While Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ferencvaros were preparing for the first leg of their Europa League qualifying match, a ceremony took place at the Groupama Arena honoring former Hungarian footballer and Ferencvaros coach Istvan “Potya” Toth who saved many Jewish lives during the Holocaust.
The ceremony was attended by the Owner’s Representative Jack Angelides, Club CEO Ben Mansford along with Barak Itzhaki and Moran Meiri who were invited by the World Jewish Congress and the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary. Mansford presented the new 2018/19 kit to the organizers of the ceremony as well.
István “Potya” Toth was not only a legendary figure of Hungarian football history, but also a righteous hero. He became a member of the Hungarian anti-fascist resistance following Germany’s invasion of Hungary, helping several hundred people escape from Nazi custody and death. He was arrested by the Gestapo in late 1944 and executed in February 1945.
