and he was technical director at RABA ETO Gyor in the 1998/99 seasons.
Between 1998 and 2001 he served his second stint as the national coach of Hungary, later becoming the technical director of the Hungarian Football Federation between 2006 and mid-2008.
In the second half of 2004, the Football Association of Malaysia
selected Bertalan Bicskei, to succeed Allan Harris
. Bicskei led the national side to third place at the regional Tiger Cup
competition, but was demoted to youth development duties by FAM for his actions during a friendly against Singapore
in Penang
on 8 June 2005. Bicskei, disgusted by the standard of officiating, threw a bottle onto the pitch before confronting a Singapore player. In September 2005 the contract was terminated after mutual agreement.
Bicksei was given the job of Liberia
's national coach in July 2010 on a four-year contract, but had to take a leave of absence in February 2011 after being poisoned in Liberia.
He has an adopted son called Wilson.
after a long battle with illness. He was 67 years old. The death of Bicskei was described as a loss to "a very important part of Hungarian football".
Active career
As a youth player, he played for the most famous Hungarian club side, FerencvarosFerencváros
Ferencváros is the 9th district of Budapest , Hungary.- Name :The southern suburb of Pest was named after King Francis I on 4 December 1792 when he was crowned king of Hungary.- History :The development of Ferencváros began in the late 18th century....
, and he also honed his skills in Honved
Budapest Honvéd FC
Budapest Honvéd FC |football]] team. "Honved" means the Homeland Defense. Originally formed as Kispest AC, they became Kispest FC in 1926 before reverting to their original name in 1944. The team enjoyed a golden age during the 1950s when it was renamed Budapest Honvéd SE and became the Hungarian...
and MTK Budapest, both Premier Division Hungarian sides. As a goalkeeper of great talent, he played many games for the National Youth Team of Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, as well as the 13 and A senior National teams. After his playing days were over, he devoted much of his time to coaching and teaching young soccer players on the highest level.
Team manager
From 1977 to 1982, he worked as the coaching director for the MTK Budapest's youth programme, and from 1982 to 1986 he was the Youth Coach Director for the Hungarian national football teamHungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
. As one of his greatest achievements on that level, under his coaching and guidance, the Under-18 National Team of Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, captured the European Youth Championship in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, in 1984.
Before moving on to the senior level, Bicskei successfully completed the, work, and graduated at the world renowned soccer academy in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1986. He is one of just a few Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
-born coaches who was able to earn one of the most respected coaching diplomas in the world. While in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, he also studied philosophy, and learned to speak excellent German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
.
In 1987/88 Bicskei become head coach of Honved Budapest, (that year, Honved won the National title and the Hungarian cup) and his professional career was off to a flying start. In 1999/90 he, was selected to coach the senior national team of Hungary. In 1991 he could not refuse a challenging offer from South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and he become head coach of Daewoo Royals. Under his direction, the club won the national title, national cup, and he was voted, coach of the year in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. From 1992 to 1994 he coached club FC Luzern in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. In the 1995/96 he returned home briefly to coach MTK Budapest.
Bicskei packed his suitcase again in 1995, this time to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
where he coached the Al-Riyadh
Al-Riyadh
Al-Riyadh is a Saudi Arabian football club based in Riyadh that is currently playing in the Second Division .Although it can be known by their football team, Al-Riyadh also have squads playing at other sports....
club in the 1995/96 seasons. During his stay in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, he started working on his book, "Preparation of Young Footballs", a soccer achievement that not only complements, but also challenges everything that was written thus far on teaching young soccer players to achieve the highest level. After returning home, he coached Honved Budapest once again, 1996/97 seasons, and he was technical director at RABA ETO Gyor in the 1998/99 seasons.
Between 1998 and 2001 he served his second stint as the national coach of Hungary, later becoming the technical director of the Hungarian Football Federation between 2006 and mid-2008.
In the second half of 2004, the Football Association of Malaysia
Football Association of Malaysia
The Football Association of Malaysia is the governing body for football in Malaysia, responsible for organising the Malaysian national football team and the major football and futsal tournaments within the country. The Football Association of Malaysia main headquarters is located at Wisma...
selected Bertalan Bicskei, to succeed Allan Harris
Allan Harris
Allan Harris was a footballer who played for Chelsea, Coventry City and QPR. His brother Ron was also a professional footballer....
. Bicskei led the national side to third place at the regional Tiger Cup
Tiger Cup
The ASEAN Football Championship , is a biennial international association football competition organized by the ASEAN Football Federation , contested by the national teams of Southeast Asia...
competition, but was demoted to youth development duties by FAM for his actions during a friendly against Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
on 8 June 2005. Bicskei, disgusted by the standard of officiating, threw a bottle onto the pitch before confronting a Singapore player. In September 2005 the contract was terminated after mutual agreement.
Bicksei was given the job of Liberia
Liberia national football team
The Liberia national football team, nicknamed the Lone Stars, is the national team of Liberia and is controlled by the Liberia Football Association. Although the country produced the 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year, George Weah, they have never reached the World Cup finals...
's national coach in July 2010 on a four-year contract, but had to take a leave of absence in February 2011 after being poisoned in Liberia.
He has an adopted son called Wilson.
Death
On 16 July 2011, Bicskei passed away in BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
after a long battle with illness. He was 67 years old. The death of Bicskei was described as a loss to "a very important part of Hungarian football".