When did you start playing sports, and what inspired you to get involved?

My parents have always been passionate about sports. They never pushed me toward any particular sport, but they believed I had to be active in something. For a while, I practiced judo, played chess, tennis, and soccer all at the same time. As I got older, I had to choose just one, and in the end, soccer won.

How supportive was your family of your decision to study and play sports abroad?

Continuing my education was never optional—it was always expected. During my final year of high school, I was playing for Ferencváros II, and I felt that it might be my chance to break into the first team. After a few months, though, I realized that opportunity was unlikely to come.

Around that time, a few friends had already gone to the United States to study, and they had nothing but positive things to say about the experience. I saw it as an incredible challenge that I wanted to take on, and my parents supported me every step of the way.

How did Study N Sport help you?

When I decided in December 2014 that I wanted to continue my studies in the United States, I initially tried to handle the entire application process on my own. Finding the right contacts was extremely difficult, and because I started relatively late, many universities had already filled their rosters or run out of scholarship opportunities.

Study N Sport gave me access to an extensive database and made communication with coaches incredibly simple. Suddenly, I started receiving interest from multiple schools. In the end, I accepted the first serious offer I received because it came from a university in New York—a city I had always dreamed of living in.

How did training in the United States compare to training in Hungary?

The training itself wasn’t dramatically different from what I was used to in Hungary, except that we spent more time in the weight room.

The biggest difference was the workload during the season. From September through November, we played matches every three days, and anyone who played regularly had to deal with constant minor injuries.

During my first year, I even had a stress fracture in my foot. I didn’t want to miss any games, so for three weeks I skipped training completely and only showed up for matches.

The off-season, however, was brutal. From February to May, it was mostly running and strength training, with only a little bit of soccer—just enough so we wouldn’t forget what it felt like to play.

How easy or difficult was it to adjust? How did you manage with the language?

Before moving to the United States, I thought my English was very good by Hungarian standards. But when I arrived, I lived with two Scottish teammates, one English teammate, and one Australian teammate. For about two months, I mostly just nodded because I could barely understand what they were saying.

Academically, it wasn’t overwhelming, but it certainly wasn’t as easy as I had expected. The grading system was completely different, so that took some time to get used to as well.

How different was your diet compared to what you were used to in Hungary?

My biggest challenge was learning how to cook. At first, it wasn’t easy at all. Whenever I had the chance, I tried to eat healthy, but balancing sports, school, and preparing my own meals wasn’t always simple.

What did a typical day look like for you?

Those were the good old days!

Most mornings started with classes, followed by strength training after lunch and team practice in the afternoon. In the evenings, we usually had dinner together with the team, then studied, and if there was any time left, we relaxed or spent time talking.

What is your proudest achievement or favorite memory from your soccer career?

Probably reaching the conference semifinals twice during my four years and being selected to the All-Conference Teamthree times.

At the moment, I’m also among the top three highest-scoring players in my university’s history, which is something I’m extremely proud of.

What are your thoughts on the American education system? What do they do differently?

One of the biggest differences is that students are required to take courses from a variety of disciplines, not just classes directly related to their major. It makes the educational experience broader, even if it can sometimes feel less specialized.

Which university did you attend, and what did you study?

I attended Queens College, one of the senior colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY), where I majored in International Business.

Can you tell us what you’re doing now? How has your life evolved since your college years in the United States?

After graduating, I started working in commercial lending, and today I work in commercial real estate lending in New York.

I never imagined that, ten years later, I’d still be here. During my college years, I met the love of my life, and in 2024 we got married in Budapest.

What advice would you give to young athletes who are considering the same path?

I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves both sports and learning. Years of dedication to your sport can take you to the other side of the world, and that’s an incredible experience.

This journey gave me so much—I found my wife here, built lifelong friendships, and created memories I’ll always cherish.