After the fiasco against the Irish, Marco Rossi wants to leave: leaked news on the likely decision – updated
One and a half weeks ago, on a Sunday, it was finally confirmed: it will be at least 44 years before the Hungarian national football team appears at a World Cup again. Many blamed Marco Rossi, the national team coach, for the embarrassing home defeat to Ireland, though even then, there were MLSZ members who spoke more cautiously about the painful loss. Rossi’s fate will be decided at today’s board meeting, after media reports suggested he had submitted his resignation. However, according to Blikk’s sources, the decision has already been made.
They couldn’t even speak after the defeat
Two weeks earlier, the Hungarian team played Ireland in a match that, following the miracle win over Portugal, might have allowed direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America. The reality was a playoff, but no one expected that after taking the lead, the Irish would not only equalise but score a winner in the 96th minute, dashing Hungary’s World Cup hopes definitively.
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Although fans applauded the national team’s effort on the pitch, Szoboszlai was barely able to speak to the media, and Sándor Csányi, OTP CEO and MLSZ president, spoke tearfully in front of the cameras. Gábor Török, MLSZ board member and political analyst, defended the coach at the time. He said what Rossi has achieved is immense and that this season, the national team performed far above the overall level of the Hungarian league. This was also confirmed in a detailed analysis by G7.
Orbán says criticism is justified
Török said, “The Rossi team, despite all its faults, was not the norm but the exception.” He also hinted that Hungary’s football is nowhere near where it should be in nurturing and managing talent, despite huge amounts of public money and intense political attention. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán referred to this too in an interview, saying it is not good that the sports media are not as critical as they should be.
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Rossi’s fate may be decided today, but it depends mostly on him
According to the Gólline Facebook page, although there was no direct criticism from politicians or sports leaders, Marco Rossi did submit his resignation, something Török also hinted at in a post where he suggested the Italian coach may leave voluntarily. The page reports that the MLSZ did not accept the resignation of the 61-year-old coach, whose contract runs until 2030. The reason is that they see him as key to the national team’s future.
The Federation will hold a quarterly general meeting this afternoon, where Blikk says Rossi’s future will be discussed alongside his report on the World Cup qualifying campaign. Blikk’s MLSZ-related sources claim Rossi’s position is not at risk, and there are no plans from the Hungarian side to appoint a new coach. Naturally, he can still choose to leave if he wishes.
Is he responsible?
After the defeat against Ireland, Rossi admitted the responsibility was his because he hadn’t emphasised enough to the players that winning the first half didn’t secure the match.
Simone Rossi, the coach’s son who works with the national team, said that after last year’s European Championship, Rossi also considered resigning but ultimately did not. Hungary left the 2024 Euros at the group stage, having only beaten Scotland and lost to both Switzerland and Germany.
Update: Rossi remains the head coach of the Hungarian national team
Despite an unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign, Marco Rossi will remain the head coach of the Hungarian national football team. The Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) board reaffirmed the Italian manager’s position during their Tuesday meeting. Rossi’s contract runs until 2030. According to the MLSZ website, the board expects fresh ideas and renewed energy from Rossi going forward, according to the Hungarian News Agency.
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