Hungary for glory
Chance to put Honved back on top too good to turn down – Courts
TAM COURTS insists the chance to restore Honved to former glories was too good to turn down.
Courts decided to quit Dundee United after a hugely successful first season in charge to take over at the fallen Hungarian giants.
The move came after United sporting director Tony Asghar phoned him while he was on a family holiday in Turkey, to give him permission to speak to Croatian side Rijeka.
And it was while he was talking to Rijeka that Honved – where Courts’ old United colleague Chris Docherty is sporting director – made their move.
Honved were the top team in Hungary in the 1950s when the likes of Ferenc Puskas starred for them. But they’ve only won the title twice in the last 30 years and have spent recent seasons at the wrong end of the table.
Courts said: “It (Rijeka) probably dragged on a wee bit too long which allowed Honved to step in.
“I know Chris from Dundee United and the more I researched what they’re trying to do there were a lot of similarities with Dundee United.
“They have a very good academy here, are a team that should be performing better in terms of their league position and they want to develop the club.
“Once I started to learn a bit more about it from Chris, I started to become a bit more excited. It just made sense to me.
“Once you review the history of the club, you start to get a sense of the passionate fan base, the size of the club and the fact they’re probably under performing.”
Courts has always had ambitions to manage in Europe but insists he had no immediate plans to leave United this summer.
The Fifer said: “It was never my intention at the end of the season to leave.
“But when the Rijeka opportunity started to develop and subsequently the Honved one, I started to get quite excited about the prospect of working outside Scotland.
“It was always difficult to leave because, first and foremost, there is Europe to look forward to.
“So it was a wrench to leave the club. I believe I have definitely left it in a better place.
“But the attraction, at 40 years old, with one year in the Premiership, to work abroad and challenge myself was the key driver.
“The pleasing thing is Dundee United have appointed a very good manager in Jack Ross, who I think will have success.
“Hopefully this time next year both teams will be back in Europe.”