So Long to a Legend

[Gunnerman]

Hungary's greatest player and the leader of the team once dubbed as "The Mighty Magyars" Ferenc Puskas has passed on at the age of 79.

From the BBC:
Puskas, who was in hospital for six years with Alzheimer's disease, died in Budapest at 0600 GMT on Friday after suffering from a fever and pneumonia.


Puskas led Hungary's golden team of the early 1950s, before taking Spanish citizenship and becoming part of Real Madrid's all-conquering team. Puskas scored 83 goals in 84 games for Hungary from 1945 to 1956 and later played for Spain in the 1962 World Cup.

Some items to note are that his Hungary team of the 50s was the first international side to defeat England in England a feat that was not thought possible at the time. When he left Hungary he played for Real Madrid and won many domestic titles and 3 European Cups (equivalent to today's Champions League). He was also voted the 20th Century's 6th best player.

I have only seen him play on some of the DVDs that I have and he was a true magician and talent. Rest in peace Ferenc a true legend.

[ssigman]

amazing talent...on a team that noobie soccer fans(no offense jay) wouldn't know anything about....those hungary teams were something special...i was lucky enough to meet a member of one of those teams...can't remember his name but it was at an exhibition game my school played against a hungarian-american club team...here was this little short guy, probably in his early 70's and he pulled a move off that i can only wish to do...i'll try to explain it...

you pass the ball on the ground to him....he catches is on the side of his foot and lifts it off the ground and then balances it there for a second or two...then he flips it up in the air and catches on the back of his neck...leaves it there and then lets it roll to the back of his head where he flicks it up in the air and catches it on his foot and balances it there for a few seconds...amazing move....amazing team...

[Gunnerman]

Nice story ssigs, thanks for that.

IMO, the 1954 Hungary team led by Puskas, who had been injured and made a surprise return, may have been the best team never to have won the world cup. They lost to an underdog West German side. In one of my DVDs they show loads of highlights from that final and what a match, the Germans were very physical and the elements were also against the Mighty Magyars. After taking the Hungarians took the early lead in the end the Germans won by one goal.

[BaldBil]

A good example here on the rant the the world does not revolve around American sports. Interesting to note that he took Spanish citizenship just about the time the Russians were getting tough in eastern europe.

[Gunnerman]

Good point Bil, it was with heavy heart that Puskas left Hungary after the Soviets put down a Hungarian uprising I think in 1958. With the Soviet clampdown he knew Hungarian football would not be the same so he left to pursue his dreams with Real Madrid which became the dominant team of the late 50s and early 60s.

[BaldBil]

History is a tough mistress, that 1958 revolt was bloody and merciless.

[ssigman]

this was also before the rules that you could only play for 1 country.....i agree gunny...the 1954 team was something special...you wouldn't think it cause now hungary isn't a soccer dominating team...but back then, they were the brazil of today

[Gunnerman]

Good point ssigs, in fact reading about the game in the 1950s Puskas was pretty much considered the greatest player ever. Of course that was soon to change when a certain 17 year old debuted for Brazil in the 1958 World Cup played in Sweden.

And if truth be told, Hungarian football has never really recovered from what happened after the 1958 uprising, pretty much the best talent, players and coaches, left the country leaving a void that has never truly been filled.

[BaldBil]

Did this guy ever express any thought in public on the whole situation, maybe later in his life?

[ssigman]

good question bil....i don't think i know enough about him to know if anyone wrote about him or his political views....it really was a shame cause we could've had some amazing soccer games in the later 50's and early 60's if the hungary team remained intact and they played brazil with pele....

[ssigman]

Hungary mourns death of footballer Puskas

just an article that shows some of his amazing accomplishments on the field

[Gunnerman]

From what I have read and seen Bil, Puskas was a sportsman not a politician. After his playing career ended he went on to coaching had different stints in different countries. He did return to Hungary and eventually the National Stadium in Budapest was named after him.