Dear Supporters,
The day has come for Zoltán Gera to retire
I am lucky enough to sit next to you now
Thank you for accepting our invitation
Have you been thinking about this day before?
How do you feel? Is it like you imagined?
It's not like I imagined.
I imagined this
with a last match when everyone knows that I finish now
and then we win a game, probably also the championship
I leave the pitch with a celebration
Unfortunately this could not happen.
This was my idea, a player has dreams like that
But I'm not that dissatisfied and sad with this situation
I simply accepted that my leg did not heal enough to keep playing for another year
I listened to my brain
If I had listened to my heart, I would be playing for a couple more years
Simply it was time to make this decision
How long did it take to accept the situation, to accept that this is the end?
I struggled quite some with myself in the past months
I lost it a little when I got injured again
especially when I got the diagnosis that I need another surgery
I was very positive though after the operation
I thought that this will take 3-4 months
and then I can train again with the others around January - February
I expected to play again during the whole spring
I wanted to decide after this if I want to continue for another year
Unfortunately my injury became complicated
It really felt like a downhill
One day I felt good, the other it went horrible
This is how my days, weeks and months passed
then slowly I realized that this won't work out
The last I played in Balmazújváros
confirmed this decision
When I returned to the pitch after a long injury
I always forgot my injury regardless of its type
but it was different now
I went on to pitch
and I felt that I was afraid and overly careful
I didn't feel strong
In some cases when I needed to turn left, I made some extra movements
because I was afraid that my knee might twist
This was the last straw when I decided that I cannot risk another year
And now that we sit here after the decision: how does it feel?
I sense calmness but I can easily imagine that these days are very upsetting for you
Honestly, it was a relief to make the decision
I feel good and easy now
The burden of this period I had to carry
I tried to postpone it a bit
- And you were also carrying the burden of the whole Hungarian football -
When a national team game started, everyone was looking at where and if Gera plays. Did you feel something like that?
I didn't feel the burden
I obviously wanted to be on the pitch
both at the national side and at Fradi
But I have been injured before, I had to accept this
I am glad that
I was still missed
This always feels good for a player
I did not want to wait for the moment when they look at me with pitty
I think it was the right time to leave football
And that kid in Harkány, who did not even always got the chance to play: did he believe in such a career?
Would he be satisfied?
Most likely yes.
It is an interesting question
I have been thinking quite much about my past:
each period was special for something
I don't remember that I ever celebrated a goal more - even in England or at Fradi - than back at my time in Harkány
My first goal in Pécs made me also ecstatic
Also at Fradi and in Englad
My career had its different periods
Under all circumstances I was very happy for each goal, assist or attempt
I felt honored to receive the chance to return to Fradi
It was a huge challenge knowing that many expects superior performance from me
this had quite much of a burden on me
I could have gone to another team, to hide from publicity
But after all, I am really glad that I returned
I probably would have missed then the EURO16 too
And the lucky coincidences: if Gázszer did not go bankrupt, we might not ever had Zoltán Gera
- Pécs qualified for the first league when Gázszer went bankrupt -
especially that it happened in the winter: we started the season in the second league
and in January we started playing in NBI
It was quite funny.
But to be honest, I already made an agreement then with Fradi about my transfer
Did you have many offers?
I had offers from half of the league
but I made a very good decision to come to Fradi
Especially with hindsight
I had opportunities from other smaller leagues and teams but it was the best to play at Fradi first
And the changes: from Pécs to Fradi, and from Fradi to West Brom. Both were huge steps
I can imagine that it felt bigger to change Pécs to Fradi than Fradi to the Premier League?
Interesting question
If we look only at the quality of football
then moving from Fradi to England was bigger
That was when I realized what the real football looks like
The difference in play, speed and quality
was a huge transition for me
Changing Pécs for Fradi was more of a big transition mentally
Then I was a kid from the countryside moving to Budapest
It was a huge step in my life
But I have to add that the first, second and third training matches I played
there were 2-3000 fans on the stands
I felt in the first moment that the supporters started to like me
They appreciated my tricks
This made me confident
From the point I felt that I could do everything on the pitch
this helped me a lot
Was it similar in the Premier League too?
The British audience really understands football and can be grateful
and they are grateful for nice passes, dribbles and goals
What helped you make this first period perfect?
It was a very similar mental state
I missed the whole pre-season
I joined the team quite late, the transfer took a while
And on the first match we played at home against Aston Villa
I had two-three astonishing moments
I felt it in the stadium
I felt that they realized that something good is happening
I arrived.
I was a huge support to me
A Hungarian player received such respect and love in the Premier League
On the next match they started chanting my name: GERA, GERA
I didn't know what it meant
When I did something good on the pitch
they started chanting my name
Then I realized it was for me
This makes a player fly
It made the ground for my whole 10 years in England
Yet, if I remember correct, you did not accept the new contract from West Bromwich and you wanted to change
I changed teams because we received a new head coach, Tony Mowbray
I played on the first few games and it really went well
but out of the sudden I was out of the team
I did not play, while we were very close to agreement on prolonging my career
I asked him what the problem was
He told me that he thinks I am a really good player
but the player I brought is better than you
When he told me this I decided to leave West Brom
but luckily it turned out to be different: we could play at the same time
I had a great season
the team qualified again for the Premier League
and everyone thought that I will stay
because football went great then to me and the team
- I love that picture of you with the trophy -
I felt I needed to move on
I wanted to sign for a better team
who have higher aims
I had luckily several options and made the best decision
Because of Roy Hodgson?
Yes but also because sometimes we have luck
sometimes we make bad decisions
but it worked really well for me
I remember clearly: Roy Hodgson called me and said that he really wants me in his team
Other teams were interested as well
even better offers, financially too
even to better teams
but I thought that this was the best for me
and I am glad for this decision
How do you remember in 2018 the Europa League final?
Dissatisfied.
Dissatisfied because then I could say that I won the EL.
I could even receive the honor to place the cup at one of the stadiums as a former winner
Just recently I saw a similar event
But I am very glad for the opportunity to play a final
- It was a huge march until the final, too -
Yeah, I had my part in that too and I am not dissatisfied after all.
Yet, an athlete always wants to win
the feeling becomes quite bitter after a defeat
This has been one of my biggest successes at the same time of being one of my biggest failures
When you left Fulham, why did you choose West Bromwich?
Does it have to do with loyalt?
I always left on really good terms with the club and supporters
really, with everyone
this has been the key to my return
And the other:
I remember being anxious when we played with Fulham against West Brom
I was really scared of the supporters' reaction
we were sitting on the bus towards the stadium
Then I got off the bus
where the supporters normally used to wait for players
to get maybe some signature
after leaving the bus I rushed quickly towards the changing room
I was afraid of their reaction
but then they started chanting my name
Then I was a little surprised
When we started the warm-up
Then the speaker announced the opponent team's starting 11
When he came to my name, the whole stadium started standing ovation
They chanted my name
It was an unforgettable experience to me
Then it was decided that I will return one day
Was it this easy?
The return?
This was the key for sure.
How do you remember this period?
It started really bad, I got injured: had a broken ankle
Usually they don't sign injured players
because then the player does not pass the medical check-up
But they said that you are our player
We agreed, but then I called the club that there is a little problem: I broke my ankle
I would have understood if they did not want me this way, but they were really correct to me
I felt really good during my second time at WBA
I can say that it went even better than during my first time there
Up until I became injured.
It started really well: I played in a new position
behind the forwards
I felt really good
But the anterior cruciate ligament injury broke it all
but after my recovery, my knee wasn't in a condition to keep this pace in the long-run
my ligament became very loose
and it got injured again
Then my days future was doomed at the club
Even my joints did not recover completely
I felt that it was time to move on
And then, it turned out to be Ferencváros
It was also an interesting story: I really wanted to return to Fradi
but I had to convince Fradi that they can still count on me
They were a little hesitant about me
and mostly about my knee
I think I was accepted with much scepticism
And if I really did not want to come back that much, I probably would not have received an offer
but I am very glad that it worked out as it did
I worked very had to get in the best shape again, to help Fradi, to help the national team
And we cannot forget Peter Friar's role in this recovery
I tend to say that God sent him to me
He arrived to the club when I came back
He knew that I just need to work and strengthen my leg once again
and then I will be able to play again
he worked very much with me
But really everyone - the coaches, the medical staff - worked hard to get me in shape again
And this effort paid out well in the end
How was it to leave Fradi with its old infrastructure and come back to the modern new stadium?
How much did Fradi change during those 10 years?
The stadium is a huge thing, but it is not only that
The club is a little similar to the English clubs now
We have our own training center in Népliget
It is a beautiful environment, it's calm
Everything is given to prepare calmly for the matches
It became professional
And the stadium is definitely a huge improvement
Do you think that you could pass on something to the younger players from your experience from England?
I think I could help the whole team, not only the youngsters
I think so.
But I did not just want to focus on the young players. I wanted them all to feel what the international football world is like
What the expectations are for instance.
Football is not that complicated.
You must focus on simplicity and being precise.
You have to focus on the trainings: the quality of the trainings tells a lot about the quality of the games
I think I could make a positive influence to some extent.
In your second period you collected one championship and three Hungarian Cup titles.
Which is your favourite?
Trophy?
Of course the one against Újpest
We defeated Újpest with my goal
Honestly speaking though, I was most happy for the one against Vasas
That was the toughest from all
It was hard against Videoton, too
In the first half it could have been the other way around, but in the end it became very smooth
We kept the match against Újpest fully under control
It was not a question if we will win
The one against Vasas was much more balanced
Luckily we won that, too.
- Before turning to the national team, I prepared a few shorter questions -
Who was the best player you played against?
The best?
Ronaldo, Messi
Cristiano? Yes.
Unfortunately I could not play against the "real" Ronaldo
I had the dream to play in the same team with him
I didn't have the opportunity
Who is better? Messi or Ronaldo?
It's fully subjective
Both are geniuses, their style is a little different
We are lucky that both play today
Which was the most beautiful stadium you played in?
The most beautiful with the best atmosphere
good question
I played at many very nice stadiums
with great atmosphere
but I could not pick one just now
Not the biggests
because the smaller teams' stadiums usually have better atmosphere
Fulham's for instance I really liked
Sometimes you want to kick the ball in one way but it goes the opposite and still becomes a goal. Did you have lucky situations like that?
Don't have to say which, only if you had any.
I didn't have many goals like that
I don't really remember any of these typical lucky - wrong shot - goals
Most of them were on purpose: the ball went where I wanted it to go
Except, when it didn't...
Did you have games when your headers, tackles, defense or something didn't go well,
and then you felt that this is the skill you need to improve the most?
- Sorry for asking not only about the positive -
Having some experience clearly tells what one needs to work on
The saying goes: don't force it.
After my time in England I exchanged one-on-one dribbles with simplicity
with running without the ball
to arrive to the right place in time
If I'm faster in my head and get there faster
then it's fine.
Headers were not problems to me
Kicking neither
Tackling and defense went not always well, I had to improve a lot
I needed to learn defense
I continuously tried to improve in all skills
This has been the most important:
I never thought that I had had reached the top
I always saw the defficiency
Football is also a life-long learning
Even when it goes well
I tend to say that by the time I retire, I will become a quite decent player
Of course I'm half-joking, but football is really like that.
I have two more:
Which team did you like to play the most in?
Another great question..
Everywhere.. Everywhere..
I like all the clubs I played at:
Harkány: I felt that that was my world, the best place for me
Then at Pécs, at Fradi, at West Brom
I felt really really good
I never felt pressure to play at a club or that I would have liked to move on
You also mentioned that there were bigger clubs interested in signing you
Can you tell just one? One that wanted you and that makes you proud. Now you can say it without consequences.
There were a few teams
After all a player does not really like to talk about these
Let's just say that there was a very very good, top team from the Premier League
I did not accept that offer
because I felt that it would have been too big
Their new investors arrived, invested great sums in the club
I would not have had a long career there
Probably I would have become a secondary player in the team
I would not have felt good in the team, so it was a good decision.
- On the one hand we are sad, on the other we are happy for this decision -
But we will always be very thankful for you for what you did at and for the national team
The EURO2016
Is it special for you?
It was a longer period though. How do you see the national team?
Of course I remember the first match, it was 16 years ago
We had some periods at the national team, too
Times when it went well
sometimes not so well
But it has always been more difficult to play at the Hungarian team than at the clubs
Especially after my time in England
There were times when I did not play well at the national side
not as well as I or others would have expected from me
I think I had a good start there
I had several good times
there have been downhills as well
I am glad that after I moved back to Hungary
it was one of the best times for me.
Pál Dárdai played a huge role in this
when he was nominated, very few coaches would have taken the risk
to put me as center midfielder, especially against Romania
From that moment that became my position
I performed well
It was a really really good step
an idea from Pál
Did you accept this immediately?
He called me and I thought he will just tell me not to come to the team anymore
But then he told me that he sees me as a center midfielder
I feel the rhythm and I can tackle
and he said that we should try this out on the next match, against Romania
I was not so sure first.
But I trusted him and thought that I can solve it.
- You succeeded -
Those were really good times.
How did you kids and wife accept the decision?
Very bad.
They tried to convince me..
They said that I have to play another year, I cannot retire like this
But I promised another somersault on the pitch
I hope I will have a farewell match and they will let me score
If not, then at home in the garden
I'm still training for it
I have to gather all my braveness again to do it
Didn't you miss these goal celebrations?
Not that much, I'm over 35
I did a somersault on the first match
But then I did not do it anymore, because I watch the goal again
I saw that my legs were held in asymmetrical positions
and thought that it does not look that nice
It is visible that my knee is far from what it was before
That was one of the reasons to change my goal celebration
What will you do at Ferencváros?
I'll stay around the team
and besides I will work extra with players
Individual trainings
But my task list is still under progress
We more or less know what I will do
I will stay with the first team but work also with the youth teams
How did this position emerge? I assume we did not want to let you go.
- If you want to, we would have glued you to Népliget and make you stay -
I talked with the President
and he told me what he would like me to do
and
I was happy with it.
I think that he wants me in a very important position for the future outside the pitch
And I accepted it well.
I am sure that I will like this new role
I am very enthusiastic, I would like to help the team, the players
to make them perform the best
I will embarrass you for the end. I will say names:
Tibor Nyilasi, Péter Lipcsei,
and for me, then Zoltán Gera
You have been saying many nice things about Ferencváros
But if I say Ferencváros, what does it mean to you, what do you think of first?
Fradi?
It's tough
For me it means
that without Fradi I most probably would not have become the Zoltán Gera I became
The club gave me everything to reach this
Lipcsei Peti
I remember him when I joined Fradi first
then
I looked up at him. It felt special to play in the same team.
And he helped me from the first moment, he was very open to me and the other young players
He did not make us feel that he was special
he helped me
With this he took a decisive role
and also the club itself
People care about each other
For me the most important is
that if I had not come to Fradi after Pécs
and
I would not have reached successes in the first period
then I would have had a completely different career and image within Hungarian football
and I would not have made the career and successes I actually did
- Zoli, there is nothing left -
Then forward
Not even that easy
but I would like to express the gratitude of all sports fans for all the matches, tricks, goals
I wish you great health
and hope that you will stay close to Hungarian football in the future
Thank you very much!
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