Budapesti Honvéd SE (men's basketball)
Hungary's most decorated basketball club, dominant from the 1950s to 1990s.
Budapesti Honvéd SE is a professional basketball club based in Budapest, Hungary. Founded in 1950, it is the most successful team in the Hungarian national basketball league, having won 33 Hungarian Championships and 17 Hungarian Cups from the 1950s to the 1990s. The club was relegated from the 1st division in 2001 and continued as an amateur club in the 3rd division, later playing in the 2nd division between 2004 and 2022.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1950
- Leagues
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I/A
- History
- Budapesti Honvéd SE / (1950–1992, 1999–) / Tungsram-Honvéd BT / (1992–1994) / Danone-Honvéd BT / (1994–1999)
- Arena
- Ludovika Aréna
- Capacity
- 1350
- Location
- Budapest, Hungary
- President
- István Gergely
- Manager
- Márton Báder
- Coach
- Szabolcs Baksa
- Championships
- 33 Hungarian Championships / 17 Hungarian Cups
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The team was founded in 1950 and finished 3rd in its first season, tied on points with champions MAFC and runner-up Vasas. Over the next 18 seasons, they won 17 championships, with the exception of 1956 when they finished unbeaten as runner-up due to the Hungarian Revolution. From 1951 to 1960 they lost only one match, going unbeaten from 18 October 1954 to 6 October 1960. Between 1970 and 1975 they won two more championships, and from 1976 to 1986 they dominated by winning every championship. In 1992, the third-placed team Budapesti Honvéd merged with fourth-placed Tungsram, leading to four championships in the next five seasons, two under the name Danone Honvéd. In 1998 they became the last Budapest-based club to win a medal in the Hungarian league. After finishing 10th in 1999 and 2000, and 11th in the 2001 regular season, they were relegated to the playout.
Reader's Guide
Budapesti Honvéd SE's significance lies in its unparalleled dominance in Hungarian basketball, winning 33 national championships and 17 Hungarian Cups over five decades. The club's golden era spanned the 1950s through the 1980s, with a near-perfect record from 1951 to 1960 and a streak of 11 consecutive championships from 1976 to 1986. Their legacy includes contributions to the national team: five Honvéd players were on the runner-up squad at EuroBasket 1953 and on the winning team at EuroBasket 1955. In European competition, they finished 3rd in the FIBA European Champions Cup in 1958 and reached the quarter-finals in 1958–59. The club's decline began after 1998, culminating in relegation from the top division in 2001, after which they operated as an amateur club in lower divisions. Despite this, their record of 33 titles remains unmatched in Hungarian basketball history.
Did You Know?
- From 1951 to 1960, Budapesti Honvéd lost only one match.
- Five Honvéd players were on the Hungarian national team that won EuroBasket 1955.
- In 1992, Budapesti Honvéd merged with fourth-placed team Tungsram.
More in Basketball teams in Hungary 1-19
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