Hungary goes crazy for goalkeeper’s baggy trousers

BUDAPEST — Hungary is going crazy for the grey tracksuit bottoms worn by the national team’s goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly at the European Championship finals.

Copying Kiraly, at 40 the oldest player in the tournament’s history, has become one of the acts of pride for a country that has reached the last 16 in its first major tournament since the 1986 World Cup.

Schoolkids, actors and television presenters have all been donning Kiraly trousers, while a special “go to work in tracksuit bottoms” Facebook page was set up to support the team ahead of their final group game against Portugal on Wednesday.

Employees at branches of a British supermarket chain in Budapest are wearing them and other shops plan to follow suit. Staff at the British embassy in the capital have also joined in.

Kiraly started wearing his baggy trousers during a run of games in the harsh winter of 1996.

“I’m not a top model, my job is defending, it’s both a physical and psychological thing, I don’t feel comfortable without them,” he told AFP in an interview before Euro 2016.

Thousands of Hungarians have poured onto the streets of Budapest after their games so far. They were guaranteed to qualify for the last 16 even ahead of their final match against Portugal. AFP