An interview with Martin Adam: the Hungarian Viking who lives a very different life to your typical footballer

For more than a decade, the tight-knit community of Forráskút — a tiny village in southern Hungary — have treated their very own honorary citizen like family. Drive through its narrow streets and you might spot a local wearing the yellow and blue of Greek Super League side Asteras Tripolis; his latest team.

“Everybody knows everybody here,” says Martin Ádám, who is speaking to SPORTbible from the village with a population of around 2,000. “When I return home, I always feel the people's love and how proud they are of me. This is where I started my life. I'm a village boy and always will be.”

Surrounded by countryside and cows, Ádám is the perfect tour guide for this idyllic location. He can point towards the secondary school where he met his future wife, Gritta. He was in eighth grade and she was the year below when they first met. Now, they have two children together.

Everybody in the local area knows where Ádám lives. If someone walks in front of their house, a wave is often exchanged. "That's why there's no gate, because that way I can wave from the garden," he says. “We live a calm and balanced life. It is beautiful.”

Earlier this summer, Hungary's number nine received a hero's return from residents of the Mórahalm district following an out-of-body experience at Euro 2024, where he became one of the most talked-about players in world football after an 11-minute cameo against Switzerland.

It was a lot to process for someone who would be working in agriculture if it wasn’t for football.

On day two of the tournament, Ádám was the most searched player on data website Transfermarkt ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. His follower count on Instagram doubled in the space of 24 hours and thousands of people flooded his comments section with messages of support, for the most part.

The Hungarian Viking, as he is affectionately known, was mocked by a small section of the internet for his physical appearance. Standing at 6ft 3in tall and weighing in at around 13-and-a-half stone, he was described as 'an absolute unit' by one online publication. Questions inevitably followed about the memes.

“I was born like this,” he told reporters in Germany. “This is my body shape. I can't change genetics.”

Two months on and Ádám is unfazed by the minority of negative voices. Having been in the public eye for so long, he understands the territory that comes with being a professional footballer. That being said, he is keen to dispel the biggest misconception people continue to make on a regular basis.

“I'm clearly quite a big guy but a lot of people think I'm massively overweight," he tells us. "Fortunately, the numbers show a different picture.”

Ádám has battled with assumptions about his size for large parts of his career. Two years ago, Hungary manager Marco Rossi even suggested a call-up to the national team would only be possible if he improved his 'physical metrics'.

But now, after going from a self-confessed average player to the international stage in a remarkably short space of time, the 29-year-old is ready to embark on arguably the biggest challenge yet; 890 miles away from village life. It has been a journey.

If a situation were to sum up Martin Ádám, then it would be a recent trip to a shopping centre in Szeged, the third largest city in Hungary.

As he walked around the busy eight-story mall, fans would stop the instantly recognisable striker for an autograph or selfie. He was more than happy to oblige but by the time he was finished, Martin had lost sight of his family; the most important people in his life. “I don't like the limelight,” says Ádám. “I don't look for it.”

When asked to describe himself, he details an exceptionally calm and humble person who stops to talk with anyone who asks. “But on the field, I like to think I’m a brave, tough guy who isn’t scared of anything or anyone.”

One thing is for certain; the reason behind his popularity in Forráskút is not solely down to his status as a professional footballer; a job that was never a serious thought until he moved to Budapest at the age of 15 to join Vasas – a club in Hungary’s second-division.

Moving away from the comforts of village life was tough. Ádám's mother didn’t want to let him leave. She was afraid that he’d be too far away from home but after some initial concerns, it turned out to be the right decision, even if it did take a while to settle.

Having made his professional debut in 2012 aged 18, he would go on to score 31 goals in 151 games for Vasas across a seven year period; a far-from-spectacular record all things considered.

If someone said back in 2020 that he would end up playing for Hungary at Euro 2024, would Ádám have believed them? “The answer is simple: no. I used to be an average footballer who had the potential and the ability to score, but it remained in me for a long time, so I couldn’t stand out,” he admits. “However, things changed at the start of the 21/22 season.”

In his own words, Ádám was a late bloomer. Growing up, he enjoyed so-called “good phases of play” but maintaining that level for a sustained period was always a struggle until the summer of 2021; two years after leaving Budapest-based Vasas.

Shortly after joining Paksi FC, a club known for its policy of signing homegrown players, he lifted the Golden Boot award in Hungary’s top tier after scoring 31 goals in 32 games, becoming the first player to score over 30 goals in the league since 1980. “Perhaps I've developed over time,” he grins.

A year after watching Euro 2020 with a few beers as a heatwave swept over Hungary, he was now in contention for a national team call-up.

There was, however, a slight problem. "Two years ago, the head coach of the national team sent me a message through my agent that I could only be called up if I changed some things and improved my physical metrics,” says Ádám. “I hadn't been slacking either but since then, I've been working hard on that part of my game.

“I've made progress in every aspect; even my top speed has improved, which isn’t typical for someone of my age. I'm in better condition than ever before.”

Interest was high following a record-breaking season at Paks. At one stage it looked like the robust centre-forward was destined to sign for Championship side Luton Town, who would soon earn promotion to the Premier League after a play-off victory over Coventry.

However, it emerged that he didn’t have enough GBE points to move.

Since the United Kingdom left the EU in 2021, all non-UK players have been required to obtain GBE from The FA to play in England. In short, points are scored for players based on a number of factors, including senior and youth international appearances, and the quality of the selling club.

Players who accumulate the right amount of points will be granted a GBE automatically but those who fall short may be considered by an exceptions panel.

Ádám would miss out on a move to Luton as a result. “Unfortunately, due to the employment rules, I couldn’t join the team,” he tells us. “To this day, England is my dream. I’d go to England on foot if an offer from the Championship came my way.”

When asked what attracts him to the idea of playing in England, Ádám smiles. “The many duels and the supporters. With my playing style, there are a lot of one-on-one situations. It would be ideal.”

After the disappointment of Luton, the striker surprised many when he decided to take up an offer from K League 1 side Ulsan HD. A decade earlier, Ádám’s mother was concerned about her son moving to Budapest. Now, he was living 20 minutes away from South Korea’s eighth-largest city, which was a 10,000-mile-round trip to southern Hungary.

The next two years with his family were different, but special. “We loved Ulsan a lot,” he beams.

“We won two Championship titles during my time there. I think I had a significant role in both, especially in the first one. I still get messages from fans in Korea saying they still wouldn’t be champions if I hadn’t signed but eventually, my family and I needed a change.”

During the final months of his spell in Korea, first-team minutes were becoming hard to come by. “I needed to spend more time on the pitch,” Ádám repeats. “We also must express that my family and I weren’t happy during the last half year in Korea.”

Amid uncertainty at club level, Hungary manager Marco Rossi continued to show faith in the man who recorded two assists in their historic 4-0 win over England at Molineux. Coming into the European Championship this summer, Ádám was confident that he would earn a place in their final 26-man squad.

“It wasn’t a big surprise because I’ve been a stable member of the team for two-and-a-half years,” says the 25-capped striker.

“I’d already heard that the coach was satisfied with me. I then found out about my call-up from the TV. It was an extraordinary feeling. I didn’t cry, but the emotions were strong from the beginning. I immediately called my family.”

In total, he would feature in all three of Hungary’s group stage games, coming off the bench to make an impact against Switzerland, Germany and Scotland.

“It was completely different from any other national event,” Ádám recalls. “The hype, circumstances and pressure can’t be compared to anything else. Despite being knocked out at the group stage, it remains an unforgettable experience. It was amazing when we won the game in the 100th minute against Scotland.”

Hungary were knocked out at the group stages and his two-year spell in Korea was coming to a natural conclusion. Still, a handful of clubs made an approach, including Brazilian first-division side Vitoria, who tabled an attractive offer this summer.

“There were a few interesting options, and there was one that I regretted for a few days,” Ádám admits. “We had an offer from a Brazilian first-division club, which was tempting despite all the risks involved. Eventually, we couldn't agree on a deal. It happens. It hurt then, but not now.”

The rewards of his hard work were coming to fruition, and after some much-needed down time with family following Euro 2024, Ádám decided to sign a two-year deal with Greek Super League side Asteras Tripolis.

Surrounded by mountains, museums and historic monuments, the city of Tripoli is a far cry from the little village of Forráskút in Csongrád county but there are similarities. The nearby countryside is within walking distance and there are plenty of fishing spots.

A trip to Athens for his league debut against Panathinaikos, Greece’s most successful club in Europe, will be watched by many on Sunday, August 17.

He is looking forward to a new challenge. “I want to show that I can deliver good numbers in different leagues,” Ádám says. “And there is a World Cup in 2026. It would be a dream come true to play for Hungary there.”

Unlike the majority of other professions, the average career of a professional footballer is short and fragile. A player will often rise to prominence in their early 20s before peaking at around 27, with only the odd few being able to maintain a high standard past their early 30s.

In the modern game, most players will hang up their boots between the ages of 34 and 36 as their decline becomes obvious. If that average rings true for Ádám, then he only has five or so years left at the highest level before the often-dreaded retirement.

An increased focus on fitness and nutrition in modern football will continue to prolong careers and for some, the path of becoming either a manager, coach or pundit is a realistic one.

But the reality of life post-playing career is a daunting one for many. In fact, 67 per cent of professional footballers are not sure what they will do when they stop playing, according to a FIFPRO survey, with only 33 per cent saying they were “confident” about their career path when they stop.

Ádám, meanwhile, knows exactly what he wants when the time comes.

A simple life in Forráskút with his family awaits, where he will be surrounded by horses, Gritta's favourite animal, as well as acres of land to grow fruit and vegetables. In fact, the Hungary international wants to join the family business – a company that grows fresh produce in the local area.

“My plans and vision for the future are not of a typical footballer," he says. "We've got a lot of plans and one or two are already in the planning phase. For now, there’s still a few years left on the pitch but one thing is sure: after my football career is over, village life is waiting for me."