I resigned out of integrity, no one asked me to stay

Demeter György, a celebrated figure in Hungarian volleyball known for his coaching successes, has taken on a new role teaching Turkish children the Hungarian language in Kaposvár. The 69-year-old, who previously coached in Turkey and achieved significant success, is now involved in educating the children of Turkish professionals working at a new glass packaging factory being built in the city by the Turkish company Şişecam.

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This knowledge has remained to this day.

György's coaching career in Turkey was marked by considerable achievement. He was the second foreign player in Turkish sports history to captain his own team, following in the footsteps of Toni Schumacher, the goalkeeper for the West German national football team. This distinction, noted by the Turkish press, signified the high regard in which he was held. While playing, he did not win a league championship, but his team secured two Turkish Cup victories: the Presidential Cup and the Prime Ministry Cup. He recalled a notable victory against the dominant Eczacıbaşı team in a cup final, winning 3-1 after being unable to take a single set from them during the league season.

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So much so that this year in Kaposvár, I taught Turkish children Hungarian as a lecturer at a school.

Returning to Hungary in the autumn of 1991, György became a player-coach for Kaposvár, leading the team to both a league championship and a Hungarian Cup title. He described this period as the beginning of a decades-long success story for the team. However, by the spring of 1992, at the age of 35, he decided to retire from playing. The dual role of playing and coaching had become physically demanding, requiring more training time for younger players than he could sustain.

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I never thought that life would present me with such a challenge in my old age, but I am enjoying this too.

György's connection to Turkey extends beyond his coaching career. He mentioned that he still teaches Turkish children Hungarian in Kaposvár, a challenge he finds fulfilling. His career highlights include not only his coaching achievements but also his unique status as a foreign captain in Turkish sports, underscoring his impact and integration within the Turkish sporting community.

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Look, I was the second foreign player in all of Turkish sports who could be the captain of his own team.