On the 21st March 2013, Academy Director Frank McParland revealed that Liverpool has signed Hungarian schoolboy Kristof Polgar from MTK Budapest… but who is Kristof Polgar?
Brought in by Liverpool from Hungary’s most famous club, MTK, Polgar is the latest Hungarian to try and make his mark at Anfield following in the footsteps of Peter Gulacsi , Krisztian Adorjan, Kristian Nemeth, Andras Simon, Patrick Poor, Adam Hajdu and Zsolt Poloskei . With the possible exception of Gulacsi and Adorjan – Liverpool will be hoping this signing is more successful.
The 16 year old defender has spent two trial periods at Anfield, along with his international teammate Kevin Korozman. Korozman has been allowed to trial elsewhere, despite bagging a brace in a trial game with the U16s, but Polgar showed enough to earn a permanent deal. It displays the new, more refined, attitude towards signings Liverpool are trying to bring in. The quality of local players is improving with better coaching at young ages and so the foreign players brought in need to be exceptional to interest Liverpool at all.
Polgar has represented Hungary at U17 level and recently started both games as Hungary drew 0-0 and won 2-0 in a double header series against Malta U19s in February.
The fair haired defender also continues a growing trend within the Liverpool Academy… he is a Man Utd fan. Many have described this as ‘disturbing’ but it’s simply a fact of modern football that players scarcely play for their preferred clubs; it’s a professional game and it is hardly bucking a trend. In reality, the fact Liverpool can attract United fans from the Manchester area, as well as across Europe, shows just how highly Liverpool’s development system is now rated. A few years ago Liverpool had Scott Wootton and Liam Jacob taken away to Manchester, now Liverpool are the ones taking highly rated talent with 15 year old full back Sam Hart the latest defector.
Big things are expected of Polgar, he will initially join the club at the end of the season and should go straight into the U18 set up competing with the likes of Tom Brewitt, Niall Heaton and Daniel Cleary for a starting position.
Fan Comments