Gábor Király is a retired Hungarian professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. During his 25-year career, Király played mainly in Germany and England.
He joined Hertha BSC in 1997, made 198 appearances and later played for 1860 Munich. In England, he represented Crystal Palace, Burnley and Fulham, with loan spells at West Ham United and Aston Villa.
In 2015, he returned to his hometown club, Szombathelyi Haladás. Király became famous for his distinctive choice of wearing gray sweatpants instead of shorts in most matches during his career.
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- Full name: Gábor Ferenc Király
- Stage name: Gabor Kiraly
- Date of birth: April 1, 1976
- Age: 48 years old
- Place of birth: Szombathely, Hungary
- Nationality: Hungarian
- Occupation: former Hungarian football goalkeeper
- Height: 1.9 m
- Parents: Ferenc Király and Irma Wagner
- Siblings: Zoltán Király
- Spouse: Zsanett Kiraly
- Children: Mátyás Király and Viktória Király
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: 1 million USD
Early life and education
Gábor Ferenc Király was born on April 1, 1976 in Szombathely, Hungary. He is the son of Ferenc Király and Irma Wagner, and he has an older brother named Zoltán Király. Király has degrees in sociology and environmental science.
Currently, he is a professor at Budapest Business School (BBS), where he is also Head of the Department of Finance and Accounting. He is ethnically Hungarian and his religious beliefs are not public.
Career
Gábor Király began his football career at local club Szombathelyi Haladás in 1993. His talent was quickly noticed and in 1997 he moved to the Bundesliga, signing for Hertha BSC. Király soon became the first-choice goalkeeper, playing a vital role in the team’s success. During his tenure, he made over 190 appearances and also took part in 10 UEFA Champions League matches during the 1999–2000 season.
In 2004, Király signed for Crystal Palace in the English Premier League. He initially faced competition from Argentine goalkeeper Julián Speroni but quickly won his starting position after a strong debut in the League Cup. Despite his impressive performances, Király left the club in 2006 following a transfer request, with the chances of a move to the Premier League increasing after his outstanding performances for Hungary.
Király then joined Burnley in 2007, where he continued to demonstrate his shot-stopping ability. In January 2009, he moved to Bayer Leverkusen on loan as a reserve goalkeeper. Later that year, he signed a three-year contract with TSV 1860 Munich, where he remained until 2014. During his time in Munich, Király faced disciplinary issues, including a suspension for a brawl with a teammate.
In August 2014, Király moved to English Championship side Fulham. He debuted in September 2014, impressing with his experience and professionalism despite some challenges in the match. He continued to feature for Fulham during the season, proving his reliability as a veteran goalkeeper.
Király made his debut for the Hungarian national team in 1998, saving a penalty against Austria in a 3–2 win. Over the years, he became the player with the most caps for the Hungarian team with 108 caps. He represented Hungary at UEFA Euro 2016, where he became the oldest player to appear at the European Championship at 40 years old. He retired from international football after the tournament.
Throughout his career, Király was known for his unique choice of wearing gray sweatpants instead of traditional shorts, a trademark look that has become synonymous with his style. In addition to his playing career, Király also founded his own football club, Király SZE, in 2006, further contributing to the development of football in Hungary. He announced his retirement from professional football in May 2019.
Social Media
- Instagram username: @kiralygabor1
- Facebook manager: Gabor Kiraly
Personal life
Gábor Király, former Hungarian goalkeeper, has been married to Zsanett Király since 1998. The couple have been in a steady relationship for over 26 years and have two children: Mátyás Király and Viktória Király.
Net worth
Gábor Király, a former Hungarian professional soccer player, has an estimated net worth of $1 million. During his 25-year career, he earned about $337,158 in total salary from clubs like Hertha BSC, Crystal Palace and Fulham.
Király is also famous for his distinctive style of wearing gray tracksuit bottoms during matches, a trademark that has become part of his legacy and contributed to his popularity in football.
