Sándor Bodnár started his career at Kassai AC, before later moving to NSC and then MAC. He played as a midfielder with the national team between 1910-16, scoring 18 goals in 20 matches. He was elected Player of the Year in 1912/13, and was a member of the Hungarian team at the 1912 Olympics. In the match against Great Britain, Bodnár missed a penalty when it was 0-0, and the British team went on to win 7-0. In 1921, Bodnár suffered a fractured leg, and he could not play for more than six months. Upon his return the following year, he then spent a further 10 months away from the sport, when he was suspended following a clash with a referee. In 1923 a broken knee was so serious that his playing career ended. After his playing days, he worked as an officer of the Ministry of Agriculture.