A distinctive Liverpool fan recognisable for his huge array of badges and scarves has died after being taken into hospital on the eve of the club's Champions League first leg match against Real Madrid.
István 'Füli' Fülöp was a member of the Red Lads Hungary Liverpool Supporters Club and was recognisable at Anfield for his distinctive appearance on match days. Füli "was in love with the team and the city of Liverpool" since 1970 and made the trip over four or five times a year since his first match at Anfield around 10 years ago.
The 61-year-old died earlier this month in hospital in his native country after falling ill on the eve of the club's home fixture against Real Madrid. Friend Roland Császár told the ECHO Füli had suffered with heart problems for a number of years and died of liver disease.
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Roland, 33, said he first met Füli around 10 years ago while working at a hotel in Liverpool. They quickly became firm friends and Füli used to stay at his house whenever visiting Liverpool for a match.
Roland told the ECHO: "He was always welcomed and loved by all Liverpool fans. People wanted to have their picture taken with him on matchdays. Children used to line up to have their picture done.
"He always took the time to do all the pictures - he was a very generous man. He would give out his badges to other fans. Any money he used to earn back home in Hungary was spent coming over to Liverpool to follow the Reds."
The Red Lads Hungary Facebook page confirmed his death on March 24. They wrote: "From now on he watches the matches from above and collects badges upstairs." They added "fans were left speechless" when they saw him at matches.
Füli's distinctive look saw him covered in badges and scarves and wearing a Liverpool bucket hat. This extravagant appearance attracted the attention of TV camera crews and his picture has featured on the likes of the BBC, Telegraph and the official Premier League website.
Roland said he and another of Füli's friends called Róbert used to look after him whenever he visited Liverpool. He said they used to take him around the city and went celebrating Liverpool wins in Mathew Street and Concert Square.
And now Roland and Róbert want Anfield to remember their late friend one more time. The club sent its condolences to Füli's family and friends but said it would be unable to arrange a minute's silence for him.
Roland told the ECHO he wants Liverpool fans to applaud in the first minute of the club's next home match v Arsenal on Sunday, April 9. Róbert also plans to carry a Füli memorial flag into the Kop to display before the match.
Roland added: "Füli leaves a huge legacy for us all in Hungary - and I think in Liverpool as well. He was one of our greatest - always full of smiles. May you rest in peace Füli."
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