What inspired you to start playing sports?

I started playing football when I was four years old. My father was a professional football player in Hungary, and as a little kid I would always play with him after his training sessions. In a way, you could say I was born into the sport.

What are your future goals, both in sports and beyond (in the U.S. and afterward)?

I graduated from Saint Louis University in December 2023 with a degree in Business Technology Management. My goal was to find a good job in the United States, and fortunately I achieved that. I now work as a Data Analyst at a financial asset management company. My goal is to continue living in the U.S. even after my OPT period ends.

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

The whole idea of attending an American university actually came from my parents. After high school, I knew I wanted to continue both my education and my football career at the highest level, but I also knew that in Hungary it would be difficult to combine the two successfully. That’s when my parents suggested trying my luck in the United States, where college sports have a long and proud tradition.

Fortunately, I fell in love with this adventure from day one, and I’m incredibly grateful to my parents for always standing behind me and supporting me in everything.

What do you like most about America?

I love people’s positive attitude and open-mindedness. Of course, it depends on which part of the country you’re in, but here in the Midwest those qualities really stand out, and I think that’s one of the reasons I wanted to stay here after graduation.

In your opinion, what are the advantages and challenges of American college life?

I love the unforgettable experiences that college life offers. It really does feel like living in a movie. Besides becoming fluent in English, one of the biggest advantages is the relationships you build.

Personally, I didn’t face many challenges—I never felt homesick—but managing your time can definitely be difficult. As a student-athlete, your schedule is extremely busy, so you have to learn how to organize your time in order to perform your best both on the field and in the classroom.

What do you do outside of school and sports?

I started playing golf about a year ago, and I absolutely love it. Whenever I have a few free hours, I try to go to the golf course or the driving range to practice. Besides that, I love traveling around the United States and discovering new cities.

What did your daily routine look like?

During college, I woke up every morning at 7:00 a.m., had a quick snack, then headed to team strength training at 7:45, followed by team practice at 8:45.

If I had time, I tried to take care of a few errands before classes. After lunch, my first class usually started at 12:00 p.m. I typically finished classes around 3:00–4:00 p.m., depending on my schedule. From about 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., I worked on homework or studied for exams, and between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m., I either had dinner or attended team meetings.

How are training sessions in the U.S. different from those in Hungary?

Since the NCAA soccer season runs from mid-August through December, practices during the season are highly specific. You play a match every three or four days, so training focuses on analyzing opponents and preparing our game plan.

During the spring season, the emphasis shifts to physical development. We do a lot of strength training and conditioning, along with running sessions. Unfortunately, there are only about five matches in the spring, while in the fall we usually play 18 to 25 matches.

How is the food different from what you’re used to in Hungary?

People in the U.S. generally eat dinner earlier than we do in Hungary, but my eating habits haven’t changed much. Fortunately, my university provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, which was a huge help.

What has been your greatest football achievement so far? What are you most proud of?

I’ve been fortunate to have many great experiences throughout my career, but one of my most special memories was during my freshman year at Saint Louis University, when we won the conference championship undefeated. That season, I finished as the team’s third-highest scorer.

We also broke the school’s attendance record, playing in front of crowds of more than 8,000 fans several times. Unfortunately, we lost in the NCAA Elite Eight to the eventual national champions. However, the following year we successfully defended our conference title.

What advice would you give to young athletes considering this path?

Go for it! You can always come home, but opportunities like this don’t come around very often.

How did you manage with English when you first arrived?

It took me about one or two months to get comfortable, but fortunately the university supported me in every way possible. I remember that at the beginning I had to look up every single word I didn’t understand just to study the course material.

Did you have the opportunity to work on campus? If so, what was your experience?

Yes. During the COVID period, I worked at the university’s recreation center. It was a great experience, and I met a lot of amazing people during that time.

How easy or difficult was it to settle in?

Settling in was very easy for me. People welcomed me quickly, which made the whole transition much smoother.

Have you been able to build professional and personal connections? How important is networking to you?

Yes, fortunately I have. I think one of the most important things today is having a strong network. The more people you know, the more opportunities you’ll have in life.

Do you think there is such a thing as the “American lifestyle”? If so, how is it different from life in Hungary?

I’d never actually heard that expression before, but I think the American lifestyle is more relaxed and perhaps happier than what I experienced back home.

How do you think your years in the U.S. have changed you as a person?

They’ve definitely made me a happier and more positive person. I was happy before too, but living here taught me not to worry about the small things and to always look for the positive side of every situation.

Have you considered staying in the U.S. after finishing your studies?

Absolutely. I definitely want to stay in the United States for the long term.