Capital: Budapest
Population: 9.9 million
Currency:  Forint
Official Language: Hungarian
Borders: Slovakia (North), Ukraine (East), Romania (South/East), Serbia (South), Croatia (South/West), Slovenia (West), Austria (West)
GNP per Capita: $4,510 (56th in world)
Main Airport: Ferihegy International - Budapest

Lying at the heart of central Europe, Hungary is landlocked and has borders with seven states.  Historically part of the Ottoman and Habsburg Empire, it retained some of its financial strength even when under Soviet rule in the 1950's. 

The Nemzeti Bajnokság I, or the NBI, currently named after the sponsor Soproni Liga, is the highest level of professional football in Hungary since its inception in 1901. UEFA currently ranks the league 24th in Europe. Sixteen teams compete in the league, playing each other twice, once at home and once away. At the end of the season, the top team enters the qualification for the UEFA Champions League , while the runner-up, together with the winner of the Hungarian Cup) enters the UEFA Cup qualification round. The bottom two clubs are relegated to NB2, the second-level league, to be replaced by the winners of NB2-Nyugati csoport (West) and NB2-Keleti csoport (East).

Go to Footiemap.com to gain access to their excellent graphical overview of Football in Hungary.

Previous Champions since 1990
1989/90 : Újpest (Budapest)
1990/91 : Budapest Honvéd
1991/92 : Ferencváros (Budapest)
1992/93 : Budapest Honvéd
1993/94 : Vác F.C. (Vác)
1994/95 : Ferencváros (Budapest)
1995/96 : Ferencváros (Budapest)
1996/97 : MTK Budapest
1997/98 : Újpest (Budapest)
1998/99 : MTK Budapest
1999/00 : Dunaferr FC (Dunaújváros)
2000/01 : Ferencváros (Budapest)
2001/02 : Zalaegerszeg (Zalaegerszeg)
2002/03 : MTK Budapest
2003/04 : Ferencváros (Budapest)
2004/05 : Debrecen (Debrecen)
2005/06 : Debrecen (Debrecen)
2006/07 : Debrecen (Debrecen)
2007/08 : MTK Budapest
2008/09 : Debrecen (Debrecen)

After a 5 year wait MTK became champions again in 2008, holding off the challenge of Debrecen, and securing the title with a game to spare thanks to the withdrawal from the league of Sopron.  However they had to make do with a lowly 7th place last season as the title went back to Debrecen.

Teams playing in the 2009/2010 Hungarian League season

Budapest Honvéd FC
Stadium Bozsik Jozsef Capacity: 10,000
Pictured Left
13 times National Champions and one of the oldest and most successful in Hungary.

MTK Hungária FC
Stadium Hidegkuti Nandor
Capacity: 12,700
Pictured Right
22 Times national champions, and reached the European Cup Winners Cup final in 1964.  Located 5 minutes walk south of the national stadium on the right hand side of the Pest river.

Újpest FC  
Stadium Szusza Ferenc
Capacity: 13,501
Pictured left
Another traditionally successful Hungarian club with 20 titles to their name.  They also reached the final of the 1969 Fairs Cup where they lost to Newcastle United.  They play in the north of the city.

Újpest FC  
Stadium Szusza Ferenc
Capacity: 13,501
Pictured left
Another traditionally successful Hungarian club with 20 titles to their name.  They also reached the final of the 1969 Fairs Cup where they lost to Newcastle United.  They play in the north of the city.

Vasas SC
Stadium Illovszky Rudolf
Capacity: 18,000
Pictured Right 
6 Times champions, and once semi-finalists of the European Cup back in 1958.  They play in the old and crumbling Rudolf stadium on the right hand banks of the River Pest.

Debreceni VSC - Stadium Olah Gabor utcai. Capacity: 10,200. 
Champions for the previous three seasons, Debrecen have taken over the mantle as the team to beat domestically from the Budapest-based clubs.  The town of Debrecen is located in the far east of the country. 

Győr ETO FC
Stadium ETO
Capacity: 16,430
Pictured left
Located in the north-west of the country.  They have won the title three times, the last time being in 1983.

Kaposvári Rákóczi FC - Stadium Voroshadsereg ut. Capacity: 7,000.
Located close to the Croatian border in the south west of the country.  They have recently been promoted to the top division after lengthy periods in the lower leagues.

Diósgyőri VTK
Stadium DVTK
Capacity: 11,200
Pictured right
Winners of the National title on three occasions, as well as playing in the UEFA Cup on a number of occasions without much success.  They play in the town of Miskolc in the north of the country, close to Slovakian border.

Paksi SE - Stadion Gesztenyes ut.  Capacity: 4,000
Promoted to the top division for the first time in 2006, although they came close to losing that place at the end of the season when relegation beckoned for most of the campaign.  They are located in the small town of Paks which is south of Budpaest on the River Danube.
 
FC Sopron - Stadion Varosi. Capacity: 6,500
Located on the edge of the Austrian border and lucky to stay up last season after finishing in 15th place.  They did win the Hungarian Cup in 2005 - their first honour in their history.

Auto-Trader Tatabánya FC - Stadion Varosi. Capacity: 15,500
Small club from the north of the country, close to the Austrian border.  The club were formed in 1920 although they still have not won an honour in that 90 year history.

FC Fehervar
Stadion Sostoi ut
Capacity: 18,120
Pictured left
Famously known as Videotron.  They reached the 1985 UEFA Cup final, beating Man Utd on the way to a final versus Real Madrid.  Szekesfehervar is located 40miles south of Budapest.

Zalaegerszegi TE FC
ZTE Arena
Capacity: 16,000
Pictured right
Winners of the title in 2002.  ZTE were formed in 1912, yet have always been the bridesmaid's and not the brides.  Finished in 3rd place last season.  Located in the west of the country close to the Austrian border.

Nyíregyháza Spartacus
Stadion Sostoi ut
Capacity: 10,000
Champions of the 2nd division in 2007, returning to the top division this season.  Located in the town of Nyíregyháza which is in the north east of the country.

They will be joined by Fradi and the overdue return of Ferencvaros.