Former Premier League Star Akos Buzsaky Breaks Silence After Being Reported Missing in Budapest

Former Premier League midfielder Akos Buzsaky has reassured friends and supporters after Hungarian police launched an appeal when he was reported missing in Budapest.

The 44-year-old former QPR, Portsmouth and Barnsley player was reported unaccounted for on August 18, prompting authorities to seek information about his whereabouts.

Buzsaky has now spoken publicly about what happened, explaining that he had deliberately stepped away from his normal routine during what he described as a difficult period in his life.

Buzsaky explains why he disappeared

In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Buzsaky thanked those who had expressed concern and said recent months had brought serious changes that had tested him.

He explained that he reached a point where he felt he needed to distance himself from his everyday life. A misunderstanding involving his worried mother ultimately led her to contact the police.

Buzsaky said:

“Thank you very much for all the concern and thoughts you have shown me.”

He added that once he became aware that authorities were searching for him, he ended his retreat and contacted them.

His message appeared to reassure those who had been concerned about his safety, with the former footballer also saying that receiving so much support and affection had meant a great deal to him.

A career that took him from Budapest to the Premier League

Buzsaky began his professional career with MTK Budapest before moving to Porto in 2002, during the period when the Portuguese club was managed by Jose Mourinho.

His route to English football began with Plymouth, whom he joined on loan in 2005.

He later established himself at QPR, where his most productive and settled spell in England unfolded.

QPR signed him permanently in 2008 after his successful loan period, and Buzsaky went on to spend four years with the west London club.

During that time, he made 125 appearances, scoring 24 goals and providing 13 assists.

Across his Premier League career, Buzsaky made 18 appearances, registering two goals and two assists. He also represented Hungary at international level.

After spells with Portsmouth and Barnsley, he eventually returned to his homeland and finished his playing career with Ferencvaros, retiring in 2015.

His father revealed he spends much of his time in Greece

Buzsaky’s disappearance came as a surprise to his father, who told Hungarian outlet Blikk that he had not realised police were looking for his son.

Because the pair do not live together, they do not speak as frequently as they once might have.

His father explained that Buzsaky has spent considerable time in Greece, where he works as a construction contractor.

According to him, the former footballer spent almost the entire previous year there and had most recently spoken to him the week before, when Buzsaky was back home.

The details offered by his father also provide some context for Buzsaky’s life away from football, which has taken him far from the Premier League spotlight.

Buzsaky has previously spoken about addiction

The former midfielder has also been open about difficulties he experienced after retiring from football.

In a previous podcast appearance, Buzsaky acknowledged that he had struggled with addiction, describing it as something that had brought him a temporary source of joy before becoming a serious problem.

He said he had fallen into one of the forms of addiction he listed — gambling, alcohol or drugs — and admitted that it was not something he was proud of.

Rather than hiding that chapter of his life, Buzsaky said accepting what had happened was part of being honest with himself.

His latest statement comes against that personal background, although he did not specify exactly what the recent changes in his life involved.

A reassuring message after days of uncertainty

For supporters who remembered Buzsaky from his playing days, the police appeal understandably created concern.

The former QPR favourite has now made clear that he is safe and that his absence was connected to his decision to temporarily withdraw from his usual routine.

His message also suggests that he was touched by the reaction to news of his disappearance.

After years spent in professional football and more than a decade since his retirement, Buzsaky now leads a very different life, working in construction and spending much of his time between different countries.

For now, the most important update is a simple one: Akos Buzsaky has been in contact with authorities and has reassured those who feared something had happened to him.