Who is Vidi: Profiling PAOK’s Europa League opponents
Who is Vidi: Profiling PAOK’s Europa League opponents
PAOK lost to Chelsea on matchday one of the 2018/2019 UEFA Europa League, but after defeating BATE Borisov in Belarus, the Dikefalos tou Vorra turn their attentions to Hungarian club Vidi. AGONAsport profiles their opponents.
When founded in 1941, the club’s original name was Vadásztölténygyári SK, but over the years it’s been changed on numerous occasions. Until 2018, everyone knew the organisation as Videoton, but it was amended to MOL Vidi FC because of sponsorship reasons.
To be honest, for a large part of their history Vidi have been considered an average Hungarian side which barely achieves anything notable, but they’ve made huge progress and recently took three national championships in 2010, 2015 and 2018. Vidi also won the Hungarian Cup in 2006 and the Hungarian Super Cup in 2011 and 2012.
Apart from an appearance in the UEFA Europa League group stage in the 2012/2013 season, Vidi generally struggle in European qualifiers, but they did surprisingly make the 1985 UEFA Cup final after a superb run which included victories against Paris Saint Germain and Manchester United. However, they came up short against Real Madrid in the showpiece match, losing 3:1 on aggregate despite beating the Spanish giants 1:0 in Madrid.
Vidi became 2017/2018 Hungarian champions by earning 68 points from 33 matches, two above nearest challengers Ferencvaros. Starting this season in the Champions League first qualifying round, Vidi initially defeated Dudelange 3:2, before they got the better of Ludogorets 1:0 and Malmo on away goals to face AEK Athens in the playoffs. A red card received by Szabolcs Huszti in the first leg ruined their chances and they eventually lost 3:4 on aggregate to the Greeks.
Full name: MOL Vidi FC
Founded: 1941
Stadium: Pancho Arena* (Capacity 3,816)
Owner: Istvan Garancsi
Manager: Marko Nikolic
Titles won: 3 Hungarian championships (2010, 2015, 2018), 1 Hungarian Cup (2006), 3 Hungarian League Cups (2008, 2009, 2012), 2 Hungarian Super Cups (2011, 2012)
*UEFA has deemed the stadium’s capacity not large enough and all their UEFA Europa League home matches will take place at the Groupama Arena in Budapest
HEAD COACH
This is 39-year old Marko Nikolic’s second season in charge of Vidi after he joined in June 2017 and led the club to Hungarian championship glory in his debut campaign. Before he turned his hand to coaching, Nikolic was actually a footballer himself, but his career ended in 1999 as a result of a serious injury. The Serbian specialist previously coached at Rad, Vojvodina, Partizan Belgrade and Olimpija Ljubljana, in particular enjoying impressive success with Partizian where he won the Serbian double in the 2016/2017 season and was named coach of the year.
KEY PLAYERS
27-year old goalkeeper Adam Kovacsik is a big reason why Vidi qualified for the Europa League group stages. In the Champions League qualifying rounds, Kovacsik pulled off a number of excellent saves to help his team reach the playoffs, and his reputation in Hungary is gradually growing. Kovacsik has been capped once by the Hungarian national team at senior level.
Vidi’s captain is 35-year old defender Roland Juhasz, who boasts 95 caps for the Hungarian national team. A rock in the centre of defence, he rarely puts a foot wrong, possessing the ability to outmuscle opponents and is commanding in the air at 6 ft 4 in. Juhasz made his name at Belgian team Anderlecht and has played in over 100 official matches for Vidi between 2013 and 2018.
Right-back Loic Nego is a real threat when bursting forward on the flank. In the Europa League match with Chelsea, the 27-year old Frenchman constantly found space on the wing, causing the opposing defence serious problems with his lightning pace and ability to attack. Nego scored at the Olympic Stadium against AEK when cunningly sneaking past the Athenians’ static back line.
2018/2019 SEASON SO FAR
Initially, Vidi struggled at the start of the Hungarian campaign, however they’ve picked up form of late to now occupy third place, only three points behind leaders Ferencvaros with a game in hand.
On the continental stage, they defeated Dudelange, Ludogorets and Malmo in the Champions League qualifying rounds, however AEK proved too steep a challenge. In the Europa League group stages, Vidi are yet to tally a point, losing 0:2 at home to BATE Borisov and 0:1 in London against the might of Chelsea.
HISTORY WITH GREEK TEAMS
For the first time in their history, Vidi faced Greek opposition this summer, dropping a 1:2 defeat at home to AEK in the UEFA Champions League playoffs and drawing 1:1 in Athens. In the two games, the Hungarians had plenty of opportunities against AEK, however a combination of excellent goalkeeping from Vasilis Barkas and poor finishing let them down.
Danko Lazovic and Loic Nego scored for Vidi while AEK’s Viktor Klonaridis, Anastasios Bakasetas and Petros Mantalos hit the jackpot.
by Athan Stylos
Image Source: sdna.gr
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