István Kozma (born 3 December 1964) is a former Hungarian footballer who played as a midfielder. He was the first Hungarian player to ever play in the Premier League on 26 September 1992, when he appeared for Liverpool as a substitute against Wimbledon, playing 7 minutes.
Kozma began his career at Salgótarjáni TC in Hungary. He then moved to Újpest FC, followed by Bordeaux, and the Scottish team Dunfermline Athletic. At Dunfermline, he became a fan favourite playing in 103 matches. In 1992, he was purchased by Liverpool, making his debut in a match against Ipswich Town in the fifth round of the FA Cup but he never found his feet at Liverpool. He returned briefly to Újpest FC before playing for APOEL in Cyprus in 1995–96 where he led his team to the Double. The next season, he helped APOEL to win the Super Cup and the Cup again before moving back to Újpest for a third time, where he helped them to won the Nemzeti Bajnokság I in 1998. Kozma subsequently appeared for Videoton FC and FC Tatabánya, before finishing his professional career with a fourth spell at Újpest.
Kozma made his international debut for Hungary on 9 September 1986, going on to play 40 times for the national team.
Career Club He began his career at Salgótarjáni TC in his native country of Hungary. Kozma then moved to Újpest FC and then to French Ligue 1 champions Bordeaux. In September 1989, he was signed by Jim Leishman for Scottish team Dunfermline Athletic for £600,000, a club record transfer fee.
At Dunfermline, Kozma became a "firm fan favourite" playing 103 times and scoring nine goals. In February 1992, he was a shock purchase for Liverpool, with Graeme Souness signing the Hungarian for £300,000. Kozma made his debut in a goalless draw against Ipswich Town in the fifth round of the FA Cup, but never looked like breaking into the first team at Liverpool. In the 1991–92 season he made five league appearances and two in the FA Cup. In the 1992–93 season, he played in the 1992 FA Charity Shield and then made one league appearance as a substitute and one further substitute appearance in the League Cup, before being released in July 1993. He was forced to leave the UK due to regulations affecting non-EU citizens, which required them to have played at least 75 per cent of their club and national team matches. With only 3 appearances following his transfer from Dunfermline, Kozma lost his visa. His limited performance at Liverpool earned him, in 2007, the dubious success of being rated by Times Online as the fourth worst ever player to play in the Premiership.The 50 worst footballers
He then returned to Újpest FC, signing a one year deal. In 1995–96 he played for APOEL in Cyprus where, after amazing performances, he led his team to the Double. The next season, he helped APOEL to win the Super Cup and the Cup again, before moving back to Újpest for a third time, with whom he won the Nemzeti Bajnokság I in 1998. He subsequently appeared for Videoton FC and FC Tatabánya, before finishing his professional career with a fourth spell at Újpest. He subsequently signed for Austrian amateur side Ostbahn XI Wein and Hungarian lower-division teams Budafoki MTE and Rákosmenti KSK.
International Kozma made his international debut for Hungary on 9 September 1986, coming on as a substitute in a 0-0 friendly draw with Norway. He went on to play 40 times for the national team until 1995, scoring once, in a 4-1 friendly win over Turkey on 5 September 1990.
Kozma also appeared for the Scottish Football League XI in a 1990 fixture against Scotland, to mark the centenary of the Scottish Football League. The match finished 1-0 to the League XI.
Coaching career From season 2006–07, he was working as an assistant manager at Vasas SC.
In May 2013, Kozma returned to Újpest as manager. After just five months, Kozma left his position at the club in October 2013, being sacked altogether after initially being transferred to the role of video analyst instead.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsÚjpesti Dózsa1983–84Nemzeti Bajnokság I190—20—2101984–85231—00—2311985–86270—00—2701986–87292—00—2921987–88282—20—3021988–89305—40—345Total15610—80—16410Dunfermline Athletic1989–90Scottish Premier Division3364010——3861990–913421020——3721991–922301041——281Total9086071——1039Liverpool1991–92Football League First Division502000——701992–93100010—1030Total602010—10100Újpest FC1993–94Nemzeti Bajnokság I29800—00—2981994–9529700—00—297Total581500—00—15815APOEL F.C.1995–96Cypriot First Division20200—40—2421996–9720300—61—264Total40500—101—506Újpest FC1997–98Nemzeti Bajnokság I29000—00—2901998–994000—00—40Total33000—00—330Videoton FC1998–99Nemzeti Bajnokság I14100—00—141FC Tatabánya1999–200011000—00—110Újpest FC7000—00—702000–0113300—00—133Total20300—00—203Career total4284280811811046344
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsHungary1986101987001988100198980199051199150199200199300199450199560Total401
Hungary score listed first, score column indicates score after each Kozma goal
+ List of international goals scored by István KozmaNo.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition15 September 1990Megyeri úti stadion, Újpest, Hungary202–04–1Friendly
Honours Dunfermline Athletic Scottish League Cup: Runner-up, 1991
APOEL Cypriot First Division: 1995–96 Cypriot Cup: 1995–96, 1996–97 Cypriot Super Cup: 1996, 1997
Ujpest Nemzeti Bajnokság I: 1997–98
References
Cited works
External links Profile at dafc.net