NAME: Máté Pátkai  SHIRT NUMBER: 17 PLACE OF BIRTH: Szentendre DATE OF BIRTH: 1988. March 6. NB I APPEARANCES: 233 DEBUT: MTK - VIDEOTON FC 0-1 (2006.10.27.) NB I GOALS: 40 FIRST NB I GOAL: GYŐRI ETO - MTK 3-4 (2007.05.22.) NBI APPEARANCES FOR VIDI: 45 NB I GOALS FOR VIDI: 4 EUROPEAN APPEARANCES: 15 INTERNATIONAL CAPS: 5

- Why did you choose football as a kid?

On the one part, we used to play a lot of football at school. I also lived in Pomaz as a kid, which is a suburb of Budapest and I would often join the kids in the street to have a kick around. We would head over to the field with the ball and play. I do not remember exactly where but one of my mothers colleagues saw me playing after school. It was really his recommendation that saw me eventually join BVSC in 1996. I was 8 years old when I first started to take football more seriously. 

- How did you end up joining the Sandor Karoly Academy from BVSC?

I played for 4 years at BVSC and one year with Vasas. There was a further 2 year spell with Goldball. It was in 2003 that I ended up joining MTK, and just 2 years later in 2005, I moved to the academy in Agard. I spent one year there. I continued to live in Pomaz and carried out my education in Budapest. There was no problem with commuting in daily.

- You ended up making your debut at the young age of 18. It was in a match between MTK and Videoton. It was an interesting journey to the NBI.

It was not a simply case as I did not join the Sandor Karoly Academy straight away. If I remember well, then my age group only moved to Agard in 2004. However, they did not take me at that time. I only moved there a year later with Adam Pinter, who is now a player for Ferencvaros. I had luck at the same time as MTK started to play young players during that period. There were several injuries and suspensions and this is how I was promoted to the first team squad. I managed to perform well and made my debut in the first division during the 2006/2007 season. It was actually in a match against Videoton, which the Fehervar side won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Dveri. Fate is strange as I scored my first NBI goal half a year later against Győr. I ended up moving to that club later and from there to Videoton.

- After 5 seasons, you have a championship and runners up medal in your collection. You then left the capital and moved to Győr. What played a part in that decision?

Győr contacted MTK in the summer of 2011 about the possibility of signing me. However, the two clubs were unable to agree terms so I ended up moving there half a year later. I feel that it was a very good decision by me at the time. We were in the second division with MTK at the time, as we were relegated at the end of the 2010/2011 season. I had to wait half a year before the chance of first division football came once more. Győr ended that season in third place in my first season then. We then won the league title the following year.

- You have been a professional player for 10 years now. Vidi are just your third club so you are not the type of player to move around too often. That is a rarity these days! Are you happy to settle down and stay for a long time?

It is true that I spent several good years with both MTK and Győri ETO. The same applies now with Vidi where I also feel really good. I have won the league titles with both MTK and Győr so I hope that I can pick up my third title with Videoton. At the same time it is true that players sometimes need a change of scenery. However, this is not the case with me that I need to join a new club each year. A big part in this was the birth of my first child in 2012. Young Reka has since had two brothers join her so it is not too easy to move the family around.

- Have you never thought about trying your luck playing abroad? Do you still have any ambitions in this area?

I have had the possibility and there was a concrete offer including clubs in Poland and Israel last summer. However, I decided then that Vidi would be the best for me. Time has shown that it was the right decision and there is nothing to be disappointed about and I like playing football in Szekesfehervar. Naturally there is still a feeling inside me that I want to win the league title, which I hope we can do at the end of this season. I was champions with MTK and Győr in my second season with those clubs. 

- What type of player do you consider yourself? For a midfielder, it is equally important to defend as it is to attack. You prefer the attacking side of things or are you fine to do your share of defending?

I am probably a box-to-box player, which means 50% defending and the other 50% attacking. I play my football between the two boxes. The current formation, if we look at the recent games, has Roland Juhasz carrying out more of the defensive work. That allows me more space to move forward..

- You made your international debut in 2012. How big a surprise was it for you when national team manager Sandor Egervari called you into the squad?

The timing was a little surprising. I knew that secretly he was counting on me to be given a chance in the national team. I was having a very good season with ETO, but I was expecting the call up a little later. I was very pleased when I found out that I would not have to wait any longer. However, it is a little disappointing that I have only 5 caps to my name. As to what happens in the future.... 

- Have there been any players that you consider a role model?

Naturally, I think every kid has a role model. Mine was Zinedine Zidane who was a genius as a player. I loved watching him play. I wanted to kick the ball in the same way he did and also wanted to pass as him. He was an excellent player and it looks as if he is not that bad as a manager (laughter).

- You are a father of 3. What is it like when you go home?

My life has plenty of movement so you cannot say that I have time to be bored. When I get home, my two older kids jump in my neck, but the little one cannot do that yet... he is just one month old (laugh). I always look forward to arriving home and being together with my family. I try to help out with the house work and my girl goes to nursery. I try to do my bit with the things at the nursery. 

- Would you gladly support any of your kids if they decide one day that they would like to become a footballer?

Of course I would do everything to support them. I would prefer handball for my daughter. Naturally it will be her decision in the end. The most important is that they enjoy sport, even if it is as a hobby or more serious. 

- Your two elder kids often watch the matches on TV?

Yes, both of them watch the games even if they do not understand large parts of it. They can see that their father is running around with other footballers. My daughter asked a question recently... "hey dad, why are you not a builder?" They have interesting questions from a four and a half year old girl.