Hungary coach Egervári resigns after record defeat
Saturday, October 12, 2013
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"It was my duty to resign," said Sándor Egervári after the 8-1 Group D loss to the Netherlands, the heaviest reverse in Hungary's history, prompted the coach to end his three-year tenure.
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Sándor Egervári resigned as Hungary coach on Friday after his side's record 8-1 defeat by the Netherlands.
Egervári had led Hungary to third-seed status ahead of their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign and his team were lying in second position in Group D before the match in Amsterdam.
However, a recent 3-0 reverse in Romania, allied to the result against the Dutch, prompted the three-time 1. Liga title-winning coach to stand down before Hungary's final qualifier at home to Andorra on Tuesday.
"This big defeat was unexpected, especially after the first 15 minutes when we had built up some momentum," said Egervári, who took charge in July 2010. "Unfortunately we ran into problems after that and fell apart.
"I congratulate the Dutch for their first-place finish and for today's achievement," Egervári continued. "In every respect they were better than us, they played exceptionally well, but we also assisted them with this.
"I've done everything I can with a sense of responsibility, but after such a defeat as this it is only respectful that I offer my resignation. This defeat is a blow to Hungarian football so I felt it was my duty to resign. The last three years have not been wasted, but I am sorry that it had to end in this way."
