Mark Tamas is the only Hungarian footballer in the history of Azerbaijani championships.
According to Idman.biz, the 31-year-old defender played for Neftchi from the summer of 2023 until early this year.
Currently playing for Romanian club Sepsi, Tamas made one appearance for the Hungarian national team in 2021. In an interview with AFFA's press service, the experienced player shared his thoughts on the upcoming friendly between the Azerbaijan and Hungary national teams.
– Today, the national teams of Azerbaijan and Hungary will play a friendly match. What do you expect from the game?
– I think the Hungarian national team will win this match. However, I don’t believe it will be easy. Still, in terms of preparing well for the qualifiers, Hungary should come out with a victory.
– Your team will face Portugal, Ireland, and Armenia in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. How could a match against Azerbaijan benefit Hungary?
– Let’s not forget this is a friendly match. It gives the coach a chance to see what’s working and what’s not. Friendly games are great for testing different tactics and trying out new players. The match against Azerbaijan is a good opportunity to evaluate things ahead of the official games.
– Having played in Azerbaijan, you know many players on the national team. What do you think are their strengths and weaknesses?
– Most of the players in your national team play in the domestic league and, in many cases, on the same club teams. This means they understand each other well, which I think is Azerbaijan’s biggest strength.
– Which Azerbaijani players should the Hungarian team be most wary of?
– Emin Mahmudov and Mahir Emreli. I played with Emin at Neftchi. I know Mahir from Poland. I played for Śląsk Wrocław from 2020 to 2022, and during that time, Mahir briefly played for Legia Warsaw. Both are very high-quality players.
– What is Hungary's greatest strength, and who are their key players?
– The Hungarian team is made up of a very strong group. Their main strength is the team spirit that the coach has built over the years. Most of the players compete in Europe’s Top 5 leagues. And, of course, we have our captain, Dominik Szoboszlai.
– You’re the only Hungarian footballer to have played in the 33-year history of the Azerbaijani championship. Did you know that?
– I heard that when I started playing for Neftchi. It was a very interesting stat to me. Being the only Hungarian player in the history of the Azerbaijani league is a proud and joyful achievement.
– You’ve played as a foreigner in Poland, Romania, and Azerbaijan. How would you compare those countries, and how do you remember your time in Azerbaijan?
– For a footballer, Poland is the highest level—especially due to the fans and the competitiveness of the league. My first year in Azerbaijan was good. We were in the fight for second place until the last round. But the last six months were a disaster. Honestly, Neftchi deserves better.
– What impression did Baku leave on you?
– Baku is a magnificent city. We still visit whenever we get the chance to see our friends. In fact, my family was in Baku just a few weeks ago.
– If you received a new offer from Azerbaijan, how would you respond?
– I’m not sure. There are a lot of factors to consider. But I definitely think positively about the idea.
Idman.biz
