Hungary break new ground by appointing Markó
Friday, February 14, 2014
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Former Viktória FC Szombathely coach Edina Markó will become the first woman in charge of the Hungarian national side after agreeing to take the role following Attila Vágó's resignation.
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Hungary have appointed 40-year-old Edina Markó as coach of their women's national team following Attila Vágó's resignation last month.
In a landmark appointment, Edina Markó has become the first woman ever to be named coach of the country's full national side. Markó is no stranger to breaking barriers, having already won the Hungarian league as a player with Viktória FC Szombathely – the first club outside the capital Budapest to win the championship – then repeating the feat as the first female coach to have led a team to the Hungarian title in 2009. Viktória completed the double in that campaign with domestic cup crowns also claimed under her tutelage in 2008 and 2011.
Capped 55 times, the former midfielder worked as assistant with the national team under István Bacsó and as coach of the women's Under-17, U18 and U19 sides, leading the latter in the 2005 UEFA European Women's U19 Championship on home soil.
"I tried to evaluate every circumstance involved here and then come to the appropriate decision so I thought a lot about my family life, my work outside football at the school where I teach and naturally my club," she said. "The most important point for me was whether I would be able to do my work with the intensity which I would like and expect from myself. I am a perfectionist so from this point of view it was also important to consider whether my 'partners', the players, would be receptive.
"Roughly two-thirds of the squad have already worked with me in the youth set-up so I know them. We expect very difficult matches against Finland and France in the spring but it will also not be easy to win against Kazakhstan in June. I haven't spoken with any of the players yet but I will meet with them on Tuesday. Everyone will start with a clean slate and those who achieve in training and in matches are more likely to be called up."
Hungary have won two of their first three games in FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying Group 7, a section in which France and Finland currently boast 100% records. Finland will provide the opposition for Hungary's next preliminary game on 5 April.
