János Kovács

János Kovács (born 11 September 1985) is a Hungarian footballer who plays for Pénzügyőr SE as a defender.[2] He has played for MTK, Bodajk, Chesterfield, York City, Lincoln City, Luton Town and Hereford United.

János Kovács
Kovács playing for Luton Town in 2011
Personal information
Full name János Kovács[1]
Date of birth (1985-09-11) 11 September 1985[1]
Place of birth Budapest, Hungary
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1]
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Pénzügyőr
Number 20
Youth career
000?–2003 MTK
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2005 MTK 1 (0)
2004–2005 → Bodajk (loan) ? (?)
2005–2008 Chesterfield 57 (2)
2007 → York City (loan) 8 (1)
2008–2010 Lincoln City 59 (4)
2010 Luton Town 17 (1)
2010–2012 Hereford United 25 (2)
2011–2012 → Luton Town (loan) 17 (2)
2012–2013 Luton Town 40 (5)
2013–2014 Budapest Honvéd 0 (0)
2014–2015 BFC Siófok 9 (2)
2015–2017 SZTK 22 (3)
2017– Pénzügyőr 11 (5)
National team
Hungary U21
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 October 2018

Club career

MTK

Born in Budapest, Kovács started his career with the youth system of hometown club MTK.[3] He made his first team debut towards the end of the 2003–04 season, playing in a 2–1 defeat against Ferencváros in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I.[4] He spent the 2004–05 season on loan with Bodajk, the reserve team of MTK, and played regularly for them in the Nemzeti Bajnokság II.[5]

Chesterfield

Kovács joined English League One club Chesterfield on a two-year contract on 3 August 2005 following a trial with the club,[6] with international clearance being received a week later on 11 August.[7] He was sent-off in Chesterfield's game against Southend United on 18 February 2006, which the club appealed against. This was however rejected by The Football Association, who gave Kovács a one-match suspension.[8]

Kovács joined York City in the Conference National on a one-month loan on 2 March 2007 and made his debut in a 0–0 home draw with Forest Green Rovers the following day.[9][10] He scored in a 5–0 victory at Cambridge United and finished his spell with the club with eight appearances and one goal.[10] His loan was not extended and so returned to Chesterfield after the completion of the spell,[11] after which he made three appearances for the club as they were relegated to League Two.[12] Kovács was offered a new one-year contract with Chesterfield at the end of the 2006–07 season,[13] which he signed in May.[14] He finished the 2007–08 season with 43 appearances 2 goals for Chesterfield and was runner-up in the club's CFSS player of year award.[15][16]

Lincoln City

He was offered a new contract at the end of the season,[17] but the likelihood of him signing decreased after Chesterfield signed Swansea City defender Kevin Austin.[18] Lincoln City were revealed to be his likely destination by Chesterfield manager Lee Richardson, with a fee to be settled by a tribunal.[19] Lincoln completed the signing on a two-year contract on 25 June 2008.[20] Kovács scored in his first home appearance for the team with a headed equaliser in a pre-season friendly against Premier League side Aston Villa on 15 July 2008, which Lincoln eventually won 3–1.[21] A Football League tribunal ordered Lincoln to pay a compensation fee of £17,500 for Kovács in August, and Chesterfield would also receive 20% of a sell-on fee.[22] He made 66 appearances for Lincoln, scoring four goals, before being placed on the transfer list in January 2010.[23]

Luton Town

On 26 January 2010, Kovács' contract with Lincoln was cancelled by mutual consent, and he subsequently signed for Conference Premier side Luton Town on a five-month contract.[24] Luton fought off competition from English clubs Southend United and Barnet, as well as Hungarian side Ferencváros – the country's most successful club – to secure Kovács' signature.[24] He made his debut in a 2–0 win at Histon on 27 January 2010, scoring the opening goal with a diving header from a Kevin Nicholls corner kick.[25] Kovács made 17 appearances during his time at Luton.[26]

Hereford United

His Luton contract expired in June 2010 and he signed a two-year contract with League Two side Hereford United on a free transfer later in the month.[27] He made his Hereford debut in a 1–0 away win at Crewe Alexandra in which he scored his first goal for the club with a header from a James McQuilkin corner kick.[28] He finished the season with 2 goals in 25 appearances for Hereford.[29]

Return to Luton Town

After being transfer listed at the start of the 2011–12 season, Kovács joined former club Luton Town on an emergency one-month loan on 19 September 2011 during a period when the majority of the Luton defence had picked up injuries or suspensions.[30] This loan was then extended until 1 January 2012.[31] He was released by Hereford on 2 January 2012, signing permanently for Luton on a one-and-a-half-year contract.[32] On Kovács signing a permanent contract Luton manager Gary Brabin said "János has been a rock at the back for us since joining us again. His performances have been fantastic and he has had an unbelievably positive effect on the team on and off the pitch."[33] He made 44 appearances and scored 4 goals over the season for Luton,[34] and won the Player of the Year Award for his performances.[35] Kovács was also named in the 2011–12 Conference Premier Team of the Year alongside Luton teammate Mark Tyler.[36] Manager John Still confirmed Kovács would be released at the end of the 2012–13 season,[37] in which the player made 30 appearances and scored three goals.[38]

International career

Kovács was capped by Hungary at youth and under-21 levels.[1]

Career statistics
As of match played 2 March 2013.
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
MTK 2003–04[39] Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1000——10
2004–05[39] Nemzeti Bajnokság I 0000——00
Total 1000——10
Chesterfield 2005–06[40] League One 90001000100
2006–07[12] League One 7010001[lower-alpha 1]090
2007–08[15] League Two 41200101[lower-alpha 1]0432
Total 572102020622
York City (loan) 2006–07[10] Conference National 8100—0081
Lincoln City 2008–09[41] League Two 45320101[lower-alpha 1]0493
2009–10[26] League Two 141201000171
Total 594402010664
Luton Town 2009–10[26] Conference Premier 17100—00171
Hereford United 2010–11[29] League Two 252301000292
2011–12[34] League Two 0000000000
Total 252301000292
Luton Town (loan) 2011–12[34] Conference Premier 17220—00192
Luton Town 20200—5[lower-alpha 2]0252
2012–13[38] Conference Premier 20370—3[lower-alpha 3]0303
Total 57790—80747
Career total 224171705011025717
  1. Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. 2 appearances in FA Trophy, 3 in Conference Premier play-offs
  3. Appearance in FA Trophy

Honours

Individual

  • Conference Premier Team of the Year: 2011–12
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References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 240. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. Profile at MLSZ‚ mlsz.hu
  3. "Gaby Kovacs meets Luton Town's János Kovács". HungarianFootball.com. 16 October 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  4. "Kovács János az FTC ellen debütált" (in Hungarian). MTK Budapest FC. 17 May 2004. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  5. "Focus on Janos". Chesterfield F.C. 25 November 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  6. "Kovacs completes Saltergate move". BBC Sport. 3 August 2005. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  7. "Kovacs handed clearance to play". BBC Sport. 11 August 2005. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  8. "FA snub Kovacs appeal". Football.co.uk. 22 February 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  9. "York boss brings in two new faces". BBC Sport. 2 March 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  10. Batters, Dave (2008). York City: The Complete Record. Breedon Books. pp. 409–421. ISBN 978-1-85983-633-0.
  11. "Kovacs returns for Spireites". Chesterfield F.C. 30 March 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  12. "Games played by Janos Kovacs in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  13. "Spireites issue retained list". Chesterfield F.C. 8 May 2007. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  14. "Two more agree deals". Chesterfield F.C. 23 May 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  15. "Games played by Janos Kovacs in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  16. "Jack Spireites player of the year". Chesterfield F.C. 4 May 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  17. "Spireites release retained list". BBC Sport. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  18. Tooley, Phil (6 June 2008). "Austin poised for Spireites move". The Star. Sheffield. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  19. "Could be more departures". Chesterfield F.C. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  20. "Lincoln complete Kovacs signing". BBC Sport. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  21. "Imps fight back to overcome Villa". BBC Sport. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  22. "Tribunal rules on Kovacs transfer". BBC Sport. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  23. "Kovacs Made Available For Transfer". Lincoln City F.C. 20 January 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  24. "Luton Town sign Lincoln City's Janos Kovacs". BBC Sport. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  25. "Histon 0–2 Luton". BBC Sport. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  26. "Games played by Janos Kovacs in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  27. "Hereford United sign defender Janos Kovacs". BBC Sport. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  28. "Crewe 0 – 1 Hereford". BBC Sport. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  29. "Games played by Janos Kovacs in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  30. "Luton Town return for Hereford United defender Kovacs". BBC Sport. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  31. "Luton Town agree Janos Kovacs loan extension". BBC Sport. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  32. "Luton Town sign Janos Kovacs from Hereford United". BBC Sport. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  33. "Town Tie Up Kovacs Contract". Luton Town F.C. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  34. Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Games played by Janos Kovacs in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
    "York City vs. Luton Town 1 – 0". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
    "Luton Town vs. York City 1 – 1". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  35. "Kovacs named Player of the Year". Luton Town F.C. 22 April 2012. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  36. "Kovacs and Tyler named in top team". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  37. "Luton Town: John Still confirms summer squad clear-out". BBC Sport. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  38. Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Games played by Janos Kovacs in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
    "Cambridge United vs. Luton Town 0 – 2". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
    "Dorchester Town vs. Luton Town 2 – 2". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
    "Matlock Town vs. Luton Town 1 – 2". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
    "Grimsby Town vs. Luton Town 3 – 0". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  39. "János Kovács". Playerhistory. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  40. "Games played by Janos Kovacs in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  41. "Games played by Janos Kovacs in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
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