Miklós Fehér

1.1. Birthplace and Childhood

Fehér was born on 20 July 1979, in Tatabánya, Hungary. He began his playing career within the youth system of Győri ETO FC, a prominent Hungarian club, where his talent as a forward was recognized early on.

1.2. Early Professional Career

Fehér made his professional debut with Győri ETO FC in 1995. During his three years with the club, he made 62 appearances and scored 23 goals, showcasing his potential as a prolific striker. His impressive performances at Győri ETO caught the attention of scouts from Portuguese giants FC Porto, leading to his transfer in 1998.

2.1. Győri ETO FC

Fehér started his professional journey at Győri ETO FC in 1995. Over three seasons, he established himself as a key player, making 62 appearances and scoring 23 goals in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I, Hungary's top-tier league. His consistent goal-scoring ability led to his move to Portugal.

2.2. FC Porto

In 1998, Fehér signed with FC Porto, one of Portugal's most successful clubs. Despite joining a top team, he struggled to break into the first squad, making only 10 appearances and scoring 1 goal across two seasons. To gain more experience, he was loaned out to other northern Portuguese clubs. He also made 7 appearances for FC Porto B, scoring 2 goals.

During his time at Porto, a dispute arose between Porto chairman Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa and Fehér's agent, José Veiga. Fehér refused to part ways with his agent, which ultimately led to his departure from the club.

2.3. S.C. Salgueiros

As part of his loan spells from FC Porto, Fehér joined S.C. Salgueiros in 1999 for the 1999-2000 season. He played 14 matches and scored 5 goals for the club in the Primeira Liga, along with 2 appearances and 1 goal in the Cup.

2.4. S.C. Braga

Fehér's most successful professional season came during his loan spell at S.C. Braga in the 2000-01 season. He had a standout performance, scoring 14 goals in 26 Primeira Liga games. This period allowed him to demonstrate his full potential as a striker.

2.5. S.L. Benfica

In 2002, Fehér joined S.L. Benfica, a rival club to Porto, following the dispute with his former club's chairman. He spent two seasons with Benfica, scoring 8 official goals. In the Primeira Liga, he made 30 appearances and scored 7 goals during his tenure with the Lisbon-based club. His final season with Benfica was the 2003-04 season, which tragically ended prematurely.

3.1. Debut and Key Performances

Fehér earned his first cap for the Hungary national football team on 10 October 1998, at the age of 19. This debut occurred during a UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying match against Azerbaijan at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku. He came on as a substitute for Ferenc Horváth in the sixth minute and scored the final goal in Hungary's 4-0 victory.

On 11 October 2000, Fehér notably scored a hat-trick in a dominant 6-1 away victory against Lithuania during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He also represented the Hungarian U-21 national team from 1996 to 2000.

3.2. National Team Statistics

In total, Miklós Fehér made 25 appearances for the Hungarian national team, scoring 7 goals. His contributions included goals in Euro and World Cup qualifiers, as well as friendly matches.

Scores and results list Hungary's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fehér goal.

4.1. Match Incident

On 25 January 2004, Fehér was in Guimarães with his team, Benfica, to play against Vitória S.C. at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques. The game was being broadcast live on television, with Benfica leading 1-0. Fehér had entered the game as a substitute in the second half. Shortly before his collapse, he assisted fellow substitute Fernando Aguiar for the match's only goal. In injury time, Fehér received a yellow card for delaying the game. Immediately after receiving the card, he bent forward, seemingly in pain, and then suddenly fell backwards onto the ground.

Members of both teams rushed immediately to aid Fehér before medical personnel arrived on the pitch. CPR was performed on the field, and an ambulance quickly arrived to transport him to the hospital. His condition was closely monitored and widely reported by the Portuguese media throughout the day. Tragically, before midnight, his death was confirmed.

4.2. Cause of Death

The official cause of Miklós Fehér's death was confirmed as cardiac arrhythmia brought on by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He was only 24 years old at the time of his passing.

5.1. Impact on Football

Fehér's death caused immense grief and shock across Portuguese sports and the international football community. Many individuals, including Porto's director of football, Reinaldo Teles, and manager José Mourinho, paid their respects at the Estádio da Luz, Benfica's home stadium, where Fehér's body lay before his burial in his native Hungary. The Hungarian Ministry of Sports agreed to hold a national funeral for him, and the Portuguese Football Federation declared 27 January a day of remembrance in his honor.

5.2. Tributes and Commemorations

In memory of Miklós Fehér, S.L. Benfica permanently retired the number 29 shirt, which he wore during his time at the club. Benfica also dedicated the 2003-04 Taça de Portugal trophy, which they won shortly after his death, to him.

In May 2005, a delegation from Benfica, including president Luís Filipe Vieira, coach Giovanni Trapattoni, and the entire first-team squad, traveled to Hungary. They presented Fehér's parents with the 2004-05 league championship medal, in a gesture of respect for the player and his contributions to the club.

On 9 October 2009, the day before their 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Portugal in Lisbon, the Hungarian national team squad visited the Estádio da Luz. They laid a wreath next to a metal bust of Fehér, located in the stadium's lobby, to honor his memory. More recently, on 20 July 2022, which would have been his 43rd birthday, Hungarian club Puskás Akadémia FC paid tribute to him at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimarães, the very stadium where he tragically passed away.

6.1. Club Statistics

7.1. Club Honors

Porto

• Primeira Liga: 1998-99
• Taça de Portugal: 1999-2000
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1998, 1999

Benfica

• Taça de Portugal: 2003-04

7.2. Individual Awards

• Young Hungarian Player of the Year: 1997
• Ferenc Puskás Award: 2000