Gábor Szalai (born 9 June 2000) is a Hungarian footballer who plays as a defender for Nemzeti Bajnokság club Ferencváros.

Gábor Szalai
Personal information
Full name Gábor Sándor Szalai
Date of birth (2000-06-09) 9 June 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Kecskemét, Hungary
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
Ferencváros
Number 22
Youth career
2010–2017 Kecskemét
2017–2019 Brooke House Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2024 Kecskemét 114 (21)
2024 Lausanne-Sport 16 (0)
2024– Ferencváros 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 December 2024

Club career

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Kecskemét

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Szalai joined the football academy of Kecskemét in 2010. He has been playing for the club's first team since the 2019–20 season.[1] On 24 June 2022, he renewed his contract with Kecskemét.[2]

2022–23 season

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On 8 April 2023, he scored his first goal in the 2022–23 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season against Puskás Akadémia FC in a 3–0 victory at the Pancho Aréna, Felcsút.[3] On 28 April 2023, he scored a goal in a 3–2 defeat against Paksi FC at the Széktói Stadion on game week 29.[4][5] On 13 May 2023, he scored his third goal in the season in a 2–0 victory against reigning champions Ferencvárosi TC on game week 31.[6][7]

2023–24 season

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On 7 August 2023, he scored his first goal in a 3–1 victory over Kisvárda FC in the 2023–24 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season at the Széktói Stadion.[8] On 13 August 2023, he scored the winning goal against Fehérvár FC at the Széktói Stadion.[9] He scored his third goal in Szusza Ferenc Stadion on 21 October 2023 in 5–3 defeat against Újpest FC on game week 10.[10] On 26 November 2023, he scored his fourth goal in the season in a 3–3 draw against Fehérvár FC at the Sóstói Stadion.[11] On 4 January 2023, it was rumored that the club received an offer from a club to purchase his rights to play.[12][13]

Lausanne

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On 7 January 2024, he was signed by Swiss Super League club FC Lausanne-Sport.[14][15][16] On 20 January 2024, he dsbuted in a 1-0 defeat against FC St. Gallen at the Stade de la Tuilière.[17] On 28 January 2024, he received a yellow card in a 2-1 defeat against Luzern at the Swissporarena in the 2023–24 Swiss Super League season.[18]

Ferencváros

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On 31 August 2024, he was signed by Nemzeti Bajnokság club Ferencvárosi TC.[19][20]

International career

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In an interview with Nemzeti Sport, he said that he was surprised that Marco Rossi invited him to join the national team.[21] At the press conference of the national team in Telki, he said that he had stage fright to some extent but he could sleep well before joining the national team. He said that the community of the national team is really good and the team will accept him.[22]

He was called up in the Hungary national football team against Serbia national football team.[23]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 5 December 2024[24][25]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kecskemét 2019–20 Nemzeti Bajnokság III 11 0 2 1 13 1
2020–21 29 4 2 0 31 4
2021–22 Nemzeti Bajnokság II 30 10 3 0 33 10
2022–23 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 29 3 1 0 30 3
2023–24 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 15 4 2 0 2[a] 0 19 4
Total 114 21 10 1 2 0 0 0 127 22
Lausanne-Sport 2023–24 Swiss Super League 12 0 12 0
2024–25 Swiss Super League 2 0 0 0 2 0
Total 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0
Ferencváros 2024–25 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 2 0 0 0 1[b] 0 3 0
Total 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
Career total 134 21 10 1 3 0 0 0 148 22
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

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  1. ^ "Szalai Gábor Angliából tért haza hozzánk" [Gábor Szalai has returned back to us from England] (in Hungarian). Kecskemét. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  2. ^ B, K. (2022-06-24). "Kecskemét: újabb két játékossal hosszabbított a klub - NSO". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  3. ^ "Puskás vs. Kecskemét - 8 April 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  4. ^ "Kecskemét vs. Paks - 28 April 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  5. ^ nemzetisport.hu (2023-04-28). "Micsoda rangadó! Varga Barnabás mesterhármasával fordított a Paks K". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  6. ^ "Kecskemét vs. Ferencváros - 13 May 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  7. ^ nemzetisport.hu (2023-05-13). "A Kecskemét két góllal legyőzte a Ferencvárost! - NSO". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  8. ^ "Kecskemét vs. Kisvárda - 7 August 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  9. ^ "Kecskemét vs. Fehérvár - 13 August 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  10. ^ "Újpest vs. Kecskemét - 21 October 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  11. ^ "Fehérvár vs. Kecskemét - 26 November 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  12. ^ "Tóth Ákos: Szalai Gáborért külföldről érkezett ajánlat - Kecskeméti TE". Tóth Ákos: Szalai Gáborért külföldről érkezett ajánlat - Kecskeméti TE (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  13. ^ nemzetisport.hu (2024-01-05). "NB I: Svájcba igazolhat a válogatottba is meghívott KTE-védő – NS-i". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  14. ^ Jeanmonod, Benoît (2024-01-07). "Gábor Szalai est Lausannois !". FC Lausanne-Sport (in French). Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  15. ^ nemzetisport.hu (2024). "NB I: egy svájci klub kivásárolta a válogatottba is meghívott KTE-v". www.nemzetisport.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  16. ^ "Szalai Gábor a svájci élvonalba igazolt - Kecskeméti TE". Szalai Gábor a svájci élvonalba igazolt - Kecskeméti TE (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  17. ^ "Lausanne-Sport vs. St.Gallen - 20 January 2024 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  18. ^ "Luzern vs. Lausanne-Sport - 28 January 2024 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  19. ^ "Magyar védővel erősített bajnokcsapatunk". fradi.hu (in Hungarian). 2024-08-31. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  20. ^ "Szalai Gábort szerződtette a Ferencváros – hivatalos". Nemzeti Sport (in Hungarian). 2024-08-31. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  21. ^ nemzetisport.hu (2023-05-23). "Sportrádió: Nem teljesen számítottam a meghívóra – Szalai Gábor - N". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  22. ^ nemzetisport.hu (2023-06-05). "Válogatott: "Volt lámpalázam, de azért tudtam aludni" – a KTE újonc". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  23. ^ nemzetisport.hu (2023-08-29). "Gulácsi visszatér, és három újonc is bekerült Rossi keretébe". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  24. ^ "Szalai Gábor (Kecskemét 2000.06.09 - ) • Személyek • Magyarfutball.hu - a magyar labdarúgás adatbázisa". www.magyarfutball.hu.
  25. ^ "Hungary - G. Szalai - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
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