1. Overview
Attila Fiola is a Hungarian professional footballer known for his role as a right-back and his extensive career with various Hungarian clubs and the national team. Born in Szekszárd, Fiola began his youth career at Paksi FC before making his senior debut with the club. He later played for Puskás Akadémia FC and established a significant presence at Fehérvár FC (formerly Videoton), where he won a league championship and a Hungarian Cup. Internationally, Fiola has represented Hungary at both youth and senior levels, notably participating in multiple UEFA European Championships and scoring key goals, including one against France at UEFA Euro 2020. He recently joined Újpest FC.
2. Early Life
2.1. Birth and Background
Attila Csaba Fiola was born on 17 February 1990 in Szekszárd, Tolna County, Hungary. His formative years and early football development took place in Hungary.
3. Club Career
Attila Fiola has had a notable professional football career across several clubs in Hungary, progressing from youth academies to becoming a key player for his teams.
3.1. Paksi FC
Fiola joined the Paks youth academy in 2002 and continued through their ranks until 2008. He made his senior team debut with Paksi FC in 2008. During his time with the club until mid-2015, he played in 135 league matches and scored one goal, accumulating a total of 183 appearances and three goals across all competitions. His contributions helped Paksi FC achieve significant success, including a second-place finish in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I during the 2010-11 season and winning the Hungarian League Cup in the same season. He also participated in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds, reaching the third qualifying round in 2011-12.
3.2. Puskás Akadémia FC
In mid-2015, Attila Fiola transferred to Puskás Akadémia FC. He spent the 2015-16 season and part of the 2014-15 season with the club, making 38 appearances in total and scoring one goal.
3.3. Fehérvár FC
On 31 August 2016, Fiola signed with Videoton FC, which was later renamed Fehérvár FC. His tenure at the club was highly successful, marked by several significant achievements. He was instrumental in Fehérvár FC winning the Nemzeti Bajnokság I championship in the 2017-18 season. The club also secured second-place finishes in the league during the 2016-17, 2018-19, and 2019-20 seasons. Fiola also helped the team win the Hungarian Cup in 2018-19.
Throughout his time at Fehérvár FC, Fiola actively participated in European club competitions. He played in the UEFA Europa League play-off round in 2017-18 and again reached the play-off round in 2020-21. He also featured in the UEFA Champions League play-off round in 2018-19. As of the end of the 2023-24 season, he had made 165 league appearances for Fehérvár FC, scoring one goal, with a total of 219 appearances across all competitions.
In early 2024, Fiola faced injury challenges. He returned from an injury on 18 March 2024, playing in a Nemzeti Bajnokság I match against Kecskeméti TE. However, on 1 May 2024, he suffered a shoulder injury during training, which later required surgery, raising concerns about his participation in UEFA Euro 2024.
3.4. Újpest FC
Following his extensive period at Fehérvár FC, Attila Fiola made a move to Újpest FC. He joined the club for the 2024-25 season and continues to play for them as a right-back.
4. International Career
Attila Fiola has represented Hungary at both youth and senior international levels, becoming a prominent figure in the national team's defense.
4.1. Youth National Team
Fiola was a member of the Hungary U-21 national team from 2010 to 2012. He made his debut on 7 October 2010 in a friendly match against Montenegro. In total, he made 16 appearances for the U-21 squad, scoring his only goal for the team on 10 September 2012 in his final appearance against Liechtenstein.
4.2. Senior National Team
Attila Fiola made his debut for the Hungary senior national team on 14 October 2014, in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against the Faroe Islands. He entered the match as a half-time substitute for Nemanja Nikolić. He went on to start in the team's final seven matches of their Group F campaign, as well as both legs of the play-off against Norway.
4.2.1. UEFA European Championship Appearances
Fiola has been a key part of Hungary's squads for multiple UEFA European Championships.
- UEFA Euro 2016**: He was included in the squad for UEFA Euro 2016. He made one appearance in the tournament, starting in Hungary's opening Group F match, a 2-0 victory over Austria on 14 June 2016. This participation marked Hungary's return to major tournament knockout stages (reaching the Round of 16) after 50 years, since the 1966 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.
- UEFA Euro 2020**: On 1 June 2021, he was selected for the final 26-man squad for the rescheduled UEFA Euro 2020 tournament. Fiola started all three of Hungary's Group F matches at left wing-back. He famously scored the opening goal in a 1-1 draw against France on 19 June, a match against the reigning World Cup champions and a strong tournament favorite. His goal celebration gained considerable attention when he leaped over a barrier into a media section and banged on a reporter's desk. He later apologized, explaining that he thought the reporter was on her phone and he wanted to draw her attention to the goal.
- UEFA Euro 2024**: On 14 May 2024, Fiola was named in Hungary's squad for UEFA Euro 2024. He started at right wing-back in the team's 3-1 loss to Switzerland and in central defense during the 2-0 defeat to host nation Germany. He remained an unused substitute in Hungary's final Group A match, a 1-0 victory over Scotland.
4.2.2. Other International Matches
On 31 March 2021, Fiola scored his first senior international goal for Hungary in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Andorra, which Hungary won 4-1. This goal came seven years after his national team debut. On 26 September 2022, Fiola earned his 50th cap for the Hungarian national team in a UEFA Nations League match against Italy, which Hungary lost 0-2. As of November 2024, he has made 58 appearances for the national team, scoring two goals.
5. Honours
Attila Fiola has achieved several significant honors throughout his professional career, both with his clubs and individually.
5.1. Club Honours
- Paksi FC
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I: Runner-up (2010-11)
- Hungarian League Cup: (2010-11)
- Fehérvár FC (formerly Videoton FC)
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I: Winner (2017-18)
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I: Runner-up (2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20)
- Hungarian Cup: (2018-19)
6. Career Statistics
6.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Paks | 2008-09 | NB I | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 7 | 0 | |
| 2010-10 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | - | 27 | 0 | |||
| 2010-11 | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | 35 | 0 | |||
| 2011-12 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 34 | 0 | ||
| 2012-13 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | - | 33 | 2 | |||
| 2013-14 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | 32 | 0 | |||
| 2014-15 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 15 | 1 | |||
| Total | 135 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 32 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 183 | 3 | ||
| Puskás Akadémia | 2014-15 | NB I | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 13 | 0 | |
| 2015-16 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 25 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 38 | 1 | ||||
| Fehérvár | 2016-17 | NB I | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| 2017-18 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |||
| 2018-19 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 14 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |||
| 2019-20 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |||
| 2020-21 | 28 | 1 | 6 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | 38 | 1 | |||
| 2021-22 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |||
| 2022-23 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |||
| 2023-24 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 13 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 165 | 1 | 23 | 0 | - | 31 | 0 | 219 | 1 | |||
| Újpest | 2024-25 | NB I | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 14 | 0 | |
| Career total | 350 | 3 | 34 | 2 | 32 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 453 | 5 | ||
6.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hungary | 2014 | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2019 | - | ||
| 2020 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 58 | 2 | |
6.2.1. International Goals
Scores and results list Hungary's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fiola goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 March 2021 | Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra | Andorra | 1-0 | 4-1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 19 June 2021 | Puskás Aréna, Budapest, Hungary | France | 1-0 | 1-1 | UEFA Euro 2020 |