Imre Varadi

Born Paddington, July 8, 1959

Do you know the one about the Hungarian centre forward who played for Newcastle, Leeds, both the Sheffield clubs and was the son of a famous movie star?

Well he wasn’t actually Hungarian and unfortunately his dad wasn’t in pictures but the answer is still Imre Varadi.

Actually born in Paddington, Varadi started out in non league football with Letchworth before catching the eye of Sheff Utd , who signed him to professional terms shortly before his nineteenth birthday – thus beginning one of the more nomadic footballing journeys of the 1980’s.

Varadi stayed at Bramhall Lane for less than a year and made only ten appearances before his raw talents convinced Gordon Lee to part with £80,000 to take him to Everton.

In two seasons at Goodison Varadi made a minor impression on the footballing world with his blistering pace and undoubted, if unpredictable, skill.

The highlight of his time on Merseyside came with a man of the match display against Liverpool in a Goodison Park fourth round FA Cup tie, which Everton famously won 2-1, with Varadi scoring the decisive goal. Blue victories were extremely rare at that time.

Having held down the centre forward position for the entire second half of this campaign, Varadi must have thought his prospects of making further progress at Everton were good; but when the club sacked Lee and replaced him with Howard Kendall Varadi was immediately sold to second division Newcastle United, who parted with £100,000 to secure his services.

His spell on Tyneside, playing in front of the Toon Army was perhaps the happiest of Varadi’s career. For two seasons his exciting displays and prolific goalscoring form earned him the adoration of the St. James’ Park faithful.

In his first season in the famous black and white jersey Varadi netted eighteen goals, forging a thrilling combination with a rising star called Chris Waddle.

The following season, now joined by the talismanic Kevin Keegan, Varadi was even more prolific, scoring twenty one times.

The best efforts of this exciting trio had not brought the club the promotion it so desperately sought, and before the next campaign began the decision to sell Varadi was made.

Both before and after his £150,000 move to Sheffield Wednesday, the clubs’ supporters railed bitterly against the decision. Traditionally enamoured of a goalscoring centre forward Varadi had earned a place in their affections and had become a Geordie hero, a somewhat unlikely one perhaps, but a hero just the same.

His efforts would not be forgotten by the people of Newcastle although the performances of his relatively unknown replacement, Peter Beardsley, did undoubtedly soften the blow.

At least in this instance it could be claimed that “all’s well that ends well” as both Wednesday and Newcastle would go on to clinch promotion at the end of this season. Perhaps Varadi could claim a moral victory as his new team finished eight points clear of his old one in second place, missing out on top spot to Chelsea only on goal difference.

Varadi scored freely again at Hillsborough and continued to impress in the first division.

Once more he was the darling of the terraces and at this stage of his career was certainly one of the most dangerous forwards around. Quick, direct and eschewing many of his earlier eccentricities Varadi was a difficult opponent.

After two years at Hillsborough,however, he would move again. Why Varadi found himself unable to stay with any one club for a longer spell is unclear and certainly surprising given his excellent record at this time.

Next in line for Varadi were West Bromwich Albion. The striker managed a respectable nine goals for the Baggies but was unable to prevent a poor side from sliding into the second division.

Escaping the Hawthorns for Manchester City the following season proved a case of deja vu for Varadi, his nine goals from thirty games being insufficient to keep Man City in the top flight.

Staying with City in the second division Varadi scored freely the following season before moving back into the first division to rejoin Sheff Weds .

Now almost thirty Varadi’s powers were waning, and the pace that had provided so much of his threat was beginning to ebb.

Unable to find the net regularly, Varadi moved across Yorkshire to Leeds Utd and formed a partnership with Lee Chapman towards the back end of the season that saw the team promoted to the first division.

However, Back in the top flight Varadi was now virtually surplus to requirements and, following a couple of loan spells, eventually moved out of Elland Road permanently for Rotherham United.

Now in the third tier of English football, Varadi remained a goalscoring threat for a further three seasons before very brief stays with Mansfield and Scunthorpe concluded his long, varied and colourful career.

An entertaining player who seldom did less than offer value for money, and at his best gave a whole lot more; Imre Varadi is a man who will be remembered with affection at all the places he passed through.

Imre Varadi Career Statistics
CLUB GAMES GOALS
Sheffield United 10 4
Everton 26 6
Newcastle United 81 39
Sheffield Wednesday 76 33
West Bromwich Albion 32 9
Manchester City 65 26
Sheffield Wednesday 22 3
Leeds United 26 5
Sheffield Wednesday 22 3
Luton Town (on loan) 6 1
Oxford United (on loan) 5 0
Rotherham United 67 25
Mansfield Town 1 0
Scunthorpe United 2 0
Total 441 154