Győr upset the odds in Hungary

Fourth in the 1. Liga and just four points adrift of leaders MTK Budapest, a 2008/09 European place remains a distinct possibility for unheralded Győri ETO FC.

Winning streak
The spring campaign has been a remarkably successful one for Győr, who find themselves just a point behind champions Debreceni VSC and Újpest FC in second and third places in the Hungarian table despite losing their last match 1-0 at fifth-placed FC Fehérvár. That defeat ended a run of three straight wins, the third of them a 1-0 at the expense of league leaders MTK.

Experienced coach
Much credit is due to experienced coach Sándor Egervári, who has been in charge at Győr since the middle of last summer. The 57-year-old won the Hungarian league title with MTK in 1998/99 before leading Dunaferr SE to their only championship to date the following season. Now it seems his magic touch may yet carry Győr back into European competition for the first time since 2003.

Ongoing improvements
"We have been improving our team play month-by-month and I can say that we have been really successful in the spring part of the season so far," said Egervári. Győr have not won the league title since claiming two in a row in 1982 and 1983, while their greatest European success to date came in 1964/65 as they reached the European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-finals, losing to Eusébio's SL Benfica.

Early success
However, Egervári is not expecting such miracles this season. "We did not plan to qualify for Europe but the good results came earlier than I expected," he said. "The spine of the team is there and we will have a side next season that will be strong enough to fight for the title and play in European competition. We already have the enterprising spirit we need as we are the league's joint-top scorers."

Final stages
Whether their current momentum will take the team from the banks of the Raba River to the title is a question most in the northern Hungarian town barely dare to ask. Egervári has no specific aims, but knows his side will have to work for every point. "I am sure the hardest part of the season is yet to come," he said. "We will have tough matches as we get closer to the end of the title race."