Hungarian Championship. Superliga
The Hungarian Championship, known as NB I or OTP Bank Liga Superliga, is the top tier of Hungarian club football. Established in 1901, it features 12 teams vying for the national title and European spots. This league blends the heritage of Central Europe's oldest championship with contemporary demands like youth development and regional rivalry.
History and foundation
With over 120 years of history, the Superliga has endured world wars, regime changes, and format overhauls. Ferencváros leads with 28 titles, followed by MTK's 23. During communism, it was the National Championship; post-1990s, it professionalized. Highlights include the 1920s-30s golden age with Ferenc Puskás, Ferencváros' 1965 European Cup semi-final, and Puskás Akadémia's recent top-3 finishes. The 2010s brought investment-driven revival.
Tournament format
The season runs July to May with a double round-robin of 33 matches (home and away). Wins earn 3 points, draws 1. Post-regular season, teams split: top 6 fight for title with 50% points carried over; bottom 6 for survival. Champion qualifies for Champions League, 2nd-3rd for Conference League. Relegation to NB II for bottom two after playoffs.
Interesting facts
Matches average 2.8-3.2 goals, peaking in Ferencváros-MTK derbies. All-time scorers: Ferenc Deák (536), Gyula Zsengellér (387). Stars: Barnabás Varga (Ferencváros, 100+ goals), Roland Sallai, Krzysztof Piątek. Legends like Puskás (84 in 75 for MTK), Nándor Hidegkuti, Sándor Kocsis shone here. Today, Dominik Trajak and Mikhail Uvarov stand out; Puskás and Videoton academies feed Europe's elite. (1923 chars)