The leading Hungarians in Premier League history; The top scorer and top clean sheet holder

The Premier League has received an influx of some of Hungary’s biggest talents in recent times as the nation has threatened to make a significant mark on the English top flight, as it has done so in the past.

Only 12 Hungarians have ever made an appearance in England’s first division, but some of them have made huge impacts both domestically and at the continental level. 

Here, we will look at the leading players from the Eastern European nation who have lined up for Premier League clubs since the competition’s inauguration in 1992. After all, in the coming years, their legacies could perhaps be bettered by the latest Hungarian imports. 

Zoltán Gera

Zoltán Gera managed 17 goals in his time with West Bromwich Albion and Fulham, which makes him the most prolific Hungarian in the league’s history.

Gera was a huge factor behind much greater times with his former clubs than what they are experiencing now. West Brom is now a Championship team with an outside chance of promotion this season offered at 7/2 in football bets. 

Fulham is still a top-flight team, but the Premier League odds suggest they could be pulled into a relegation battle this campaign, offered at 5/1 to face the drop. 

The club’s Gera had past allegiances with are far from disaster at this stage, although he certainly inspired superior eras when he was a key part of their setups.

2056. Zoltán GERA

Midfielder – 22.04.79 – HUN (97/26)

Prem Debut:
14/08/2004 (Blackburn Rovers vs. WEST BROMWICH ALBION, D 1-1 – sub 87 mins)

Prem Clubs:
West Bromwich Albion (04-06), Fulham (08-11), West Bromwich Albion (11-14)

Prem Apps: 172
Prem Goals: 17 pic.twitter.com/gkbNOBXUC8

— Premier League Players (@premlgeplayers) November 28, 2023

Gera was most famously part of the Fulham team that reached the UEFA Europa League final in 2009/10. He managed six goals and four assists in Europe to help the London club to one of their greatest-ever seasons. 

He helped Fulham to eighth and ninth-placed finishes in the seasons after their remarkable European campaign. He was part of a strong squad that regularly sealed comfortable top-half finishes – a theme the club would love to replicate in the coming seasons. 

At West Brom, he was most notably a key figure in a team that secured the club’s leading all-time Premier League finish in 2012/13 as they finished eighth – he managed four goals and one assist that campaign. 

Gera is not only the leading Hungarian scorer in the league’s history, but his goals and creativity were massively influential at both of the teams he played for.

Márton Fülöp

Márton Fülöp contrastingly made his impact at the opposite end of the pitch as he earned eight clean sheets during his Premier League career, which is more than any other Hungarian goalkeeper has managed.

He played in the top division for Sunderland, Manchester City, and West Brom with his greatest abilities being showcased at the former.

In 2008/09 he played in 26 league games for the North East side – as he filled in for the injured Craig Gordon – and impressively managed six clean sheets for the relegation-threatened team. 

Sunderland avoided relegation by just two points that year, and Fülöp’s strong shot-stopping certainly helped to influence the tight margins in their favour.

Marton Fulop, born on this day in 1983. 🇭🇺#ForeverRedAndWhite ❤️🤍

pic.twitter.com/0n3bLP3IwA

— Roker Report (@RokerReport) May 3, 2024

He played 13 games in the following season as Gordon encountered more injury issues, but his appearances thereafter were rare as he struggled for game time on loan at Manchester City and then after a permanent switch to West Brom. 

Regardless of his short peak, Fülöp mounted a goalkeeping season in 2007/08 that no other Hungarian has produced similar to – not even the iconic Gábor Király. 

Gera and Fülöp are ultimately Hungary’s leading players in Premier League history as they both have records that stand alone and their efforts greatly influenced their team’s fortunes for the better.