Csaba László
Encyclopedia
- This article is about the football manager. For the Minister of Finance see Csaba László (politician)Csaba László (politician)Csaba László is a Hungarian politician, who served as Minister of Finance between 2002 and 2004. During his ministership the state budget deficiency rose and the macroeconomic indicators were spoiling because of the so-called "hundred-day program". He was succeeded by Tibor Draskovics.-References:*...
.
Csaba László (born 13 February 1964 in Odorheiu Secuiesc
Odorheiu Secuiesc
Odorheiu Secuiesc is the second-largest city in Harghita County, Transylvania, Romania. In its short form, it is also known as Odorhei in Romanian and Udvarhely in Hungarian...
, Harghita County
Harghita County
Harghita is a county in the center of Romania, in eastern Transylvania, with the county seat at Miercurea-Ciuc.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 326,222 and a population density of 52/km².*Hungarians- 85%...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
) is a Romanian
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
born Hungarian football manager
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
and former player. He is the manager of Belgian Pro League club Charleroi SC
R. Charleroi S.C.
Sporting du Pays de Charleroi is a Belgian football club based in the city of Charleroi, in the province of Hainaut. Charleroi plays in the Belgian Pro League and their current spell at the highest level in Belgian football has started in the 1985–86 season...
. He is former manager of Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club . Previously to that, he had spells managing at Ferencvárosi TC, FC Sopron and the Ugandan national team
Uganda national football team
The Uganda national football team, nicknamed The Cranes, is the national team of Uganda and is controlled by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations...
.
Playing career
László played for a number of clubs in RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Hungary
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...
and West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
including Bayer 05 Uerdingen
KFC Uerdingen 05
KFC Uerdingen 05 is a German association football club in the Uerdingen district of the city of Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. The one time Bundesliga side enjoyed its greatest successes in the 1980s, but most recently has been part of fifth and sixth tier competition.-History:The club was...
, Volán FC
Volán FC
Volán FC is a now defunct Hungarian football team from the Rákospalota neighborhood of Budapest, named after one of the main bus companies in the country Borsod Volán...
and BVSC Budapest
BVSC Budapest
The Budapesti VSC , or just short BVSC, was a Hungarian sports club from the capital Budapest. The club was founded in 1911 and dissolved in 2001. Of importance were amongst others the table tennis, wrestling and football departments...
but never played at the highest level. He was forced to retire at age 27 due to a knee injury. He played as a central midfielder.
Early coaching roles
Csaba László holds a UEFAUEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
coaching certificate
UEFA Pro License
The UEFA Pro Licence is a coaching licence from UEFA . The UEFA Pro Licence is the final coaching qualification available, and follows the completion of the UEFA 'B' and 'A' Licences....
. He started coaching 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...
with BW Kerpen. He then coached at Tus Grevenbroich and Borussia Mönchengladbach II
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
. He found players of the calibre of Marcell Jansen
Marcell Jansen
Marcell Jansen is a German footballer who plays as a left winger or left wingback for Hamburger SV and the German national team. He is well known for his accurate crossing and pace, despite his tall stature. Jansen has represented his country on 35 occasions so far, scoring three times showing up...
, Eugen Polanski
Eugen Polanski
Eugen Polanski is a Polish international footballer who plays for 1. FSV Mainz 05, mainly as a defensive midfielder.-Club career:...
and Tobias Levels
Tobias Levels
Tobias Levels is a German-Dutch footballer who plays for Fortuna Düsseldorf on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach.-External links:* *...
during his spell at Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
's youth squad. He then joined the coaching staff at the Hungarian national team
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, where he was assistant to Lothar Matthäus
Lothar Matthäus
Lothar Herbert Matthäus , is a German football manager and former player.In 1990, he was named European Footballer of the Year and World Soccer Player of the Year after captaining West Germany to victory in the 1990 World Cup...
, in January 2004.
Managing in Hungary
In June 2004 he was appointed as the manager of Hungarian league side Ferencvárosi TC where he defeated Albanian side KF Tirana in the Champions League in 2004 before being eliminated by Sparta Prague. Ferencváros were then dropped into the UEFA CupUEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
, where they defeated and , and earned a respectable 1–1 draw with Feyenoord. His success in Europe earned him the 2005 Hungarian Trainer of the Year award. When Ferencváros ran into financial trouble in 2006, he left to join FC Sopron. He lasted only a matter of months at Sopron and left to become manager of the Uganda national squad
Uganda national football team
The Uganda national football team, nicknamed The Cranes, is the national team of Uganda and is controlled by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations...
later that year.
Uganda
After his appointment as a Head Coach of UgandaUganda national football team
The Uganda national football team, nicknamed The Cranes, is the national team of Uganda and is controlled by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations...
, they missed out on qualification for the African Cup of Nations
African Cup of Nations
The Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as the African Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup, officially CAN , is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football , and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been...
in Ghana 2008 on goal difference in favour of Sudan
Sudan national football team
The Sudan national football team represents Sudan in association football and is controlled by the Sudan Football Association, the governing body for football in Sudan. Sudan's home ground is Al Merreikh Stadium in Omdurman and their head coach is Mohammed Abdullah Mazda...
.
Uganda beat arch-rivals Nigeria
Nigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
for the first time in football history and in December 2007, they finished third in the CECAFA Cup
CECAFA Cup
The CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup is the oldest football tournament in Africa. It is a tournament of FIFA and the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations , and includes national teams from Central and East Africa...
. However, they also underwent their longest run without an away victory for seven years, and lost to Lesotho
Lesotho national football team
The Lesotho national football team, nicknamed the Likuena , is the national team of Lesotho and is controlled by the Lesotho Football Association...
, Niger
Niger national football team
The Niger national football team, nicknamed the Menas, is overseen by the Fédération Nigerienne de Football and a member of CAF. Niger plays in the colors of the Flag of Niger, white, green, and orange...
, Benin
Benin national football team
The Benin national football team, nicknamed Les Écureuils , is the national football team of Benin and is controlled by the Fédération Béninoise de Football. They were known as the Dahomey national football team until 1975, when Dahomey became Benin. They have never made the World Cup but have...
(a loss described as a "humiliation" and "inexcusable") and Tanzania
Tanzania national football team
The Tanzania national football team represents Tanzania in association football and is controlled by the Tanzania Football Federation, the governing body for football in Tanzania. Tanzania's home ground is Benjamin Mkapa national stadium in Dar-es-Salaam and their head coach is Jan Børge Poulsen....
(a "lame-duck display" according to the Ugandan press).
During his period in charge FUFA (Uganda FA) signed a 1 million USD sponsorship deal with African mobile telephone giants MTN and African giants Satellite Television channel GTV signed a 5 years contract to broadcast the league games of the Ugandan football league.
Hearts
He was appointed as manager of Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
side on 11 July 2008. This appointment did not come without controversy
Controversy
Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of opinion. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – "turned in an opposite direction," from contra – "against" – and vertere – to turn, or versus , hence, "to turn...
, however, as the Ugandan FA claimed that they did not give László permission to hold talks with Hearts, and that his appointment as Hearts manager was breaching his contract as Uganda head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. His first signing came on 20 July 2008 when he signed David Obua
David Obua
David Obua is a Ugandan footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Hearts and the Uganda national team.Having arrived at Hearts as a left wing-back, Obua has primarily been used as a left-sided midfield player, although he has also played a number of times as a striker.-Club career:Born...
, who was a vital member of his Uganda side, on a free transfer from Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
.
In his first season with Hearts, Laszlo guided the team to a third-place finish in the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
and qualification for the inaugural Europa League. Laszlo was subsequently named 'Manager of the Year' by both the Scottish Football Writers' Association
Scottish Football Writers' Association
The Scottish Football Writers' Association is an association of Scottish football journalists and correspondents writing for newspapers and agencies, founded in 1965...
and the Scottish Premier League itself. László was sacked as Hearts manager on 29 January 2010; the club had struggled for form during the 2009–10 season. Even though he was Hearts manager for only 18 months, László held the position longer than any other coach during Vladimir Romanov
Vladimir Romanov
Vladimir Nikolayevich Romanov ; born 1947 in Tver Oblast, Russian SFSR, USSR) is an ethnic Russian businessman who also holds Lithuanian citizenship following that country's independence from the Soviet Union. He is chairman of UBIG Investments which is the majority shareholder in Scottish Premier...
's ownership of the club
Vladimir Romanov's ownership of Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Vladimir Romanov, a Russian born Lithuanian businessman, initially acquired 19.6% stake at Hearts during the 2004–05 season. After Romanov made financial guarantees, his stake increased to 29.9%, which was welcomed by a fans representatives...
.
Charleroi
On 23 September 2010, Laszlo was appointed trainer of Belgian Pro League team R. Charleroi S.C.R. Charleroi S.C.
Sporting du Pays de Charleroi is a Belgian football club based in the city of Charleroi, in the province of Hainaut. Charleroi plays in the Belgian Pro League and their current spell at the highest level in Belgian football has started in the 1985–86 season...
.
Personal life
László is of SzékelySzékely
The Székelys or Székely , sometimes also referred to as Szeklers , are a subgroup of the Hungarian people living mostly in the Székely Land, an ethno-cultural region in eastern Transylvania, Romania...
origin. He is married with two children and studied in the Public Secondary School in Odorheiu Secuiesc
Odorheiu Secuiesc
Odorheiu Secuiesc is the second-largest city in Harghita County, Transylvania, Romania. In its short form, it is also known as Odorhei in Romanian and Udvarhely in Hungarian...
, Romania and in the University extension in Hoghia
Feliceni
Feliceni is a commune in Harghita County, Romania, in the vicinity of Odorheiu Secuiesc. It forms part of the Székely Land, an ethno-cultural region in eastern Transylvania.- Component villages :The commune is composed of eleven villages:- History :...
, Romania. He speaks four languages; English, German, Hungarian and Romanian. As an ethnic minority growing up in Communist Romania
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
he was forced to listen to Hungarian football matches
Football in Hungary
- History :The Hungarian Football Federation , the sport's national governing body, was founded in 1901. Hungary were regular features at major tournaments, such as the first Olympic Football Tournament and many FIFA World Cup...
on the radio in secret as foreign radio broadcasts were banned. He said, about this: "Life under the regime was brutal. It was especially hard on us Hungarians living there. We used to secretly listen to Ferencváros matches on the radio". He fled to West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
on a tourist's visa in 1984 to live with his uncle and start a new life in the West.
Honours
- Manager of the Year in Hungary: 2003-04.
- Manager of the Year in Scotland: 2008-09.