Soccer is the Spice of Life
For the VFC USE coach, soccer is a constant in his life—but everyone in the family is finding their own path in sports
There is a story about a princess who told her father, “I love him as much as salt.” The king was offended by this, since his other two daughters had compared his love to gold and precious stones. The king scolded the girl and forbade her from putting salt in the food. He only understood the gravity of his words when everything became tasteless.
It’s kind of like that with soccer in László Nagy’s life, too.
Not everything. It’s not the only thing. But if you took it away, his life wouldn’t be complete. It would be meaningless. So for him, the meaning of life is soccer itself.
And his family knows this very well.
Laci started playing soccer when he was seven. Back then, there was much less traffic on the roads, the streets were freer, there were plenty of open spaces, and you could make a goal out of anything. The kids hung out on the street from morning till night, playing soccer, and only headed home when it got dark.
“Looking at me now, it’s hard to believe, but I was a chubby kid; however, it quickly became clear that I had a great feel for the ball. We received excellent training in the Kiss Lajos School soccer class, and at BVTC I played for the various age-group teams. At age 17, I joined the Premier League senior team at the invitation of Illés Gazsó. I trained alongside such outstanding players as Vendel Rugovics, Miklós Kelemen, József Csomai, György Szeibert, and László Horváth. In addition, as juniors, we competed against other Premier League clubs; our opponents included Krisztián Lisztes, János Hrutka, Gábor Király, and Pál Dárdai. I was called up to the youth national team, but I never played in a competitive match,”
– László Nagy talks about his early days.
He says he wasn’t as focused back then as he is now; he simply loved soccer. However, that might mean he didn’t get everything out of himself that he could have. When Veszprém was relegated from the Premier League, he transfered to Herend, then to the Jutas FC military team. After a few brief detours, he always returned to Herend; perhaps it’s no coincidence that his wife, Etelka, is also from here, and they still live here today.
It was here that he began coaching, with the Herend U9 team. He then moved to VFC USE, followed by a three-year stint at the Illés Academy, before returning to USE in 2023.
“Coaching is a true passion. I love guiding them and seeing their progress. To accompany the boys as they grow up, mature, and reach their full potential in soccer. I can hardly imagine myself in any other profession”
– he emphasizes.
However, the story isn’t just about Laci. He and his wife, Etelka, have been a couple for thirty-three years. Etelka notes with a touch of resignation that she has spent at least half of those 32 years on the sidelines of the soccer field, sometimes for Laci, sometimes for their firstborn son, Beni.
“Our wedding, having kids, and practically all our leisure activities had to be timed to the summer break. Soccer defines everything, but I’ve gotten used to it,”
– she adds.
Their relationship is an interesting one; a cornerstone of their generally balanced partnership is their dry sense of humor, which comes through in everyday life and in raising their kids. The other pillar is sports. No, not soccer. In addition to his coaching work, Laci has been delivering Napló county newspaper in Herend for eight years. He says he loves it; he cycles for 40–45 minutes every morning to deliver the daily paper. Then they both go to the gym several times a week. They also plan their joint activities to include smaller challenges, going on long hikes, and biking.
"If we’re going to do something, it should have sporting value,”
– notes Etelka, who, incidentally, has been going to the gym five times a week for nearly ten years.
“I know it sounds strange, but I don’t do it because I enjoy it. Rather, it’s because I know I have to do it for myself. Because it’s part of my daily life. Over the years, I’ve taught myself how to work with weights and build my body, and since we love to eat, I go to the gym often. What I enjoyed much more, not just as a sport, was Zumba. I love to dance; it gave me energy like no other sport. But now I don’t have the opportunity to do that,”
– she confesses.
But what must it be like to grow up alongside two such dedicated people? Beni was already playing soccer at the age of five; at 12, he was signed by Puskás Academy, and then he completed high school at Illés Academy. His development was unstoppable, and in his senior year, he signed a 3+1-year contract with NB II club FC Ajka, though he played on loan for Füred in NB III. Finally, in 2024, there was a huge turnaround: Beni decided to quit soccer; he no longer wanted to play.
“It was never easy with Beni; I expected much more from him than from other kids. I often went too far with my criticism. His mother sees things much more realistically. He simply burned out; he’d had enough. But he found new goals for himself. And most importantly, he’s happy and balanced now. He works out every day, plays soccer in the county’s third division, and this year he applied to the University of Physical Education to become a coach. That’s what matters to me. I’ve accepted his decision and I respect it”
– Laci says.
Their youngest kid, Milán, also tried soccer, but he was drawn to dance instead. He was won over by the hip-hop street dance style; he’s been doing it for seven years and has achieved amazing success, having already celebrated a European championship title.
“Whether it’s about dance, fitness, or soccer, we want kids to find their own way and be happy. We strive to lead by example, remain authentic in their eyes, and guide them so that sports are always an integral part of their lives. We love to eat well, and we’re all a bit prone to gluttony, so we watch ourselves and our diet so we can still enjoy other pleasures. This self-discipline also promotes good health, which is equally important. And if we’re being honest, it’s true that sometimes it all feels like a never-ending rat race, but it’s still worth it,”
– Etelka sums up.
And perhaps this is the most important thing: in the Nagy family, sports have never been solely about results. Rather, it’s about each person finding their own path within it. Laci supports the young people from the sidelines, Etelka trains herself tirelessly, Beni is searching for new goals, and Milán has found his own world on the dance floor.
So soccer isn’t really everything in László Nagy’s life. But if you took it away, something would definitely be missing. Just like the salt in the story: without it, everything would be a little less flavorful.
Author: Rita Bényi-Virág