Imre Varadi

Striker who served a host of clubs including Manchester City, Newcastle United, Leeds United, Everton and both Sheffield United and Wednesday between 1975 to 1995...

Dob: 8 July 1959
Pob: Paddington
Position: Striker

Career: Player: Letchworth Garden City, Sheffield United (1975-79, 8 (4) + 4), Everton (1979-81, 28 (7) + 7), Newcastle United (1981-83, 86 (0) + 42), Sheffield Wednesday (1983-85, 90 (4) + 40), West Bromwich Albion (1985-86, 39 (2) + 13), Manchester City (1986-88, 68 (13) + 31), Sheffield Wednesday (1988-90, 17 (9) + 6), Leeds United (1990-93, 23 (6) + 6), Luton Town (loan) (1992, 5 (1) + 1), Oxford United (loan) (1993, 3 (2) + 0), Rotherham United (1993-95, 67 (14) + 29), Mansfield Town (1995, 1 (0) + 0), Boston United (1995, 7 (3) + 1), Scunthorpe United (1995, 0 (2) + 0), Matlock Town (1995), Guisley, Denaby United. Total: (1977-96, 442 (67) + 180) Manager: Matlock Town (1995-96) Guisley, Denaby United.

Imre Varadi, brother of Fernando Varadi, who was a registered player with Fulham was spotted by Blades manager Harry Haslam in spring 1975 when playing at non-league side Letchworth. His United debut came in a friendly against Argentinean side River Platé while his first league goal came in 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace.

Varadi played just ten games with United and scored four goals before he was sold to Everton in March 1979 for £85,000. Despite making 26 appearances for the Merseyside club he never managed to hold down a first team place. His only highlight at Goodison Park was scoring the winner against Liverpool in the 1981 FA Cup campaign.

His career only started to move on when he was sold to Newcastle United for £100,000 in 1981. During his two year stay at St James Park he netted 39 goals and almost helped the Magpies into Division One.

In 1983 he moved back to Sheffield where he joined rivals Wednesday for £150,000, and his 17 goal tally helped to send the Owls into top flight football. The following season he scored 16 goals and was 'Owls Player of the Year'.

He netted the winner at home to Cambridge United as the Owls won 1-0 in his first season, as well as grabbing a brace against former club Newcastle United in a 4-2 win. He scored twice in another 2-1 win away at Manchester City to keep the Hillsborough faithful top of Division Two and in following game against Cardiff City also brought him two goals.

Their Division One Champaign got off to a flyer, Varadi scored as they beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 on the opening day, two months later his hat-trick would send them to a 5-0 win over Leicester City while a double would beat Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford.

In the FA Cup Wednesday would beat Oldham Athletic 5-1 in round four, Varadi netted a hat-trick that day, and would score in next round when they lost 3-2 to Ipswich Town.

He was transferred to West Bromwich Albion for £285,000 which was to be a bad move, at the end of the 1985-86 season the Baggies were relegated and in order for Varadi to stay in First Divison he joined Manchester City, though they too were subsequently relegated season he joined. In the early part of the 1988-89 season Varadi returned to Hillsborough, his second S6 stay was not as successful as his first and was allowed to move to Howard Wilkinson's Leeds United in 1990.

Upon his return to Hillsborough he scored the Owls second goal in a 2-2 draw against eventual league runners-up Liverpool, and in 1-1 draw to Champions Arsenal, he also grabbed a brace against Torquay United in FA Cup round three which Owls won 5-1.

He made his debut at home to Hull City which the Whites won 4-3; he also scored one of those four goals along with Vinnie Jones. That season the Elland Road club piped United to Division Two Championship, they then lifted Football League Division One Championship two seasons later.

The following season the FA Premier League was created, but after only two games Varadi was to be squeezed out of Elland Road as manager Wilkinson looked to down size his squad; his last Leeds goal coming against former club Sheffield Wednesday in a 3-1 win.

Despite playing for 12 league clubs Varadi never played in an all City affair, he never played in a Steel City Derby while missing out on a Tyne-Wear clash. Add to that an all Manchester derby and the Luton v Watford cauldron of fire. Even when joining Oxford United on loan he missed their meeting with Swindon Town by 12 days, he did however play in Merseyside and an West Yorkshire Derby.

After loan spells with Oxford United and Luton Town he was transferred to Rotherham United on a free transfer in March 1993, he stayed there until August 1995 where he joined Mansfield Town. Strangely enough he was only at the Field Mill club for 21 days.

He joined non-league outfit Boston United, but after a disappointing FA Cup departure against Wisbeach Town the Pilgrims let Varadi go due to financial upset, things turned out for the better though, Scunthorpe United required his services.

Again, he only stayed with his new club for less than a month, though it allowed him to make two substitute appearances. He went back into non-league in October 1995 to become player/manager of Matlock Town, but at the end of the 1995-96 season he was sacked after relegating the club.

He then went on to become player/manager of Guisley and Denaby United before taking an Assistant Managers role and Nationwide Conference side Stalybridge Celtic.

In March 2004 be became a fully licensed FIFA agent had has in the past represented players from both United and Wednesday, whilst he has turned out for the Owls and Whites Masters sides down the years.

Last Edited: 4 April 2010