Debrecen making up for lost time

Debreceni VSC are one of eight clubs making debuts in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season and, as part of a series of features on the competition's new boys, uefa.com runs the rule over the Hungarian champions.

Who are they?
Formed: 1902
Nickname: Loki
League titles: 4
Hungarian Cups: 3

Established in 1902, Debrecen took 90 years to make their mark and start the process of dismantling the Budapest-based domination of Hungarian football. Ferencvárosi TC, MTK Budapest, Budapest Honvéd and Újpest FC had enjoyed a virtual monopoly on the country's silverware for much of the 20th century. Provincial Debrecen, in contrast, only reached the top flight in 1993. The club's former player and legendary coach Lajos Garamvölgyi, who died earlier this year, masterminded their first major triumph in 1999 when they won the Hungarian Cup. They have lifted it twice more since, yet it was Debrecen's maiden domestic title in 2005 that really put them on the map. They matched that feat in three of the following four campaigns – their supremacy punctuated only by MTK's victory in 2008 – and now find themselves at Europe's top table in a group containing five-time European champions Liverpool FC.

One to watch
Gergely Rudolf, 24, striker
Quick off the mark and possessing mesmeric dribbling skills, the gifted forward was the only player from Hungary's 1. Liga called up by national coach Erwin Koeman for the recent round of fixtures. Though born in Hungary, Rudolf spent the early years of his career at France's AS Nancy-Lorraine before returning home in 2007. He has since shown himself to be an elusive and predatory attacker who scored in Debrecen's 2-0 home win in the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg against PFC Levski Sofia.

Memorable match
HNK Hajduk Split 0-5 Debreceni VSC, UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, 3 August 2005
The Hungarian champions had established a 3-0 lead to take to Croatia and were expected to face a backlash from their opponents in the return. However, Debrecen made sure the anticipated comeback never materialised by steamrollering Hajduk in the first half before adding two more goals after half-time to win 8-0 on aggregate. Debrecen, though, were stopped in their tracks in the third qualifying round where they suffered a 6-0 aggregate defeat by Manchester United FC.

Greatest player
Tamás Sándor
A creative midfielder with consummate vision, Sándor was a member of all four of Debrecen's title-winning sides during his second stint at the club and earned eleven caps for the Hungarian national team. Despite various spells abroad with the likes of Torino FC and Beitar Jerusalem FC, it was, fittingly, with Debrecen that he retired from professional football in December 2008.

Did you know?
The team gained their moniker of 'Loki' in 1955 when the club were renamed Debreceni Lokomotív to bring them in line with other sides during the communist era.