# Gábor Szalai

Gábor Szalai (born 9 June 2000) is a Hungarian footballer who plays as a defender for Nemzeti Bajnokság club Ferencváros.

## Club career
### Kecskemét

Szalai joined the football academy of Kecskemét in 2010. He has been playing for the club's first team since the 2019–20 season. On 24 June 2022, he renewed his contract with Kecskemét.

#### 2022–23 season

On 8 April 2023, he scored his first goal in the 2022–23 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season against Puskás Akadémia FC in a 3–0 victory at the Pancho Aréna, Felcsút. On 28 April 2023, he scored a goal in a 3–2 defeat against Paksi FC at the Széktói Stadion on game week 29. On 13 May 2023, he scored his third goal in the season in a 2–0 victory against reigning champions Ferencvárosi TC on game week 31.

#### 2023–24 season

On 7 August 2023, he scored his first goal in a 3–1 victory over Kisvárda FC in the 2023–24 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season at the Széktói Stadion. On 13 August 2023, he scored the winning goal against Fehérvár FC at the Széktói Stadion. He scored his third goal in Szusza Ferenc Stadion on 21 October 2023 in 5–3 defeat against Újpest FC on game week 10. On 26 November 2023, he scored his fourth goal in the season in a 3–3 draw against Fehérvár FC at the Sóstói Stadion. On 4 January 2023, it was rumored that the club received an offer from a club to purchase his rights to play.

### Lausanne

On 7 January 2024, he was signed by Swiss Super League club FC Lausanne-Sport. On 20 January 2024, he dsbuted in a 1-0 defeat against FC St. Gallen at the Stade de la Tuilière. On 28 January 2024, he received a yellow card in a 2-1 defeat against Luzern at the Swissporarena in the 2023–24 Swiss Super League season.

### Ferencváros

On 31 August 2024, he was signed by Nemzeti Bajnokság club Ferencvárosi TC.

## International career

In an interview with Nemzeti Sport, he said that he was surprised that Marco Rossi invited him to join the national team. At the press conference of the national team in Telki, he said that he had stage fright to some extent but he could sleep well before joining the national team. He said that the community of the national team is really good and the team will accept him.
He was called up in the Hungary national football team against Serbia national football team.

## Career statistics
### Club

As of match played 15 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Kecskemét | 2019–20 | Nemzeti Bajnokság III | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 1 |
| Kecskemét | 2020–21 | Nemzeti Bajnokság III | 29 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 31 | 4 |
| Kecskemét | 2021–22 | Nemzeti Bajnokság II | 30 | 10 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 10 |
| Kecskemét | 2022–23 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 30 | 3 |
| Kecskemét | 2023–24 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 15 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 4 |
| Kecskemét | Total | Total | 114 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 127 | 22 |
| Lausanne-Sport | 2023–24 | Swiss Super League | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 |
| Lausanne-Sport | 2024–25 | Swiss Super League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Lausanne-Sport | Total | Total | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Ferencváros | 2024–25 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Ferencváros | Total | Total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 135 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 149 | 22 |
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League