When Martin Adam emerged from the bench in Hungary’s opening recreation of Euro 2024, 1,000,000 web memes adopted.
Standing 6ft 3in tall with an enormous crimson beard , the targetman rapidly turned a cult hero throughout Europe, described as ‘an absolute unit’ and ‘the Hungarian Viking’.
Hailing from the village of Forraskut, his in a single day fame took some getting used to, as he appeared as a sub in all three of Hungary’s video games on the event.
Cult hero of the yr
Martin Adam (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Adam was interviewed for the awards difficulty of FourFourTwo journal, after being named our cult hero of the yr.
“I don’t prefer to be the centre of consideration, however I appeared to develop into very fashionable,” he mentioned of his summer season. “There was a tall man with an enormous beard who many discovered existed for the primary time.
Kenilworth Street (Picture credit score: Alamy)
“You simply must know methods to deal with it – I’m a laidback man, so it wasn’t a difficulty. Some make enjoyable of my look, however that is how I look.”
The targetman was a prolific goalscorer in Hungary with Paks – two-and-a-half years in the past, he virtually joined Luton City.
“They wished to signal me, however I nonetheless needed to accumulate employment factors to acquire a allow to work there,” he revealed. “That restriction’s since been eliminated, so I used to be unfortunate.”
He finally moved to South Korea with Ulsan HD, then earned a change to Greek facet Asteras Tripolis after his look on the Euros.
That didn’t go properly, although: he left by mutual consent in November, with out scoring a league aim.
“Some folks thought I’d win video games alone due to the summer season hype, however my efficiency was removed from that – I used to be rapidly rebuked within the native press,” he mentioned.
“I used to be ready for constructive momentum, however I understand how a lot work I’m placing in to attempt to flip issues round. I selected to return to Hungary moderately than sit on a bench in Greece each weekend.”
Subsequent up: Wrexham?
Ryan Reynolds, Phil Parkinson and Rob McElhenney (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Adam has since been in search of his subsequent transfer, and the UK stays a dream – even League One, the place Wrexham are chasing promotion beneath homeowners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
“I feel English soccer would swimsuit me – if a proposal got here, I wouldn’t suppose twice, I’d go instantly,” he mentioned.
“Who is aware of? Perhaps I might be signed by Wrexham! Jokes apart, I’m well-known in Hungary and the Far East, so I’ll in all probability get affords from there. I need to show myself to everybody in 2025, however primarily to myself.”
The complete interview with Adam is on this month’s FourFourTwo journal.
