View source for Ferenc Bene

{{Short description|Hungarian footballer (1944–2006)}}
{{Hungarian name|Bene Ferenc}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ferenc Bene
| image = Gyula Gulyás sports reporter with Flórián Albert, Ferenc Bene and János Farkas footballers (cropped).jpg
| caption = Bene in 1969
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1944|12|17}}
| birth_place = [[Balatonújlak]], [[Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)|Hungary]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2006|2|27|1944|12|17}}
| death_place = [[Budapest]], Hungary
| height = 1.71 m
| position = [[Forward (association football)#Striker|Striker]]
| youthyears1 = 1958–1960
| youthclubs1 = MEDOSZ [[Marcali]]
| years1 = 1959
| clubs1 = MEDOSZ [[Marcali]]
| caps1 = 7
| goals1 = 5
| years2 = 1960–1961
| clubs2 = [[Kaposvár]] Kinizsi
| caps2 = 16
| goals2 = 16
| years3 = 1961–1978
| clubs3 = [[Újpest FC|Újpest]]
| caps3 = 417
| goals3 = 303
| years4 = 1978–1979
| clubs4 = [[Volán FC|Volán SC]]
| caps4 = 
| goals4 = 
| years5 = 1981–82
| clubs5 = [[Sepsi-78]]
| caps5 = 55
| goals5 = 17
| years6 = 1982–83
| clubs6 = [[Volán FC|Volán SC]]
| caps6 = 
| goals6 = 
| years7 = 1983–84
| clubs7 = [[Soroksár SC|Soroksári VOSE]]
| caps7 = 12
| goals7 = 5
| years8 = 1984–85
| clubs8 = [[Kecskeméti TE|Kecskeméti SC]]
| caps8 = 15
| goals8 = 1
| totalcaps = 522
| totalgoals = 347
| nationalyears1 = 1962–1979
| nationalteam1 = [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]]
| nationalcaps1 = 76
| nationalgoals1 = 36
| nationalyears2 = 1963–1964
| nationalteam2 = Hungary Olympic team
| nationalcaps2 = 13
| nationalgoals2 = 24
| nationalyears3 = 1972–1973
| nationalteam3 = [[Europe XI]]
| nationalcaps3 = 2
| nationalgoals3 = 1
| manageryears1 = 1992–1993
| managerclubs1 = [[Újpest FC|Újpesti TE]]
| medaltemplates-expand = yes
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[association football|football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{HUN}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1964 Summer Olympics|1964 Tokyo]]|[[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1964 European Nations' Cup|1964 Spain]]|}}
}}
'''Ferenc Bene''' (17 December 1944 – 27 February 2006) was a Hungarian [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Forward (association football)#Striker|striker]] for [[Újpest FC|Újpest]] and [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]].

He was a member of the team that won the gold medal at the [[1964 Summer Olympics]], in which he was the top scorer of the tournament with 12 goals in just 5 matches.<ref name=Oly>{{cite web |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/25662 |title=Ferenc Bene |work=Olympedia |access-date=15 July 2023 |archive-date=29 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929142107/https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/25662 |url-status=live }}</ref> He is the sixth most [[List of world association football records|prolific goalscorer in total matches]] in [[recorded history]] according to [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|RSSSF]] with over 1425 goals scored in over 1480 matches, which results in a goal-per-match ratio of almost one.<ref name=All>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/prolific.html#allmatches |title=Best Goalscorers All-Time (All Matches) |work=[[RSSSF]] |date=7 July 2023 |access-date=15 July 2023 |archive-date=9 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709223013/https://www.rsssf.org/players/prolific.html#allmatches |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=soccer>{{Cite web |url=https://90soccer.com/the-soccer-players-who-scored-the-most-goals-in-the-history-of-the-sport-since-the-19th-century/ |title=Who scored the most goals in history? |last=Salmon |first=Ken |publisher=90soccer.com |date=31 October 2021 |access-date=15 July 2023 |archive-date=3 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203224533/https://90soccer.com/the-soccer-players-who-scored-the-most-goals-in-the-history-of-the-sport-since-the-19th-century/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Bene was a successful striker for Újpesti Dózsa (303 goals in 418 matches) and the Hungary national team (36 goals in 76 matches).<ref name=Oly/><ref name=EU>{{cite web |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=1616 |title=Ferenc Bene, international footballer |website=eu-football.info |access-date=15 July 2023 |archive-date=25 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925170100/https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=1616 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was named Hungarian player of the year twice, in 1964 and in 1969.<ref name=Oly/>

==Club career==
===Early career===
Ferenc Bene was born on 17 December 1944 in [[Balatonújlak]]. He began to play football in 1958 in the youth ranks of ''MEDOSZ [[Marcali]]''. Bene made his senior league debut for Dózsa in a fixture against [[Somogyszob]] in June 1959 at 14, scoring once.<ref name=Data>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/pbenedata.html |title=Prolific Scorers Data - Ferenc Bene - Additional Data |work=[[RSSSF]] |date=7 July 2021 |access-date=15 July 2023 |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710171819/https://www.rsssf.org/players/pbenedata.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Just two months later, in August 1959, he scored a [[hat-trick#Association football|hat-trick]] in a league game against [[Siofok]].<ref name=Data/>

In September 1959, Bene scored the only goal for [[Somogy County|Somogy]] regional team in a youth tournament match against [[Baranya County|Baranya]]. After protests from opponents, the result was annulled on the basis that the then-14-year-old Bene was too young to play for a U-16 selection U16.<ref name=Data/> He was later allowed to play for the county's junior team, but banned from playing for the senior club until his 16th birthday. For this reason, he played only for youth teams for the next 12 months, from September 1959 to September 1960.<ref name=Data/>

Bene was then recruited by ''[[Kaposvár]] Kinizsi'', a team from the third division, where he scored 16 goals in 16 matches, including 4 against Mazai Banyasz (4–0) and 6 against Szekszardi Petöfi (7–1).<ref name=Data/>

===Újpesti Dózsa===
In 1961 the 17-year-old Bene was discovered by former Hungarian international [[István Avar]], who recommended him to Újpest Dózsa.<ref name=Benfica>{{cite web |url=http://labdarugas.ute.hu/hirek/December-17-en-lett-volna-73-eves-Bene-Ferenc%21-3372 |title=December 17-én lett volna 73 éves Bene Ferenc! |trans-title=Ferenc Bene would have turned 73 on 17 December! |language=hu |work=[[RSSSF]] |date=17 December 2017 |access-date=15 July 2023 |archive-date=15 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715235944/http://labdarugas.ute.hu/hirek/December-17-en-lett-volna-73-eves-Bene-Ferenc!-3372 |url-status=live }}</ref> He then played with Újpest Dózsa for the next 17 years, from 1961 until 1978.<ref name=Data/> In total, he scored 303 goals in 418 matches, thus being one of the main architects behind the team's dominance in the 1970s, as Dózsa won 8 [[Nemzeti Bajnokság I]] between [[1969 Nemzeti Bajnokság I|1969]] and [[1977-78 Nemzeti Bajnokság I|1977-78]], and also three [[Magyar Kupa]] in [[1969 Magyar Kupa|1969]], [[1970 Magyar Kupa|1970]], and [[1974-75 Magyar Kupa|1974-75]].<ref name=Oly/>

Bene was also crucial in helping Dózsa reach the semi-finals of the [[1973–74 European Cup]], which they lost to [[Gerd Müller]]'s [[Bayern Munich]].<ref name=Benfica/> In the following year, in the round of 16 of the [[1974–75 European Cup]] against [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]], he scored a sensational goal: He kicked the ball out of the goalkeeper's hand and then held the ball in front of him for a long time before flicking to an open net with brilliant situational awareness. This was chosen as the most beautiful goal of the Cup round in Western Europe at the time.<ref name=Benfica/>

For his efforts at Dózsa, Bene was named Hungarian Footballer of the Year in 1964 and 1969.<ref name=Oly/>

===Later years===
Leaving the club after the 1978 season, he continued to play for smaller Hungarian teams such as [[Volán FC|Volán SC]] (1978–79 and 1983–84) and he even enjoyed a brief spell in Finland playing for [[Sepsi-78]] in 1981–82.<ref name=Oly/> He then played for [[Soroksár SC|Soroksári VOSE]] in 1983–84, at the age of 40, scoring 5 goals in 12 matches, and finally ended his career with [[Kecskeméti TE|Kecskeméti SC]] at the end of the 1984–85 season, having scored only 1 goal in 15 matches.<ref name=Data/><ref name=Benfica/>

==International career==
Bene made his debut for the Hungary national team against [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] on 14 October 1962, at the age of 17 years 9 months 27 days.<ref name=EU/> He scored his first international goal two caps later, on 19 October 1963, which was the opening goal of a 2–1 victory over [[East Germany national football team|East Germany]] in the round of 16 of the [[1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying]].<ref name=EU/> He also scored in the quarter-finals against [[France national football team|France]], and in the [[1964 European Nations' Cup|tournament]], Bene scored in the semi-finals against [[Spain national football team|Spain]], which was not enough to prevent a 1–2 defeat.<ref name=EU/> However, Bene scored one more goal at the tournament in the third place play-off against [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]], thus finishing as the [[1964 European Nations' Cup#Goalscorers|tournament's joint-top scorer]] alongside fellow teammate [[Dezső Novák]] and [[Chus Pereda]] of Spain.<ref name=EU/>

In 1963 and 1964, Bene played with both the Hungarian main team and the Hungarian Olympic team simultaneously, overlapping between the two sides and scoring at a prolific rate for both of them. In fact, he scored a brace in each of his first three appearances with the Olympic side, two in friendlies and the other in a 4–0 win over [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] in the first leg of the [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification#Group 2|1964 Olympic semifinal round of qualifying]],<ref name=Swe63>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/hungary-v-sweden-04-may-1963-228412/ |title=Hungary v Sweden, 04 May 1963 |website=www.11v11.com |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210123313/https://www.11v11.com/matches/hungary-v-sweden-04-may-1963-228412/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Olympiad>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1964q.html#Europe |title=Games of the XVIII. Olympiad - Football Qualifying Tournament |publisher=[[RSSSF]] |date=27 July 2011 |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205402/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1964q.html#Europe |url-status=live }}</ref> thus helping his side reach the final round of qualifying against Spain in which he scored a brace in both legs<ref name=SpainApril64>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/spain-v-hungary-29-april-1964-228681/ |title=Spain v Hungary, 29 April 1964 |website=www.11v11.com |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210123327/https://www.11v11.com/matches/spain-v-hungary-29-april-1964-228681/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=SpainMay64>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/hungary-v-spain-06-may-1964-228689/ |title=Hungary v Spain, 06 May 1964 |website=www.11v11.com |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210123347/https://www.11v11.com/matches/hungary-v-spain-06-may-1964-228689/ |url-status=live }}</ref> as Hungary qualified for the [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics|1964 Olympics]].<ref name=Olympiad/> In the Olympic tournament, Bene played a crucial role in helping Hungary winning the gold medal, scoring twelve goals in five matches, including all six in the 6–0 thrashing of [[Morocco national football team|Morocco]] in the group stage, a four goal haul against [[Egypt national football team|United Arab Republic]] in the semifinals, and the winner against [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]] in the final.<ref name=Oly/><ref name=EU/> He is one of only four players who have scored two hat-tricks in Olympic football matches, the others being [[Vilhelm Wolfhagen]], [[Antonín Janda]], and [[Domingo Tarasconi]].{{fact|date=December 2024}}

He was a versatile attacking player, who played as a center forward in Dózsa. In the national team, however, he held the position of right winger because of [[Albert Flórián]]. He was a player with a strong, muscular build, fast starting speed, and a great goal-scoring instinct.<ref name=Benfica/>

In the [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966 World Cup]], Bene scored one goal in each of Hungary's three group stage matches against [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]], [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]], and [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]], and then also scored in the quarterfinals, which Hungary lost 1–2 to the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]]. With four goals, Bene was Hungary's top scorer in the World Cup.<ref name=Oly/><ref name=EU/>

On 1 May 1972, he was invited to play a match for a [[Europe XI]] against [[Hamburger SV]], organized as a farewell game for [[Uwe Seeler]], and Bene scored once in a 7–3 win.<ref name=efo>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHons/HonsRepTms.html |title=England Player Honours - International Representative Teams |website=www.englandfootballonline.com |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=22 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922122518/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHons/HonsRepTms.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Bene played his last international match against Czechoslovakia on 12 September 1979. In total, he obtained 76 caps and scored 36 goals.<ref name=EU/>

==Death==
He died on 27 February 2006 in [[Budapest]], after a lengthy treatment following a fall at the end of 2005. His son [[Ferenc Bene jr.]] is also a former player, currently working as a [[Manager (association football)|manager]].<ref name=Benfica/>

The football academy of [[Kaposvári Rákóczi FC]] bears his name.<ref name=Benfica/> He also received {{ill|A Magyar Érdemrend tisztikeresztje|hu|lt=Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary}} in 1994.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=3 | Club performance
! colspan=2 | League
! colspan=2 | Cup
! colspan=2 | League Cup
! colspan=2 | Continental
! colspan=2 | Total
|-
! Season !! Club !! League
! Apps !! Goals
! Apps !! Goals
! Apps !! Goals
! Apps !! Goals
! Apps !! Goals
|-
|-
! colspan=3 | Hungary
! colspan=2 | League
! colspan=2 | [[Hungarian Cup]]
! colspan=2 | League Cup
! colspan=2 | [[UEFA|Europe]]
! colspan=2 | Total
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1961-62|1961–62]]||rowspan="18"|[[Újpesti Dózsa]]||rowspan="18"|[[Hungarian National Championship I|National Championship I]]||22||6||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1962-63|1962–63]]||26||23||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1963|1963]]||13||6||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1964|1964]]||26||20|||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1965|1965]]||25||20||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1966|1966]]||26||24||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1967|1967]]||30||22||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1968|1968]]||26||22||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1969|1969]]||29||27||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1970|1970]]||14||10||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1970-71|1970–71]]||30||24||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1971-72|1971–72]]||30||29||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1972-73|1972–73]]||30||23||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1973-74|1973–74]]||29||14||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1974-75|1974–75]]||28||20||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1975-76|1975–76]]||18||7||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1976-77|1976–77]]||12||4||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1977-78|1977–78]]||3||2||||||||||||||||
|-
! rowspan=1 | Total
! colspan=2 | Hungary
!417||303||||||||||||||||
|-
! colspan=3 | Career total
!417||303||||||||||||||||
|}

===International goals===
====Goals for Hungary Olympic team====
:''Hungary score listed first, score column indicates score after each Bene goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of international goals scored by Ferenc Bene
|-
!scope=col|No.
!scope=col|Date
!scope=col|Venue
!scope=col|Opponent
!scope=col|Score
!scope=col|Result
!scope=col|Competition
!scope=col|Source
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|1
| rowspan="2" | 4 May 1963 || rowspan="2" | [[Ferenc Puskás Stadium|Népstadion]], [[Budapest]], Hungary || rowspan="2" | {{fb|SWE}} || align=center | '''2'''–0 || rowspan="2" align=center| 4–0 || rowspan="2" | [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification#Group 2|First leg of the 1964 Olympic semifinal round of qualifying]] || rowspan="2" | <ref name=Swe63/>
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|2
| align=center | '''3'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|3
| rowspan="2" | 4 December 1963 || rowspan="2" | [[Dakar]], Senegal || rowspan="2" | {{fb|SEN}} || align=center | ? || rowspan="2" align=center| 8–3 || rowspan="6" | [[Exhibition game|Olympic Friendly]] || rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/senegal-v-hungary-04-december-1963-228588/ |title=Senegal v Hungary, 04 December 1963 |website=www.11v11.com |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=23 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123110616/https://www.11v11.com/matches/senegal-v-hungary-04-december-1963-228588/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|4
| align=center | ?
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|5
| rowspan="2" | 6 December 1963 || rowspan="2" | Ivory Coast || rowspan="2" | {{fb|Ivory Coast|1959}} || align=center | ? || rowspan="2" align=center| 4–1 || rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/ivory-coast-v-hungary-06-december-1963-264200/ |title=Ivory Coast v Hungary, 06 December 1963 |website=www.11v11.com |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=23 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123110614/https://www.11v11.com/matches/ivory-coast-v-hungary-06-december-1963-264200/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|6
| align=center | ?
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|7
| rowspan="2" | 28 December 1963 || rowspan="2" | [[Stade du 5 Juillet]], [[Algiers]], Algeria || rowspan="2" | {{fb|ALG}} || align=center | '''2'''–0 || rowspan="2" align=center| 3–0 || rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/algeria-v-hungary-28-december-1963-228606/ |title=Algeria v Hungary, 28 December 1963 |website=www.11v11.com |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210123316/https://www.11v11.com/matches/algeria-v-hungary-28-december-1963-228606/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|8
| align=center | '''3'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|9
| rowspan="2" | 29 April 1964 || rowspan="2" | Palma || rowspan="4" | {{fb|SPA}} || align=center | '''1'''–1 || rowspan="2" align=center| 2–1 || rowspan="2" | [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification#Group 2|First leg of the 1964 Olympic final round of qualifying]] || rowspan="2" | <ref name=SpainApril64/>
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|10
| align=center | '''2'''–1
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|11
| rowspan="2" | 6 May 1964 || rowspan="2" | [[Ferenc Puskás Stadium|Népstadion]], [[Budapest]], Hungary || align=center | '''1'''–0 || rowspan="2" align=center| 3–0 || rowspan="2" | [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification#Group 2|Second leg of the 1964 Olympic final round of qualifying]] || rowspan="2" | <ref name=SpainMay64/>
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|12
| align=center | '''2'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|13
| rowspan="6" | 11 October 1964 || rowspan="6" | [[National Stadium (Tokyo)|National Olympic Stadium]], [[Tokyo]], Japan || rowspan="6" | {{fb|Morocco}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || rowspan="6" align=center| 6–0 || rowspan="7" | [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics#Group B|1964 Olympic group stages]] || rowspan="6" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/tokyo1964/matches/round=197086/match=32065/index.html |title=Hungary vs Morocco, 11 October 1964 |website=FIFA.com |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511065938/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/tokyo1964/matches/round=197086/match=32065/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|14
| align=center | '''2'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|15
| align=center | '''3'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|16
| align=center | '''4'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|17
| align=center | '''5'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|18
| align=center | '''6'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|19
| 15 October 1964 || [[Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium]], [[Tokyo]], Japan || {{fb|YUG}} || align=center | '''4'''–2 || align=center| 6–5 || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/tokyo1964/match-center/32077 |title=Hungary vs Yugoslavia, 15 October 1964 |website=FIFA.com |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124013654/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/tokyo1964/match-center/32077 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|20
| rowspan="4" | 20 October 1964 || rowspan="4" | [[Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium]], [[Tokyo]], Japan || rowspan="4" | {{fb|UAR}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || rowspan="4" align=center| 6–0 || rowspan="4" | [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics#Semi-finals|1964 Olympic semifinals]] || rowspan="4" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/tokyo1964/matches/round=197093/match=32086/index.html |title=Hungary vs United Arab Republic, 20 October 1964 |website=FIFA.com |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=15 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415220316/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/tokyo1964/matches/round=197093/match=32086/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|21
| align=center | '''2'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|22
| align=center | '''5'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|23
| align=center | '''6'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|24
| 23 October 1964 || [[National Stadium (Tokyo)|National Olympic Stadium]], [[Tokyo]], Japan || {{fb|TCH}} || align=center | '''2'''–0 || align=center| 2–1 || [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics#Gold Medal match|1964 Olympic final]] || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/tokyo1964/match-center/32092 |title=Hungary vs Czechoslovakia, 23 October 1964 |website=FIFA.com |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124013655/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/tokyo1964/match-center/32092 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|}

====Goals for Hungary main team====
:''Hungary score listed first, score column indicates score after each Bene goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of international goals scored by Ferenc Bene<ref name=EU/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://us.soccerway.com/players/ferenc-bene/108183/matches/ |title=Hungary - F. Bene |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=16 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316023545/https://us.soccerway.com/players/ferenc-bene/108183/matches/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
|-
!scope=col|No.
!scope=col|Date
!scope=col|Venue
!scope=col|Opponent
!scope=col|Score
!scope=col|Result
!scope=col|Competition
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|1
| 19 October 1963 || [[Stadion der Weltjugend]], [[Berlin]], Germany || rowspan="2" | {{fb|East Germany}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center| 2–1 || rowspan="2" | [[1964 European Nations' Cup round of 16|1964 Euros qualifying round of 16]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|2
| 3 November 1963 || rowspan="2" | [[Ferenc Puskás Stadium|Népstadion]], [[Budapest]], Hungary || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center| 3–3
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|3
| 23 May 1964 || {{fb|FRA}} || align=center | '''2'''–1 || align=center| 2–1 || [[1964 European Nations' Cup quarter-finals|1964 Euros qualifying quarter-finals]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|4
| 17 June 1964 || [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium|Santiago Bernabéu]], [[Madrid]], Spain || {{fb|SPA}} || align=center | '''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–2 || [[1964 European Nations' Cup final tournament#Semi-finals|1964 Euros semi-finals]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|5
| 20 June 1964 || [[Camp Nou]], [[Barcelona]], Spain || {{fb|DEN}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center| 3–1 || [[1964 European Nations' Cup final tournament#Third place play-off|1964 Euros third place play-off]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|6
| 23 May 1965 || [[Zentralstadion (1956)|Zentralstadion]], [[Leipzig]], Germany || {{fb|East Germany}} || align=center | '''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–1 || [[1966 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|7
| 27 June 1965 || [[Ferenc Puskás Stadium|Népstadion]], [[Budapest]], Hungary || {{fb|ITA}} || align=center | '''2'''–1 || align=center| 2–1 || rowspan="4" | [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|8
| 3 May 1966 || [[Stadion Śląski]], [[Chorzów]], Poland || {{fb|POL}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–1
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|9
| rowspan="2" | 5 June 1966 || rowspan="2" | [[Ferenc Puskás Stadium|Népstadion]], [[Budapest]], Hungary || rowspan="2" | {{fb|SWI}} || align=center | '''2'''–0 || rowspan="2" align=center| 3–1
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|10
| align=center | '''3'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|11
| 13 July 1966 || [[Old Trafford]], [[Manchester]], England || {{fb|POR}} || align=center | '''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–3 || rowspan="3" | [[1966 FIFA World Cup Group 3|1966 World Cup group stages]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|12
| 15 July 1966 || [[Goodison Park]], [[Liverpool]], England || {{fb|BRA}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center| 3–1
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|13
| 20 July 1966 || [[Old Trafford]], [[Manchester]], England || {{fb|BUL}} || align=center | '''3'''–1 || align=center| 3–1
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|14
| 23 July 1966 || [[Roker Park]], [[Sunderland]], England || {{fb|Soviet Union}} || align=center | '''1'''–2 || align=center| 1–2 || [[1966 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Quarter-finals|1966 World Cup quarter-finals]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|15
| 21 September 1966 || rowspan="2" | [[Ferenc Puskás Stadium|Népstadion]], [[Budapest]], Hungary || {{fb|DEN}} || align=center | '''3'''–0 || align=center| 6–0 || [[UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|16
| 23 April 1967 || {{fb|YUG}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|17
| 24 May 1967 || [[Københavns Idrætspark]], [[Copenhagen]], Denmark || {{fb|DEN}} || align=center | '''2'''–0 || align=center| 2–0 || [[UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|18
| 6 September 1967 || [[Ernst-Happel-Stadion]], [[Vienna]], Austria || {{fb|AUS}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center| 3–1 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|19
| 8 June 1969 || [[Dalymount Park]], [[Dublin]], Ireland || {{fb|IRE}} || align=center | '''2'''–1 || align=center| 2–1 || rowspan="6" | [[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|20
| 15 June 1969 || [[Københavns Idrætspark]], [[Copenhagen]], Denmark || {{fb|DEN}} || align=center | '''1'''–1 || align=center| 2–3
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|21
| 14 September 1969 || [[Stadion Letná]], [[Prague]], Czech Republic || {{fb|CZE}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center| 3–3
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|22
| rowspan="2" | 22 October 1969 || rowspan="3" | [[Ferenc Puskás Stadium|Népstadion]], [[Budapest]], Hungary || rowspan="2" | {{fb|DEN}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || rowspan="2" align=center| 3–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|23
| align=center | '''3'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|24
| 5 November 1969 || {{fb|IRE}} || align=center | '''2'''–0 || align=center| 4–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|25
| 12 April 1970 || [[Partizan Stadium]], [[Belgrade]], Yugoslavia || {{fb|YUG}} || align=center | '''2'''–2 || align=center| 2–2 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|26
| 7 October 1970 || [[Ullevaal Stadion]], [[Oslo]], Norway || {{fb|NOR}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center| 3–1 || [[UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|27
| rowspan="2" | 4 April 1971 || rowspan="2" | [[Ernst-Happel-Stadion]], [[Vienna]], Austria || rowspan="2" | {{fb|AUS}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || rowspan="2" align=center| 2–0 || rowspan="2" | [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|28
| align=center | '''2'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|29
| 9 October 1971 || [[Stade Yves-du-Manoir]], [[Colombes]], France || {{fb|FRA}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center| 2–0 || rowspan="3" | [[UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|30
| rowspan="2" | 27 October 1971 || rowspan="2" | [[Ferenc Puskás Stadium|Népstadion]], [[Budapest]], Hungary || rowspan="2" | {{fb|NOR}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || rowspan="2" align=center| 4–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|31
| align=center | '''3'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|32
| rowspan="2" | 14 November 1971 || rowspan="2" | [[Empire Stadium (Gżira)|Empire Stadium]], [[Gżira]], Malta || rowspan="2" | {{fb|Malta}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || rowspan="2" align=center| 2–0 || rowspan="3" | [[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|33
| align=center | '''2'''–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|34
| 6 May 1972 || [[Szusza Ferenc Stadion]], [[Budapest]], Hungary || {{fb|Malta}} || align=center | '''2'''–0 || align=center| 3–0
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|35
| 26 September 1973 || [[Partizan Stadium]], [[Belgrade]], Yugoslavia || {{fb|YUG}} || align=center | '''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–1 || rowspan="2" | [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
!scope=row style=text-align:center|36
| 31 March 1974 || [[Zalaegerszegi TE|ZTE]] stadium, [[Zalaegerszeg]], Hungary || {{fb|BUL}} || align=center | '''3'''–0 || align=center| 4–0
|-
|}

==Honours==
;Újpest
* [[Nemzeti Bajnokság I]] (8): [[1969 Nemzeti Bajnokság I|1969]], [[1970 Nemzeti Bajnokság I|1970]], [[1970-71 Nemzeti Bajnokság I|1970-71]], [[1971-72 Nemzeti Bajnokság I|1971-72]], [[1972-73 Nemzeti Bajnokság I|1972-73]], [[1973-74 Nemzeti Bajnokság I|1973-74]], [[1974-75 Nemzeti Bajnokság I|1974-75]], [[1977-78 Nemzeti Bajnokság I|1977-78]]
* [[Magyar Kupa]]: [[1969 Magyar Kupa|1969]], [[1970 Magyar Kupa|1970]], [[1974-75 Magyar Kupa|1974-75]]
;Hungary
* [[Olympic Games]]: [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics|1964]]

;Individual
*[[UEFA European Championship Teams of the Tournament|UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament]]: [[UEFA European Championship awards#Team of the Tournament|1964]]<ref>{{cite news|title=1964 team of the tournament|work=Union of European Football Associations|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0253-0d7d0bdc396b-570ad6e6ff87-1000--euro-1964-team-of-the-tournament/?iv=true|access-date=14 May 2020|archive-date=24 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724153004/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0253-0d7d0bdc396b-570ad6e6ff87-1000--euro-1964-team-of-the-tournament/?iv=true|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Hungarian Footballer of the Year: 1964 and 1969
*[[World Soccer (magazine)#Eric Batty's World XI|World XI]]: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969<ref name="BTLM60s">{{cite web |url=https://beyondthelastman.com/2013/04/29/eric-battys-world-xis-the-sixties/ |website=Beyond The Last Man |date=29 April 2013 |title=Eric Batty's World XI – The Sixties |access-date=19 July 2020 |archive-date=22 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622220354/https://beyondthelastman.com/2013/04/29/eric-battys-world-xis-the-sixties/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*''FUWO European Team of the Season'': 1966<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcc-supporters.org/fuwo/files/FUWO%201967/FUWO%201967%2002.pdf |website=FCC-Wiki|title=FUWO 1967|access-date=23 April 2024 }}</ref>
*[[Allgemeiner Deutscher Nachrichtendienst|ADN Eastern European Footballer of the Season]]: 1966<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ukrfootball.ua/news/albert-dzhayich-blohin-stoyichkov-levandovski-shcho-spilnogo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200112/http://ukrfootball.ua/news/albert-dzhayich-blohin-stoyichkov-levandovski-shcho-spilnogo |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-03-04 |website=WebArchive |title=Eastern European Footballer of the season|access-date=5 July 2024 }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of footballers with 500 or more goals|List of men's footballers with 500 or more goals]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020137/http://www.futbolocos.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/ferenc-bene.jpg |date=20150924 |title=Image (futbolocos.com) }}
* {{Olympics.com profile|ferenc-bene}}
* {{SR/Olympics profile|be/ferenc-bene-1}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg =  gold
| fg   = black
| list =
{{UEFA Euro 1964 Team of the Tournament}}
{{UEFA European Football Championship top scorers}}
{{Summer Olympics football tournament top scorers}}
{{1966 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1967 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1968 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1969 World Soccer World XI}}
{{Nemzeti Bajnokság I top scorers}}
{{Hungarian Footballer of the Year}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Hungary squads
| bg =  #dd0000
| fg   = White
| list =
{{Hungary squad 1964 European Nations' Cup}}
{{Hungary football squad 1964 Summer Olympics}}
{{Hungary squad 1966 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Hungary squad UEFA Euro 1972}} 
}}
{{Újpest FC managers}}
{{Authority control}}

__FORCETOC__

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bene, Ferenc}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:Hungarian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Hungarian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Hungary men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Hungary]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Hungary]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in football]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1964 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1964 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:1964 European Nations' Cup players]]
[[Category:1966 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1972 players]]
[[Category:Újpest FC players]]
[[Category:Volán FC players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Finland]]
[[Category:Sepsi-78 players]]
[[Category:Hungarian expatriate sportspeople in Finland]]
[[Category:Soroksár SC players]]
[[Category:Kecskeméti TE players]]
[[Category:Hungarian football managers]]
[[Category:Újpest FC managers]]
[[Category:Nemzeti Bajnokság I players]]
[[Category:Footballers from Somogy County]]
[[Category:Nemzeti Bajnokság I managers]]
[[Category:20th-century Hungarian sportsmen]]