Kaitlin Kehrer’s bold leap from Canada to Hungary is fueled by family legacy, underdog fire, and a love affair with the game.
By the time most Canadian prospects are mapping out NCAA offers, Kaitlin Kehrer was mapping out continents.
Raised in the structured, scholarship-driven pipeline of Soccer’s Best academy back home, Kehrer grew up with a clear vision: earn a U.S. scholarship, then chase the professional game. But her dream was always painted in European colors.
Two names shaped that dream.
One was Chandra Bednar, a veteran pro who carved out a career across Europe and spoke reverently about her years in Hungary with Ferencvárosi TC and Pécsi MFC. The other was even closer to home—her older sister, Caroline Kehrer, who also wore the green and white of Ferencváros and fell in love with Hungary in the process.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing in Europe,” Kehrer says. “To follow in their footsteps in a country they love—that’s something I’ll always be grateful for.”
So when the opportunity came to join Szekszárd FC, the decision wasn’t just about football. It was about belief. She connected instantly with the club’s leadership — the Koszo Family, Coach Attila Vago, Sport Director Dorottya Toth — and their vision for the future. An underdog team with grit. A project built on mentality.
“We may be underdogs,” she says, “but we have the right mindset.”
And mindset travels.
A Tale of Two Football Nations
In Canada, the game is fast, aggressive, direct. In Hungary, it breathes.
“Hungary is more technical,” Kehrer explains. “There’s more focus on passing to feet. In Canada, it’s more aggressive and direct.”
The tactical adjustment hasn’t been small. At Szekszárd, building from the back is non-negotiable. The ball stays on the ground. Attacks are constructed, not launched.
“Back home we’d move it more direct. Here, we’re always looking to play out, to attack, to keep the ball going forward.”
It’s a cerebral shift—and one she’s embraced.
Hungary has also stretched her positionally. Different roles. Different responsibilities. Even different languages.
“Learning commands in Hungarian—that’s been growth in itself.”
Europe Is the Home of Football
Canada has surged forward in global football relevance, but culturally, the sport still fights for space with hockey. In Hungary, there’s no such competition.
“Football is everywhere here,” Kehrer says. “It’s on TV, in stores, in the streets. There are so many places for kids to play.”
In Canada, hockey is king. In Hungary, football breathes through the culture.
And Kehrer feels it.
She feels it in the packed local cafés playing match replays. She feels it in the merchandise shops. She feels it in the supporters who never miss a match.
Szekszárd’s fans don’t just cheer. They show up.
They’ve cooked team dinners. Helped her move into her apartment. Stood pitch-side at training sessions. They’ve made a foreigner feel local.
“We’re the luckiest team in the league,” she says. “They’re genuine. They care.”
The Match That Defined the Mentality
Six months in, one match stands above the rest.
Against Budapest Honvéd FC, Szekszárd trailed 1–0. The underdog script was unfolding predictably—until it wasn’t.
With relentless work rate and belief, Szekszárd clawed back to equalize 1–1.
“It felt unreal,” Kehrer says. “That game showed our character. It captured what we’re capable of.”
For a player who prides herself on intensity and toughness—traits forged in Canadian winters—it was the perfect collision of identity and opportunity.
Life in Szekszárd
She fell in love with the city immediately.
Szekszárd is small, clean, and proud. Locals plant flowers. Rake leaves. Pick up litter. Everything is within walking distance—grocery stores, cafés, restaurants.
Two minutes from her apartment are three grocery stores. Countless cafés. A square perfect for reading or playing cards on an off day.
A perfect day off?
Coffee. Kicking a ball around with teammates. Lunch together. Reading in the square. Laundry. Dinner. A movie night with the girls.
Simple. Grounded. Connected.
The region is famous for its wine, and while the season hasn’t allowed for much vineyard exploration yet, she’s already experienced one team hike—garbage bags in hand, giving back to the community.
From Gyümölcsleves to “Hanglish”
Hungarian cuisine has been an adventure.
Gyümölcsleves tops her list. Francia krémes is a close second. Töklevés húsgombóccal has earned its place in rotation. And like most newcomers, she often loves the dish without knowing its Hungarian name.
Language was initially a barrier. Some teammates were shy in English. She was new to Hungarian.
Now?
“We speak Hanglish,” she laughs—half Hungarian, half English.
She knows the everyday phrases. The football terminology. Enough to navigate the city proudly.
“Hungarian is one of the hardest languages in the world,” she says. “So when I speak it and people understand me—I feel proud.”
Representing More Than Herself
In a small city, everyone knows the Canadian footballer.
Locals stop her. Ask about home. Come to matches because they’ve met her at a café or in the square.
“I do feel like I’m representing Canada,” she says.
Her Canadian upbringing shows up in her edge. Her aggression. Her refusal to shy away from hard work.
“I bring intensity every session. I never avoid the hard things.”
Still, home tugs at her heart. She misses family most—especially her parents, who shaped her mentality and supported her leap across the Atlantic. They’ll visit soon. They’ll watch her play in Hungary.
A full-circle moment.
In the meantime, she’s brought a piece of Canada with her—fuzzy peach candies and a lesson on Canadian Thanksgiving. Cultural exchange, one locker room at a time.
The Underdog With Teeth
Szekszárd isn’t a powerhouse. Not yet.
But Kehrer didn’t come to Europe for comfort. She came for growth. For challenge. For legacy.
For the second half of the season.
“We’re building,” she says. “We have the mentality. We have the grit.”
And if history is any indicator—from the footsteps of Bednar to her sister’s love affair with Hungary—Kaitlin Kehrer may be writing the next chapter in a Canadian-Hungarian football story that feels anything but accidental.
Northern toughness. European technique. Underdog fire.
The blueprint is there.
