I was a young Hungarian boy, full of dreams. As a player for Dinamo Vasas – today known as Vasas SC – I chased the ball across the field, until in 1956 I turned my back on the blood-red regime, together with two of my teammates, András Béres and Miklós Miklós. For a short time I lived in a refugee camp before settling in Amsterdam. I played several friendly matches for SC Enschede, since according to FIFA regulations, political refugees were not allowed to take part in official games for two years.
After completing my studies at the Dutch Film Academy, I began working as a journalist and later as a model – yet I always knew that the world of sports was my true home. I gradually built up my network, and in time, the professional world came to know me as a sports manager, particularly active in Eastern Europe.
My wife had once been a top model at the Corinne Rothschild agency, and in 1961 she won the Miss World title. We often attended fashion shows together, until suddenly we lost our home in Amsterdam, our apartment in Osdorp. Leaving everything behind, we moved to Brussels, where we saw new opportunities ahead.
Fate stepped in when my former coach, Ignác Molnár – who had once managed Willem II and the Dutch national team – asked me to assist him as an interpreter at a negotiation. That’s how I became involved in a transfer deal with Crossing Molenbeek. Although the club wasn’t looking for a player or a coach, through Ignác Molnár’s strong connections I eventually took part in my very first transfer: I helped arrange the move of Fenerbahçe player Cenap Genc to Sint-Truiden. That was my first transfer – and thus began my career as a sports manager.