Learning and professional sport
Alongside my studies, sports have always played an important role in my life since childhood. I began my studies in the sports program at the Berzsenyi Dániel Tagiskola in Kaposvár. This is where I got to know volleyball, which I then played competitively at the Kaposvár Volleyball Academy until the 7th grade. In parallel, I started playing soccer thanks to Zoltán Kovács and played on the school team. In the 8th grade, I was admitted to the Bene Ferenc Football Academy, where I played until I was 18 years old. My initial coaches were Gábor Weimann, Róbert Bruncvig, and Sándor Richter, from whom I learned the basics. Additionally, I had the opportunity to work with several goalkeeper coaches, including József Tóth, Gyula Fekete, András Gyenes, and András Békési. My first goalkeeper coach was László Házi, with whom I have a very close relationship. He continued to coach me at Ferencváros after Kaposvár and still helps me with everything to this day. Besides soccer, I did not neglect my studies; in elementary school, I finished every year with excellent grades. Apart from physical education, math was my favorite subject. In 2015, I was admitted to the mathematics program at Táncsics Mihály High School, which was especially important to me because I already knew I wanted to follow my parents’ and grandparents’ example and study architectural engineering in the future.
In my first year of high school, I was selected for the Hungarian U15 national team. Afterward, I played more than 50 matches for the U16, U17, and U19 national teams. Many said that elite sports and high-level studies could not coexist, but since both were equally important to me, I tried to make time for everything. I completed my high school studies as a private student and, after passing my final exams, I was admitted to the Ybl Miklós Faculty of Architecture at Óbuda University. At this point, I moved from Kaposvár to Budapest and continued my career at Ferencváros after a trial. With the U19 team, we achieved 2nd place and participated in a Champions League qualifier with Balázs Dörnyei’s team.
Then, for 2 years, I played with the reserve team at Soroksár SC alongside several of my youth teammates, where, under the leadership of Fanny Vágó, we won the NB2 championship and earned promotion to NB1. At the age of 20, I played my first NB1 match. In our first season, we reached the semi-finals of the Hungarian Cup and managed to stay in the league. This success was achieved under the guidance of Szilvia Szeitl and Béla Dukon. During my time at Ferencváros, my path was guided by goalkeeper coaches László Kővári, Júlia Németh, and Bence Steer. Additionally, once a week, I attended László Házi’s goalkeeper training sessions with the boys. Unfortunately, at the end of the season, the team was excluded from the league, so I transferred to Fehérvár FC in Székesfehérvár. During my time at Ferencváros/Soroksár, both the club and the university supported my desire to excel on multiple fronts.
In Fehérvár, my first coach was Tibor Gajdóczi, now the head coach of the U17 women’s national team, and my goalkeeper coach was Ferenc Hegedüs. I feel I made the best decision for my career, as both supported my academic studies, providing all the help I needed on and off the field to maximize my potential. As a result, in the fall of 2022, I was invited to the senior national team. At the end of the first season, we managed to stay in the league, and I was invited to the national team again. I made significant progress both as a player and as a person. We started the next season under Péter Andorka’s leadership, and I continued to receive regular invitations to the senior national team.
Meanwhile, at the university, I completed almost all subjects with grades of 4 and 5, and I received full support from the lecturers, so absences did not cause any problems. I also got a taste of research work, participating in the Scientific Students’ Conference in Architectural History under the guidance of Gergely Nagy, where I achieved 1st place at the faculty level and advanced to the National Scientific Students’ Conference. In February 2024, I successfully defended my thesis and officially became an architectural engineer.
Unfortunately, at the end of this season, Fehérvár was relegated from the first division, but since I still wanted to play at the highest level, I had to look for a new team. I had a few offers from Hungary, but my manager, Zoltán Ihos, informed me at the end of the season that I had the opportunity to attend a training session at 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam. I definitely wanted to take the opportunity, so two days later, I traveled to Germany. Levente Bozsik, who had previously played for several German teams, including Union Berlin, joined us to assist me. After the training, the club’s management immediately offered me a contract, which I accepted. So, I am currently a player for 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam in the women’s Bundesliga.
In the summer, I applied for the master’s program at Óbuda University, and I will receive the results at the end of July. I hope to continue my university studies alongside elite sports and apply the knowledge I have gained as an architect during or even after my career. Additionally, my goal is to play as many matches as possible in the Bundesliga and to continue being part of the senior national team. With the national team, I aim to qualify for a major tournament.
I was admitted to the Csányi Foundation at the age of 10, and they have accompanied me throughout my entire career. My mentors and Miklós Radoszáv always supported me in excelling on both fronts and motivated me to never give up on my dreams. Many previously said that it would be impossible to reconcile studies with sports after a while, but I believe that everyone has time for what they make time for. So, I encourage everyone with similar plans to go for it because it is worth it. Today, I couldn’t imagine my life without soccer or studies (architecture).
I would like to thank my family, friends, the Foundation, my coaches, and my teachers for always believing in me and supporting me in achieving my goals. I hope I can continue to count on their support because I aim to achieve further success.
Anna Terestyényi
Kaposvár Group 3