The fixture between Ferencvárosi TC and Újpest FC is a local derby in Budapest, Hungary. It is arguably the most fierce rivalry in the country, and one of the most fierce in Eastern Europe. It is usually referred to as The Derbi, deriving from the English word derby. It was first contested in 1905, and was given its current name in March 1930, after the clash of Ferencváros and Újpest was referred to as "Derbi", reflecting the ferocity of the match-up, which ended 1-1.

Initially less important than the Örökrangadó, the Derbi surpassed the prominence of Ferencváros and MTK's clash during the 1940s and 1950s, due to MTK disbanding for a brief period of time, and Újpest becoming a worthy challenger of Ferencváros, as they won eight national titles between 1930 and 1947.

These clubs are among the most popular and successful clubs in the country. Ferencváros are the most decorated club in Hungary, having won a record 36 national championships and every single league title since the 2018/19 season. Újpest are 20-time champions of Hungary, coming in third behind MTK and Ferencváros in terms of all-time league titles won, but have been unable to claim a national championship since 1998.

The clubs have met 243 times in the top-flight; Ferencváros have won 119 games while Újpest have won 61.

Both clubs are named after the areas in the city they play in: Ferencváros play in the 9th district, Ferencváros, just south of the city centre and Újpest play in the 4th district of Újpest, to the north of the city. Ferencváros is also known as Fradi and FTC, while Újpest is also known as Dózsa and UTE.

Traditionally, MTK were Ferencváros' main rival, with both clubs dominating early Hungarian football. Once Újpest turned professional in the mid-1920s they became a successful side, totally dominating the league in the 1930s and 1970s.

On match days, police are often present to defend the public from the aggressive supporters of the two clubs. Therefore, Line 3 of the Budapest Metro is controlled by the police and special carriages are provided before and after the match. The purple-white supporters of Újpest FC get on at the Újpest–Központ metro station, which is the closest metro station to the Szusza Ferenc Stadium. They get off at the Népliget metro station which is next to the Albert Stadion. The journey usually ends in fights and vandalism, with clashes between fans of Újpest and fans of Ferencváros, and/or the police.

History and rivalry

1905-1930: Early years

The first match between Ferencváros and Újpest was played on 19 February 1905, at the Sorkosári Úti Stadion in the 1905 Hungarian League season. The match ended with a 2–0 victory for Ferencváros. The two goals were scored by Ferenc Weisz. The return match was also won by Ferencváros 3–1. The first and only Újpest goal was scored by Béla Petz. Ferencváros won their second league title at the end of the season, and would go on to dominate the league for the following 25 years. Ferencváros also won the 1907, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912 and 1913 campaigns.

Until 1917, Ferencváros had won all 15 Derbies, often with heavy blow-out victories, such as 5-0 and 6-0 in 1907, and had won consecutive 6-2 victories in 1909, consecutive 7-1 victories in the 1910/11 season, and successive 5-1 victories in 1912 and 1913. Újpest's first victory over Ferencváros happened in June 1917, as UTE defeated Ferenczvárosi TC (they used a Z in their name until 1926) 4-1 at Amerika-Út, in the 14th District. Both of the Fogl brothers, who each spent 20 years playing for Újpest, scored during the game.

In 1927, Ferencváros clinched the title, finishing 7 points above Újpest. The campaign's second derby, played at Üllői Út, was an especially violent affair, as the game featured four red cards. Ferencváros won the Derbi 2-1, with a brace from Miklós Dán, who himself did not remain on the pitch until the final whistle. Dán was given a red card in the 86th minute of the game.

In 1928 Ferencváros won their 11th title.

1930-1945: Emergence of Újpest, development of the rivalry

The rivalry can be traced back to the 1930s, when Újpest won their first Hungarian League title, under head coach Lajos Bányai, two points above Ferencváros. Ferencváros was the only team to get a win at Újpesti Stadion that season, as they defeated UTE 2-1, with an 88 minute winner from Szedlacsik.

Újpest managed to successfully defend their title the following season. In April 1931, Újpest recorded their first win over Ferencváros in five years, as they defeated Ferencváros 3-1, with István Avar scoring a brace. 25,000 people attended the game at UTE-Stadion.

In 1932, Ferencváros achieved a 100% win record with coach Zoltán Blum, winning all 22 of their games and outscoring their opponents 105 to 18. Újpest finished runners-up. In game 19 of the 1931/32 season, Ferencváros shut out Újpest 5-0 at Megyeri Út, becoming the first team to score five goals at Megyeri Út in a league game since MTK in April 1918. József Takács and Géza Toldi both scored a brace.

In 1933, Újpest won their third national championship, finishing two points above their 9th district rivals, and 1 point above MTK. FTC, UTE and MTK were embroiled in a 3-way title race for almost the entire season. Ferencváros' title hopes blew up, when Újpest defeated them 1-0 on May 14, with a goal from Pál Jávor.

In January 1938, Újpest defeated Ferencváros 4-2, and handed Ferencváros their first league defeat since March 1937. The result also meant that Ferencváros' 14 consecutive game winning streak came to an end. FTC ended up winning the league, finishing three points above Újpest.

In October 1938, Ferencváros defeated Újpest 3–1 in a tense derby at Üllői Út. The game featured three red cards, as Újpest finished the game with nine men. This was Újpest's only away defeat of the season, as they won another league title in 1939. In April, the Megyeri Úti Stadion's crowd witnessed an exciting derby, containing six goals. Újpest's Sándor Ádám and Ferencváros' István Kiszely both scored a brace and the Derbi ended 3-3.

In December 1939, Újpest beat FTC 1-0 in the 9th district, while also overcoming them 4-1 in March 1940. Ultimately, however, Ferencváros claimed another league title, finishing one point above third place Újpest. The 4th district team was the only team to beat FTC twice.

The following season, Ferencváros defended their championship, overtaking MTK in the number of league titles with their 13th win. Ferencváros finished 12 points above runners-up Újpest. FTC won a "double" over their rivals in the derby, winning 5-0 at Megyeri Út in November 1949, and 5-2 in March 1941. György Sárosi scored a hat-trick in the first game, while Károly Finta found the net three times during the latter encounter.

In November 1941, Újpest defeated Ferencváros 6-2 at Megyeri Út. Újpest legend Ferenc Szusza scored a brace.

In December 1942, the clubs played a 9-goal thriller at Megyeri Út. Although FTC took the lead within 120 seconds, Újpest were ahead by the 19th minute thanks to a quick brace from Mihály Nagymarosi. Before half-time, the visitors scored two unanswered goals, making the score 2-3. Ten minutes into the second half, Ferencváros extended their lead to two goals, thanks to Béla Sárosi's second goal of the day. The 10-man FTC eventually won the game 4-5.

The October 1944 clash was interrupted due to an air raid alert. The score was 1-1 at the time of the interruption.

1945-1962: Political division

In July 1945, Újpest defeated Ferencváros in the first Derbi of post-WW2 Hungary. Újpest won the game 3-2, with Gyula Zsengellér scoring a brace within 13 minutes.

In 1947, Újpest won the first full season of the post-war era, finishing five points above Kispest, and nine points above Ferencváros, who finished fourth. Újpest scored 106 goals in 30 games.

In October 1947, Újpest hammered Ferencváros 5-1. Károly Bódis scored a hat-trick.

In December 1948, Ferencváros overcame Újpest 5-3 at Megyeri Road. Ferenc Deák scored a hat-trick in what was UTE's second defeat in the past 12 months in the 4th district.

In May 1949, Újpest managed to seek revenge, beating Ferencváros 5-0 at Üllői Út. This was Ferencváros' first home defeat since August 1947, bringing almost two years of invincibility to an end.

At the end of the 1948/49 season, Ferencváros claimed their first national title in eight years, finishing 11 points above MTK. Ferencváros won 26 fixtures, and scored 140 goals through 30 games.

In September 1949, Ferencváros defeated Újpest 4-1 at Megyeri Út. Sándor Kocsis scored a brace.

In May 1950, FTC hammered Újpest 8-1, their highest scoring victory in the history of the Derby. Zoltán Czibor and Sándor Kocsis both scored a hat-trick. At the end of the season, Ferencváros finished second, four points off first-time champions Honvéd, while Újpest finished fifth.

In the summer of 1950, Ferenc Deák, 3-time NB1 top scorer, was forced to sign for Újpesti Dózsa directly from Ferencváros. He was overheard singing the Ferencváros anthem (which was banned at the time) at a pub, resulting in a physical altercation between him and an ÁVH officer. Deák had to choose between a prison sentence, or signing for Újpest. The first derby to feature him playing for Újpest took place in December 1950, and Deák was the sole goal scorer of the match, as Újpest won 1-0 in front of 20,000 people.

The city of Újpest became part of Budapest in 1950. Therefore, the rivalry was partially based on a city-rural contrast. The supporters of Ferencváros were Germans in Hungary and city-dwellers, while the supporters of Újpest were Hungarians, Germans, and Jews in Hungary. In the 1950s, Ferencváros became the team of the opposition, while Újpest were forced to become the team of the Ministry of Interior. Therefore, Ferencváros fans considered Újpest to be Soviet invaders.

In April 1951, Ferencváros beat Újpest 2-1, thanks to a brace from Tibor Csoknai. 32,000 people attended the game at Üllői Sporttelep. At the end of the season Újpest finished third, while FTC finished sixth.

In April 1952, Ferencváros and Újpest played a memorable 3-3 draw in front of 37,000 spectators. Ferenc Szusza and Tibor Csoknai both scored a brace. At the end of the campaign, Dózsa retained their bronze medal, while Ferencváros slipped to a ninth place finish.

In November 1952, Újpest scored their first victory against FTC in over two years, defeating Ferencváros 1-0 in the 4th district.

In April 1953, the Derby featured eight goals, as Újpest defeated Ferencváros 5-3, achieving their first victory in the 9th district in four years.

At the end of the 1953 season, Újpest and Ferencváros finished on an equal amount of points, both collecting 30 points. Due to their better goal difference, UTE finished first position above the fifth placed FTC.

In May 1954, the two teams contested the first Derby held at the Népstadion, in front of 55,000 spectators. The game ended 1-1.

In September 1954, Újpest defeated Ferencváros 4-1. Gusztáv Aspirány scored a brace. At the end of the season, Ferencváros finished third, seven points above UTE, who achieved a fifth place finish.

In June 1955, Újpest defeated Ferencváros 4-0 in front of a 70,000 crowd at Népstadion. Ferenc Szusza scored a hat-trick.

In the return fixture in November, Ferencváros managed to avenge their earlier loss, defeating Újpest 3-2. Pál Orosz scored a brace within 20 minutes. At the end of the season, Ferencváros retained their third place, while Újpest slipped to their lowest league finish since 1914, achieving eighth place.