From Ajax rejection to AZ promise: the long road of Bendegúz Kovács

Hungarian striker Kovács, rejected by Ajax as a teenager, has earned international recognition and is pushing for AZ's first team after developing in the second division.

Bendegúz Kovács made his Hungary debut in June at age 19 while playing in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, earning praise from Hungarian media as a potential solution to the country's striker shortage. Coach Marco Rossi has since left him out of the latest squad, instructing him to earn regular first-team football at AZ rather than continue in the Dutch second tier.

At 1.99m tall, Kovács moved to the Netherlands from Hungary at 14 to pursue his dream after being released by Ajax, and has developed into one of Hungary's brightest prospects.