Márton Fülöp
Encyclopedia
Márton Fülöp (ˈmaːrton ˈfyløp; born 3 May 1983) is a Hungarian
footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion
as a goalkeeper. After playing in Hungary for MTK Budapest FC, BKV Előre SC
and BFC Siófok
, he signed for English club Tottenham Hotspur
.
Loan periods with Chesterfield
and Coventry
was followed by a spell on loan with 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.
Fülöp has also represented his country at under-21
and full international
level.
in the summer of 2004 from MTK Hungária FC
after a successful trial with the club. In the 2004–05 season he joined Chesterfield
on a month's loan. This loan was extended until the end of the season. 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 in October 2005. In the 2005–06 season he was the first-choice for Coventry City. He did not make a first team appearance in a competitive match for Tottenham, but was on the bench 16 times and played nine reserve matches in the 2004–05 season.
In early 2006 he stated that he did not intend to stay at Tottenham Hotspur as he admitted it would be hard to get past number one Paul Robinson
. He had expressed a desire to join Coventry City
on a permanent move. However, in November 2006, he signed for Sunderland
, on a month's loan, with a view to a permanent transfer once the transfer window opened in January.
. In December, Fülöp expressed his desire to join Sunderland permanently. His deal at Sunderland was made permanent for £
900,000 on 2 January 2007, in a deal which involved Ben Alnwick
going to Tottenham Hotspur.
Fülöp signed a year long loan deal with Leicester City
on 16 August 2007, 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
. This would be the first of a number of fine performances from Fülöp. On 26 September, he repeated his string of superb saves which contributed in the team's shock victory over Aston Villa
in the League Cup
. He was twice named in the Championship Team Of The Week, on 1 October and 22 October.
Fülöp made another fine performance against Chelsea
in a 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. 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, and the club made an offer for him on 29 December, together with Graham Kavanagh
. He played his last match for Leicester in a 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic
at the Walkers Stadium
on 29 December 2007.
Fülöp was recalled to Sunderland on 31 December. On 4 January 2008, Leicester manager Ian Holloway
accused 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. Fülöp revealed on 25 January that he was unhappy to be recalled by Roy Keane and that he actually wanted to stay at Leicester.
Fülöp was loaned to Stoke City
on 22 February 2008, 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. Stoke had a bid of £1.7 million for him rejected by Sunderland in June, but the clubs later agreed a fee in July of £3m. 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 Craig Gordon's injury, Fülöp had taken over the goalkeeping position, and was in goal for the second Tyne-wear derby of the season on the first of February 2009. With Gordon's injuries Fülöp has become the first choice keeper and proved his worth with many fine performances to help keep Sunderland in the Premier League at the end of the 2008/09 season. He also got recognition for several saves made in the Premier League opener away to Bolton, which they won 1–0.
on an emergency loan until the end of the 2009–10 season on 27 April 2010. City's first-team goalkeeper Shay Given
suffered a dislocated shoulder against Arsenal, back-up 'keepers Stuart Taylor and David González Giraldo
were both sidelined with injury, and Joe Hart
on loan at Birmingham City F.C.
leaving City with only the inexperienced Gunnar Nielsen available to play. His debut came at home against Aston Villa
on 1 May 2010 in a 3–1 victory.
had agreed a deal to sign Fülöp from Sunderland, with a medical the last remaining phase in the transfer left to be completed. He passed his medical and signed a two-year contract on 5 August.
on 6 August 2011, moving on a free transfer.
, coming on at half-time against France and managing to not concede a goal although Hungary lost 2–1. He has also played a number of U-21 games in addition to 10 U-21 caps
he had when he signed for Tottenham Hotspur
.
Fülöp was not selected to play for Hungary again for about two years until September 2007 when he earned his fifth and sixth cap against Bosnia
and Turkey
during the Euro 2008 qualifying. 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.
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...
footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
as a goalkeeper. After playing in Hungary for MTK Budapest FC, BKV Előre SC
BKV Előre SC
BKV Előre SC is an Hungarian football club located in Budapest, Hungary. It currently plays in Hungarian National Championship II. The team's colors are yellow and blue.- Current squad :As of 6 September 2011, according to the club's ....
and BFC Siófok
BFC Siófok
Bodajk FC Siófok, or generally short BFC Siófok is a Hungarian football club based in Siófok, a small town on the shores ofLake Balaton. The club was founded in 1921 as Siófok SE . The component Bodajk in the club's name stems from a merger with Bodajk FC in 2005. The colours of the club are...
, he signed for English club Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
.
Loan periods with Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
and Coventry
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
was followed by a spell on loan with Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
with whom he permanently signed in 2007. Further loans to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
ended with a transfer to Ipswich Town.
Fülöp has also represented his country at under-21
Hungary national under-21 football team
The Hungary national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team for Hungary and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Hungarian Under-21 team was formed...
and full international
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
level.
Tottenham Hotspur
Fülöp signed for Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in the summer of 2004 from MTK Hungária FC
MTK Hungária FC
MTK Budapest FC or just MTK is a football club from Budapest, Hungary. The team plays in the second division of the Hungarian League. The club's colours are blue and white. As one of the most successful Hungarian football clubs, MTK has won the Hungarian League 23 times and the Hungarian Cup 12...
after a successful trial with the club. In the 2004–05 season he joined Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
on a month's loan. This loan was extended until the end of the season. He played in seven games before being recalled to Spurs as cover for Radek Černý
Radek Cerný
Radek Černý is a Czech footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as a goalkeeper.-Slavia Prague:Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Černý turned professional in 1993 as a 17-year-old with Slavia Prague, his home team...
due to an injury to Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson (goalkeeper)
Paul William Robinson is an English footballer who plays for Blackburn Rovers as a goalkeeper in the Premier League. He had also been an England international and he earned 41 caps between 2003 and 2007 before his retirement from international football in August 2010.He joined Leeds United at 16...
. He joined Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on a three-month loan in October 2005. In the 2005–06 season he was the first-choice for Coventry City. He did not make a first team appearance in a competitive match for Tottenham, but was on the bench 16 times and played nine reserve matches in the 2004–05 season.
In early 2006 he stated that he did not intend to stay at Tottenham Hotspur as he admitted it would be hard to get past number one Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson (goalkeeper)
Paul William Robinson is an English footballer who plays for Blackburn Rovers as a goalkeeper in the Premier League. He had also been an England international and he earned 41 caps between 2003 and 2007 before his retirement from international football in August 2010.He joined Leeds United at 16...
. He had expressed a desire to join Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on a permanent move. However, in November 2006, he signed for Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, on a month's loan, with a view to a permanent transfer once the transfer window opened in January.
Sunderland
Fülöp made his debut for Sunderland on 9 December 2006 in the 2–1 victory over LutonLuton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
. In December, Fülöp expressed his desire to join Sunderland permanently. His deal at Sunderland was made permanent for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
900,000 on 2 January 2007, in a deal which involved Ben Alnwick
Ben Alnwick
Benjamin Robert "Ben" Alnwick is an English footballer who plays for Leyton Orient on loan from Tottenham Hotspur as a goalkeeper. He has also been capped at under-16 and under-18 level for the England team.-Sunderland:...
going to Tottenham Hotspur.
Fülöp signed a year long loan deal with Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
on 16 August 2007, making his debut against Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
two days later, which ended in a 2–2 draw. On 1 September, the goalkeeper made a string of superb saves against Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
to ensure Leicester a point at Home Park
Home Park
Home Park is an all-seater football stadium in the Central Park area of Plymouth, England, and is the home of Football League Two club Plymouth Argyle. The ground, given the nickname the Theatre of Greens by the club's supporters, has been Argyle's permanent residence since 1901...
. This would be the first of a number of fine performances from Fülöp. On 26 September, he repeated his string of superb saves which contributed in the team's shock victory over Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. He was twice named in the Championship Team Of The Week, on 1 October and 22 October.
Fülöp made another fine performance against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
match on 31 October, twice denying Claudio Pizarro
Claudio Pizarro
Claudio Miguel Pizarro Bosio is a Peruvian football forward. Pizarro plays for Werder Bremen of the German Bundesliga...
and pushing an effort from Scott Sinclair
Scott Sinclair
Scott Andrew Sinclair is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Swansea City as a winger, having previously played for Bristol Rovers, Chelsea, Plymouth Argyle, Queens Park Rangers, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic...
onto the post, but could not prevent his side from losing 4–3. His form during that season prompted the club to bid for him on a permanent basis in the January transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
. Fülöp told Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
on 21 December that he was interested in a permanent deal with Leicester, and the club made an offer for him on 29 December, together with Graham Kavanagh
Graham Kavanagh
Graham Anthony Kavanagh is an Irish footballer. He is assistant manager for Carlisle United, having also played for Home Farm, Middlesbrough, Stoke City, Cardiff City, Wigan Athletic, Sunderland and two loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday...
. He played his last match for Leicester in a 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
at the Walkers Stadium
Walkers Stadium
The King Power Stadium is a football stadium which hosts home matches of English football club Leicester City. The all-seater stadium, inaugurated in July 2002, holds 32,500 and has the 19th largest stadium capacity in England. The stadium is named after King Power, a company owned by club owner...
on 29 December 2007.
Fülöp was recalled to Sunderland on 31 December. On 4 January 2008, Leicester manager Ian Holloway
Ian Holloway
Ian Scott Holloway is an English football manager and former player. He became the manager of Blackpool in May 2009. Holloway is well-known amongst football fans for his off-the-wall interviews, with a wide selection of quotes and soundbites being printed. Holloway's playing career spanned 18...
accused Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
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. Fülöp revealed on 25 January that he was unhappy to be recalled by Roy Keane and that he actually wanted to stay at Leicester.
Fülöp was loaned to Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
on 22 February 2008, but was recalled by Sunderland just four days later as back up cover to Craig Gordon
Craig Gordon
Craig Sinclair Gordon is a Scottish footballer, currently playing as a goalkeeper for both Sunderland and the Scotland national team. He was a nominee for STV's Scotland's Greatest Ever Football Team in 2010....
following Darren Ward's injury, making one appearance in the final Premier League game at home to Arsenal. Stoke had a bid of £1.7 million for him rejected by Sunderland in June, but the clubs later agreed a fee in July of £3m. However, the deal collapsed after Stoke signed Thomas Sørensen
Thomas Sørensen
Thomas Løvendahl Sørensen is a Danish professional football goalkeeper, who plays for Premier League club Stoke City. He has previously represented Premiership teams Sunderland and Aston Villa....
on a free transfer instead, after the deal was stalled because of payments to Fülöp's agent. Due to Craig Gordon's injury, Fülöp had taken over the goalkeeping position, and was in goal for the second Tyne-wear derby of the season on the first of February 2009. With Gordon's injuries Fülöp has become the first choice keeper and proved his worth with many fine performances to help keep Sunderland in the Premier League at the end of the 2008/09 season. He also got recognition for several saves made in the Premier League opener away to Bolton, which they won 1–0.
Manchester City (Emergency Loan)
Fülöp joined Manchester CityManchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
on an emergency loan until the end of the 2009–10 season on 27 April 2010. City's first-team goalkeeper Shay Given
Shay Given
Séamus John James "Shay" Given is an Irish footballer who plays for Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national team as a goalkeeper. He won the PFA's Player of the Year in 2002....
suffered a dislocated shoulder against Arsenal, back-up 'keepers Stuart Taylor and David González Giraldo
David González Giraldo
David González Giraldo is a Colombian football goalkeeper who plays for Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen on loan from Manchester City.-Club career:...
were both sidelined with injury, and Joe Hart
Joe Hart
Charles Joseph John "Joe" Hart is an English football goalkeeper who plays for Premier League club Manchester City and the England national football team and was previously a regular for the England under-21 team....
on loan at Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
leaving City with only the inexperienced Gunnar Nielsen available to play. His debut came at home against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
on 1 May 2010 in a 3–1 victory.
Ipswich Town
On 2 August 2010, it was reported that Ipswich TownIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
had agreed a deal to sign Fülöp from Sunderland, with a medical the last remaining phase in the transfer left to be completed. He passed his medical and signed a two-year contract on 5 August.
West Bromwich Albion
Fülöp signed a one-year contract with West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on 6 August 2011, moving on a free transfer.
International career
After signing for Tottenham, Fülöp made his full International debut for the Hungarian National teamHungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, coming on at half-time against France and managing to not concede a goal although Hungary lost 2–1. He has also played a number of U-21 games in addition to 10 U-21 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
he had when he signed for Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
.
Fülöp was not selected to play for Hungary again for about two years until September 2007 when he earned his fifth and sixth cap against Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
during the Euro 2008 qualifying. He managed two clean sheets against Malta
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
and Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
on 13 and 17 October, but conceded three goals against Moldova
Moldova national football team
The Moldova national football team represents Moldova in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Moldova, the governing body for football in Moldova. Moldova's home ground is Zimbru Stadium in Chişinău and their head coach is Gavril Balint...
on 17 November. Fülöp conceded two more goals in Hungary's last match of the Euro 2008 qualifying, losing 2–1 to Greece
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
. Hungary finished second last in Group C with 12 points.