Ferenc Puskás

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Hungarian name Script error: No such module "redirect hatnote". Template:Use dmy dates Template:Expand Hungarian Template:Infobox football biography Template:Ferenc Puskás series Ferenc Puskás[pron 1] (né Purczeld; 1 April 1927 – 17 November 2006) was a Hungarian footballer and manager, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and the sport's first international superstar.[4] A forward and an attacking midfielder, he scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary and later played four international matches for Spain as well. He is the European all-time top assist provider in international football (53). He became an Olympic champion in 1952 and led his nation to the final of the 1954 World Cup. He won three European Cups (1959, 1960, 1966), ten national championships (five Hungarian and five Spanish Primera División) and eight top individual scoring honors. Known as the "Galloping Major",[5] in 1995, he was recognized as the greatest top division scorer of the 20th century by the IFFHS.[6][7][8] Scoring 802 goals in 792 official games during his career, he is the seventh top goal scorer of all time by the RSSSF.[9]

He was the son of former footballer Ferenc Puskás Senior. Puskás started his career in Hungary playing for Kispest and Budapest Honvéd. He was the top scorer in the Hungarian League on four occasions, and in 1948, he was the top goal scorer in Europe. During the 1950s, he was both a prominent member and captain of the Hungary national team, known as the Mighty Magyars. After the Hungarian Revolution, Puskás served a two year ban from UEFA. Despite failing to sign for Ethnikos Piraeus in 1957 under pressure from rival clubs,[10] in 1958, he emigrated to Spain where he successfully signed for Real Madrid at the age of 31. While playing with the club, Puskás won four Pichichis and scored seven goals in two European Cup finals, winning the competition three times with the club and claiming five consecutive La Liga titles. He scored 619 goals in 618 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues and National Cups.

After retiring as a player, he became a coach. The highlight of his coaching career came in 1971 when he guided Panathinaikos to the European Cup final, where they lost 2–0 to Ajax. He also led the club to the championship in 1972, becoming an icon in the country. Afterward he'd have spells at various countries and clubs, including Spain, Paraguay and the Saudi Arabia national team, with varying success. He returned again to Greece to manage an exceptionally strong AEK team for the 1978–79 season. In 1993, he returned to Hungary and took temporary charge of the Hungary national team.[11] In 1998, he became one of the first ever FIFA/SOS Charity ambassadors.[12] In 2002, the Népstadion in Budapest was renamed the Puskás Ferenc Stadion in his honor.[13] He was also declared the best Hungarian player of the last 50 years by the Hungarian Football Federation in the UEFA Jubilee Awards in November 2003.[14] In October 2009, FIFA announced the introduction of the FIFA Puskás Award, awarded to the player who has scored the "most beautiful goal" over the past year. He was also listed in Pelé's FIFA 100.

Career in Hungary

Early years

File:Ferenc Puskas and Ger Lagendijk 1968.jpg
Puskás and Ger Lagendijk, manager and player of the Vancouver Royals, February 1968

Ferenc Purczeld was born on 1 April 1927[15][16] to a German (Danube Swabian) family in Budapest and brought up in Kispest, then a suburb, today part of the city. His mother, Margit Biró (1904–1976), was a seamstress. He began his career as a junior with Kispest Honvéd,[13] where his father, who had previously played for the club, was a coach.

In 1937, his father changed the family name to Puskás. He initially used the pseudonym "Miklós Kovács" to help circumvent the minimum age rules[17] before officially signing at the age of 12. Among his early teammates was his childhood friend and future international teammate József Bozsik. He made his first senior appearance for Kispest in November 1943 in a match against NAC.[18] It was here where he received the nickname "Öcsi" or "Buddy".[19]

On 19 February 1949, Puskás scored seven goals for Kispest in a 11–3 win against Győr.[20] Kispest was taken over by the Hungarian Ministry of Defence in 1949, becoming the Hungarian Army team and changing its name to Budapest Honvéd. As a result, football players were given military ranks. Puskás eventually became a major (Hungarian: Őrnagy), which led to the nickname "The Galloping Major".[21] As the army club, Honvéd used conscription to acquire the best Hungarian players leading to the recruitment of Zoltán Czibor and Sándor Kocsis.[22] During his career at Budapest Honvéd, Puskás helped the club win five Hungarian League titles. He also finished as top goal scorer in the league in 1947–48, 1949–50, 1950 and 1953, scoring 50, 31, 25 and 27 goals, respectively. In 1948, he was the top goal scorer in Europe.[23]

Goldteam

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

File:Golden Team 1953.jpg
The Golden Team in 1953
front row: Mihály Lantos, Ferenc Puskás, Gyula Grosics
back row: Gyula Lóránt, Jenő Buzánszky, Nándor Hidegkuti, Sándor Kocsis, József Zakariás, Zoltán Czibor, József Bozsik, László Budai
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Puskás made his debut for Hungary team on 20 August 1945 and scored in a 5–2 win over Austria.[24] He went on to play 85 games and scored 84 times for Hungary. His international goal record included two hat tricks against Austria, one against Luxembourg and four goals in a 12–0 win over Albania.[25] Together with Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis, József Bozsik, and Nándor Hidegkuti, he formed the nucleus of the Golden Team that was to remain unbeaten for 32 consecutive games.[26] During this run, they became Olympic Champions in 1952, beating Yugoslavia 2–0 in the final in Helsinki. Puskás scored four times at the Olympic tournament,[25] including the opening goal in the final. They also defeated England twice, first with a 6–3 win at Wembley Stadium,[24] and then 7–1 in Budapest. Puskás scored two goals in each game against England. In 1953, they also won the 1948-53 Central European International Cup. Hungary won the championship after finishing top of the table with 11 points. Puskás finished the tournament as top scorer with ten goals and scored twice as Hungary claimed the trophy with a 3–0 win over Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in 1953.[27]

Puskás scored three goals in the two first-round matches Hungary played at the 1954 FIFA World Cup. They defeated South Korea 9–0 and then West Germany 8–3. In the latter game, he suffered a hairline fracture of the ankle after a tackle by Werner Liebrich, and did not return until the final.[28]

Puskás played the entire 1954 World Cup final against West Germany with a hairline fracture. Despite this, he scored his fourth goal of the tournament to put Hungary ahead after six minutes, and with Czibor adding another goal two minutes later, it seemed that the pre-tournament favorites would take the title. However, the West Germans pulled back two goals before half time, with six minutes left the West Germans scored the winner. Two minutes from the end of the match Puskás scored a late equalizer but the goal was disallowed due to an offside call.[29] Ending the Golden years with a silver medal at the 1955-60 Central European International Cup, making it a grand total of two gold/titles and two silver for the Mighty Magyars.

Ferenc Puskás' statistics at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics

The scores contain links to the article on football in the Helsinki Olympics and the round in question.[30]

Game no. Round Date Opponent Puskás' playing time Score Puskás' goals Score Times Venue Report
1 Prel. R. 15 July 1952 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Romania flag alias = Flag of Romania.svg flag alias-1859 = Flag of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (1859 - 1862).svg flag alias-1862 = Flag of the United Principalities of Romania (1862–1866).svg flag alias-1866 = Flag of Romania.svg flag alias-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg flag alias-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948-1952).svg flag alias-1952 = Flag of Romania (1952-1965).svg flag alias-1965 = Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg flag alias-naval = Flag of Romania.svg flag alias-naval-1860 = Flag of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (1859 - 1862).svg flag alias-naval-1862 = Flag of the United Principalities of Romania (1862–1866).svg flag alias-naval-1866 = Flag of Romania.svg flag alias-naval-1922 = Naval Ensign of Romania (1922–1947).svg flag alias-naval-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg flag alias-naval-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948–1952).svg flag alias-naval-1950 = Naval Ensign of Romania (1950–1952).svg flag alias-naval-1952 = Naval Ensign of Romania (1952–1965).svg flag alias-naval-1965 = Flag of Romania (1965–1989).svg link alias-naval = Romanian Naval Forces flag alias-air force = Flag of the Romanian Air Force (obverse).svg flag alias-air force-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg flag alias-air force-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948–1952).svg flag alias-air force-1950 = Flag of Air Force of Romania (1950-1952, obverse).svg flag alias-air force-1952 = Flag of Air Force of Romania (1952-1965, obverse).svg flag alias-air force-1965 = Flag of Romania (1965–1989).svg link alias-air force = Romanian Air Force flag alias-army = Flag of the Romanian Land Forces (Obverse).svg flag alias-army-1859 = Flag of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (1859 - 1862).svg flag alias-army-1862 = Flag of the United Principalities of Romania (1862–1866).svg flag alias-army-1866 = Flag of Romania.svg flag alias-army-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg flag alias-army-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948–1952).svg flag alias-army-1950 = Battle flag of Romania (1950-1952, obverse).svg flag alias-army-1952 = Battle flag of Romania (1952-1965, obverse).svg flag alias-army-1965 = Battle flag of Romania (1966-1989, obverse).svg link alias-army = Romanian Land Forces flag alias-navy = Flag of the Romanian Naval Forces (Obverse).svg flag alias-navy-1860 = Flag of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (1859 - 1862).svg flag alias-navy-1862 = Flag of the United Principalities of Romania (1862–1866).svg flag alias-navy-1866 = Flag of Romania.svg flag alias-navy-1922 = Naval Ensign of Romania (1922–1947).svg flag alias-navy-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg flag alias-navy-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948–1952).svg flag alias-navy-1950 = Flag of Naval Force of Romania (1950-1951, obverse).svg flag alias-navy-1952 = Flag of terrestrial units of the Naval Force of Romania (1952-1965, obverse).svg flag alias-navy-1965 = Flag of Romania (1965–1989).svg link alias-navy = Romanian Naval Forces size = name = altlink = national football team variant = 1952

}}||90 min.|| 2–1 (1–0) ||0|| — || — || Kupittaa, Turku||[31]

2 1st R 21 July 1952 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Italy flag alias = Flag of Italy.svg flag alias-1861 = Flag of Italy (1861–1946).svg flag alias-1943 = War flag of the Italian Social Republic.svg flag alias-2003 = Flag of Italy (2003–2006).svg flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Italy.svg flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Italy.svg flag alias-navy-1947 = Naval Ensign of Italy (1947-2013).svg link alias-naval = Italian Navy link alias-air force = Italian Air Force link alias-army = Italian Army flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Italy.svg link alias-navy = Italian Navy link alias-roller hockey = Italy {{{mw}}} national roller hockey team size = name = variant = altlink = national football team altvar = football

}}||90 min.|| 3–0 (2–0)|| 0|| — || — || Pallokenttä, Helsinki||[32]

3 QF 24 July 1952 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Turkey flag alias = Flag of Turkey.svg link alias-naval = Turkish Naval Forces link alias-navy = Turkish Navy link alias-air force = Turkish Air Force link alias-army = Turkish Land Forces link alias-military = Turkish Armed Forces size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant =

}}||90 min||7–1 (2–0) ||2|| 4–0
6–1 ||<templatestyles src="Goal/styles.css"/>File:Soccerball shade.svg 54'
<templatestyles src="Goal/styles.css"/>File:Soccerball shade.svg 72' || Urheilukeskus, Kotka||[33]

4 SF 28 July 1952 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Sweden flag alias = Flag of Sweden.svg flag alias-army = Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg flag alias-air force =Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg flag alias-1818 = Swedish and Norwegian merchant flag 1818-1844.svg flag alias-1844 = Swedish civil ensign (1844–1905).svg flag alias-1905 = Flag of Sweden (pre-1906).svg flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg flag alias-naval-1844 = Naval Ensign of Sweden (1844-1905).svg flag alias-naval-1815 = Ensign of Sweden and Norway (1815–1844).svg link alias-army = Swedish Army link alias-air force = Swedish Air Force link alias-naval = Swedish Navy flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg link alias-navy = Swedish Navy link alias-football = Sweden men's national football team border-army = border-air force = border-naval = border-navy = border-naval-1815 = border-naval-1844 = size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant =

}} ||90 min||6–0 (3–0)|| 1|| 1–0 ||<templatestyles src="Goal/styles.css"/>File:Soccerball shade.svg 1' || Helsinki Olympic Stadium||[34]

5 Final 2 August 1952 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia shortname alias = Yugoslavia flag alias = Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg flag alias-shs = Flag of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs.svg flag alias-army = Yugoslavia Infantry flag.svg flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Yugoslavia (1949–1993).svg flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Yugoslavia (1949–1993).svg link alias-military = Yugoslav People's Army link alias-army = Yugoslav Ground Forces link alias-naval = Yugoslav Navy link alias-air force = Yugoslav Air Force link alias-navy = Yugoslav Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}}||90 min||2–0 (0–0) ||1 || 1–0 || <templatestyles src="Goal/styles.css"/>File:Soccerball shade.svg 70' || Helsinki Olympic Stadium||[35]

Ferenc Puskás' statistics at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland

The scores contain links to the article on 1954 FIFA World Cup and the round in question. When there is a special article on the match in question, the link is in the column for round.

Game no. Round Date Opponent Puskás' playing time Score Puskás' goals Score Times Venue Report
1 Group 2 17 June 1954 {{ Template:Yesno alias = South Korea flag alias = Flag of South Korea.svg flag alias-1945 = Flag of South Korea (1945–1948).svg flag alias-1948 = Flag of South Korea (1948–1949).svg flag alias-1949 = Flag of South Korea (1949–1984).svg flag alias-1984 = Flag of South Korea (1984–1997).svg flag alias-1997 = Flag of South Korea (1997–2011).svg flag alias-army = Flag of the Republic of Korea Army.svg flag alias-air force = Flag of the Republic of Korea Air Force.svg link alias-army = Republic of Korea Army flag alias-naval = Flag of the Republic of Korea Navy.svg link alias-naval = Republic of Korea Navy link alias-air force = Republic of Korea Air Force flag alias-marines = Flag of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps.svg link alias-marines = Republic of Korea Marine Corps link alias-navy = Republic of Korea Navy flag alias-navy = Flag of the Republic of Korea Navy.svg flag alias-military = Flag of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.svg link alias-military = Republic of Korea Armed Forces flag alias-coast guard = Flag of the Korean Coast Guard.svg link alias-coast guard = Korea Coast Guard size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant =

}}||90 min.|| 9–0 (4–0)||2|| 1–0
9–0 ||<templatestyles src="Goal/styles.css"/>File:Soccerball shade.svg 12'
<templatestyles src="Goal/styles.css"/>File:Soccerball shade.svg 89' ||Hardturm Stadium, Zürich||[36]

2 Group 2 20 June 1954 {{ Template:Yesno alias = West Germany flag alias = Flag of Germany.svg flag alias-state = Flag of Germany (state).svg flag alias-naval = Naval ensign of Germany.svg link alias-naval = German Navy flag alias-air force =Flag of Germany (state).svg link alias-air force = German Air Force flag alias-army = Colour of Germany.svg link alias-army = German Army flag alias-navy = Naval ensign of Germany.svg link alias-navy = German Navy border-naval = border-navy = link alias-football = Germany national football team link alias-field hockey = Germany national field hockey team link alias-tennis = Germany {{{mw}}} Cup team link alias-basketball = Germany national basketball team link alias-rugby union = Germany national rugby union team size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant =

}}||90 min||8–3 (3–1)||1|| 2–0 ||<templatestyles src="Goal/styles.css"/>File:Soccerball shade.svg 17'||St. Jakob Stadium, Basel||[37]

– QF 27 June 1954 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Brazil flag alias-1692 = Flag of the Princes of Brazil.svg flag alias-1816 = Flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves.svg flag alias-1822 = Flag of Brazil (1822-1853).svg flag alias-1870 = Flag of Brazil (1853-1889).svg flag alias = Flag of Brazil.svg flag alias-1889 = Flag of Brazil (1889–1960).svg flag alias-1960 = Flag of Brazil (1960–1968).svg flag alias-1968 = Flag of Brazil (1968–1992).svg flag alias-army = Flag of the Brazilian Army.svg link alias-army = Brazilian Army flag alias-air force = Flag of the Brazilian Air Force Command.svg link alias-air force = Brazilian Air Force link alias-naval = Brazilian Navy flag alias-marines=Flag of the Brazilian Marine Corps.svg link alias-marines=Brazilian Marine Corps link alias-military = Brazilian Armed Forces link alias-navy = Brazilian Navy flag alias-navy = Flag of the Brazilian Navy.svg size = name = altlink = national football team variant = 1889

}}|| Did not play ||4–2 (2–1)|| 0 ||–|| — || Wankdorf Stadium, Bern||[38]

– SF 30 June 1954 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Uruguay flag alias = Flag of Uruguay.svg flag alias-1828 = Flag of Uruguay (1828-1830).svg link alias-naval = National Navy of Uruguay flag alias-army = Flag of Uruguayan Army.svg National Army of Uruguay link alias-air force = Uruguayan Air Force flag alias-air force = Flag of the Uruguayan Air Force.svg link alias-navy = National Navy of Uruguay size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}}||Did not play||4–2 (a.e.t.)
(2–2, 1–0)|| 0 ||–|| — || Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne||[39]

3 Final 4 July 1954 {{ Template:Yesno alias = West Germany flag alias = Flag of Germany.svg flag alias-state = Flag of Germany (state).svg flag alias-naval = Naval ensign of Germany.svg link alias-naval = German Navy flag alias-air force =Flag of Germany (state).svg link alias-air force = German Air Force flag alias-army = Colour of Germany.svg link alias-army = German Army flag alias-navy = Naval ensign of Germany.svg link alias-navy = German Navy border-naval = border-navy = link alias-football = Germany national football team link alias-field hockey = Germany national field hockey team link alias-tennis = Germany {{{mw}}} Cup team link alias-basketball = Germany national basketball team link alias-rugby union = Germany national rugby union team size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant =

}}||90 min||2–3 (2–2)||1|| 1–0 ||<templatestyles src="Goal/styles.css"/>File:Soccerball shade.svg 6'||Wankdorf Stadium, Bern||[40]

Honvéd World Tour

File:Puskas Hidegkuti 1954.png
Nándor Hidegkuti and Ferenc Puskás in 1954

Budapest Honvéd entered the European Cup in 1956 and were drawn against Athletic Bilbao in the first round. Honvéd lost the away leg 2–3, but before the home leg could be played, the Hungarian Revolution erupted in Budapest and was subsequently brutally repressed by Soviet forces. The players decided against going back to communist Hungary and arranged for the return with Athletic to be played at Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium.[26] Puskás scored in the subsequent 3–3 draw, his first European Cup goal ever, but Honvéd were eliminated 6–5 on aggregate, and the Hungarian players were left in limbo. They summoned[41] their families from Budapest, and despite opposition from FIFA and the Hungarian football authorities, they organised a fundraising tour of Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Brazil. After returning to Europe, the players parted ways. Some, including Bozsik, returned to Hungary while others, including Czibor, Kocsis and Puskás, found new clubs in Western Europe.[42] Puskás did not return to Hungary until 1981.[43]

Spanish career

Real Madrid

File:DiStefanoPuskas.jpg
Ferenc Puskás with Alfredo Di Stéfano
File:Ferenc Puskas player licence.jpg
Puskás's player licence, showing his mother's maiden name Biró as a second surname in accordance with Spanish naming customs

After refusing to return to Hungary, Puskás initially played a few unofficial games for Espanyol.[44] At the same time, both AC Milan and Juventus attempted to sign him, but then he received a two-year ban from UEFA for refusing to return to Budapest,[45] which prevented him from playing in Europe. He moved to Austria and then Italy.[26] After his ban expired, Puskás tried to play in Italy but was not able to find a top-flight club willing to sign him, as Italian managers were concerned about his age and weight.[22] He was considered by Manchester United to strengthen a squad ravaged by the Munich air disaster in 1958, but because of FA rules regarding foreigners and Puskás' not knowing the English language, stand-in manager Jimmy Murphy could not fulfill his wish of signing the Hungarian. However, a few months later, Puskás joined Real Madrid and at the age of 31 embarked on the second phase of his career.[46]

During his first La Liga season, Puskás scored four hat-tricks, including one in his second game, against Sporting de Gijón on 21 September 1958. In the game against Las Palmas on 4 January 1959, Puskás and Alfredo di Stéfano scored hat-tricks in a 10–1 win.[47] During the 1960–61 season, Puskás scored four times in a game against Elche and the following season, he scored five goals against the same team. Puskás scored two hat-tricks against Barcelona in 1963, one at the Bernabéu and one at the Camp Nou. During eight seasons with Real, Puskás played 180 La Liga games and scored 156 goals. He scored 20 or more goals in each of his first six seasons in the Spanish league, and won the Pichichi four times: in 1960, 1961, 1963, and 1964, scoring 25, 28, 26 and 21 goals, respectively. He helped Real win La Liga five times in a row between 1961 and 1965 and the Copa del Generalísimo in 1962. He scored both goals in the 2–1 victory over Sevilla in the Copa final.[46]

Puskás also played a further 39 games for Real in the European Cup, scoring 35 goals. He helped Real reach the final of the 1958–59 European Cup, scoring in the first leg and in the decisive replay of the semi-final against Atlético Madrid, but missed the final due to injury. In the following season he began Real's 1959–60 European Cup campaign with a hat-trick against Jeunesse Esch and in the semi-final against FC Barcelona, as Puskás once again guided Real into the final with three goals over two legs. In the final itself, Real beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7–3 with Puskás scoring four goals[13] and di Stéfano scoring three. In subsequent European campaigns, he would score a further three hat-tricks, including one in the 1962 final against Benfica, which Real lost 5–3. In 1965, he scored five goals over two games against Feyenoord as he helped Real Madrid to the 1966 European Cup final – Real won the game against Partizan Belgrade, but Puskás did not play.[46]

Other appearances

In 1962, Puskás became a naturalized Spanish citizen,[48] and subsequently played four times for Spain. Three of these games were at the 1962 World Cup. In Spain, he was known as Cañoncito Pum (the booming cannon).[43] On 28 October 1963, Puskás appeared in a game for the Madrid football team at the FFM Trofeo Bodas de Oro, and he scored two late goals in a 4–0 win over Andalusia.[49] In 1967, at the age of 40, he appeared in a fundraising friendly game for South Liverpool, the English non-League side, in front of a 10,000-strong sell-out crowd at the club's Holly Park stadium.[50]

Managerial career

File:Puskás statue in Óbuda-1.jpg
Statue of Ferenc Puskás in Budapest inspired by a photograph taken in Madrid in which the legendary player was teaching an ad hoc course in keepie uppie to street children

After retiring as a player, Puskás became a coach and managed teams in Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

In 1971, he guided Panathinaikos of Greece to the European Cup final. This was the first time a Greek club has reached a European final, and this would remain the only time for more than half a century, until Olympiakos reached the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2024. En route to the final, Panathinaikos beat Everton in the quarter-finals on away goals, then defeated Red Star Belgrade in the semis, to become the only amateur football team to reach the European Cup/Champions League final. In the final, Panathinaikos lost 2–0 to Johan Cruyff's Ajax.[51]

During his four-year tenure at Panathinaikos, Puskás helped the team secure one Greek Championship in 1972. At Panathinaikos he retained the nickname "Pancho" from Spain and is considered the greatest ever manager of Panathinaikos, in the same esteem with his predecessor Stjepan Bobek and has entered the Greek football pantheon after Panathinaikos' run to the Wembley Final. A few months after leaving Panathinaikos in 1974, he took over Real Murcia, placed last in La Liga when he was appointed in December, failing to save the club from relegation in his only season in charge, while the following year he coached Saudi Arabia and in the same year he also managed Colo-Colo, where he spent two years, without experiencing notable success.[52]

In the summer of 1978 he returned to Greece and took the wheel of the domestic double winners, AEK Athens, where he reunited with his former captain at Panathinaikos, Mimis Domazos. Puskás led the club to its biggest ever victory in the European Cup, a 6–1 defeat of Portuguese champions Porto in Athens, before their continental run was cut short in the second round by eventual competition winners Nottingham Forest 7–2 on aggregate.[53][54] However, in March 1979 the club's management, fearing the eventual loss of the league, replaced him with his assistant, Andreas Stamatiadis, on an interim role for the final 11 games until the end of the season, due to the unstable performances of the team, which saw them drop to third place in the league table.[55] The club of Athens eventually won the championship with Stamatiadis in charge in a play–off match that was never contested, as rivals Olympiacos refused to play.[56]

Despite his wide travels, his only other silverware came with Sol de América, where he led the club to its first ever league title in 1986, and South Melbourne Hellas, with whom he won the National Soccer League title in 1991, as well as the NSL Cup in 1990, the NSL League Cup in 1990 and two Dockerty Cup titles in 1989 and 1991, becoming the club's most successful manager.[57] While managing the Australian club, one of his players was future South Melbourne, Australia and Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou, who has spoken of the influence Puskás' all out attacking approach and tactical acumen had on his coaching style.[58]

When Wolverhampton Wanderers opened their renovated stadium Molineux in 1993, Puskás visited the newly opened stadium as an honorary guest to watch the friendly match between Wolves and Budapest Honvéd, which was a match to christen the new opening of the stadium. This was because in the 1950s, Wolves played a game against Honvéd in a memorable friendly match, which Puskás played in. Wolves won the 1954 match 3–2, with the 1993 match ending in a 1–1 draw.[59]

Puskás returned to Hungary for the first time in 1981 and in 1990, he made Budapest his home again.[43] In 1993, he took charge of the Hungary national team for four games, including a 4–2 friendly victory against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin, where Hungary came from two goals down to eventually beat their opponents.[60]

Style of play

File:Statue of Ferenc Puskás in Gosch's Paddock -- April 2025.jpg
Statue of Puskás in Melbourne, Australia

Puskás had excellent ball control, mostly with his left foot, and had a great first touch of the ball giving very quick and precise passing and crossing. He was also able to maneuver and change positions quickly on the pitch by moving from inside left to centre forward. He was also able to dummy his opponents with fake dribbles and would confuse his markers by pretending to go one way before going another. He did this to Bill Eckersley and Harry Johnston when Hungary beat England 6–3 at Wembley.[24] Puskás also used to move the ball in different directions and sideways to go past his opponents with ease. Puskás was also excellent at set pieces, often scoring powerful direct free-kicks. He also scored directly from a corner kick. Puskás had one of the most powerful left footed shots in history and often scored from 30 to 35 metres from goal.

Later life and death

File:Puskás Ferenc sírja.jpg
Puskás's tomb at St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest

Puskás was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2000.[61] He was admitted to a Budapest hospital in September 2006[62] and died on 17 November 2006[61] of pneumonia. He was 79 years old and was survived by his wife of 57 years, Erzsébet,[63] and their daughter, Anikó.[64] In a state funeral, his coffin was moved from Puskás Ferenc Stadion to Heroes' Square for a military salute. He was buried under the dome of St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest on 9 December 2006.[65][66]

Legacy

List Ref
The Népstadion in Budapest was renamed the Puskás Ferenc Stadion in 2002. [13]
Asteroid 82656 Puskás, discovered by Krisztián Sárneczky and Gyula M. Szabó in 2001, was named in his honor. [67]
The official Template:MoMP was published by the Minor Planet Center on 9 August 2006 (MPC 57425Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".). [68]
A street named Újtemető utca near Stadium Bozsik in the Hungarian capital of Budapest (specifically the district of Kispest) was renamed after Puskás precisely one year after the footballer's death. [69]
The new Puskás Aréna, its metro station, Puskás Akadémia FC, Puskás Cup, and the FIFA Puskás Award all bear his name. [4]
A statue of Puskás was unveiled in 2017 in Melbourne, Australia, near the former site of the now demolished Olympic Park Stadium, where he led South Melbourne Hellas to the 1991 NSL Championship as manager. [70][71]

Film

List Ref
He appears in Wonder Striker (A csodacsatár). It was directed by Márton Keleti. [72]
He appears in one scene in the Egyptian movie Ghareeb fi Bayti (Template:Langx) while he was watching the football match in the stands. At the time of the film, he was a coach for the Egyptian club Al Masry. [73]
In one scene, he appears with Flórián Albert in The Enchanted Dollar, which was directed by István Bujtor. [74]
Tamás Almási (director), Ádám Neményi (producer): Puskás Hungary, documentary, 2009. [75]
Csaba Gellár (director), Tamás Lajos, Sándor Takó (producer): The World of Little Puskás animation series, 2021. [76]

Career statistics

Club

Source:[77]

Club Season League National cupTemplate:Efn Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kispest/Budapesti
Honvéd SE 		1943–44 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 18 7 — — — 18 7
1944–45 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 2 1 — — — 2 1
1944 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 11 6 — — — 11 6
1945 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 20 10 — — — 20 10
1945–46 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 34 36 — — — 34 36
1946–47 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 29 32 — — — 29 32
1947–48 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 31 50 — — — 31 50
1948–49 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 28 46 — — — 28 46
1949–50 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 30 31 — — — 30 31
1950 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 15 25 — — — 15 25
1951 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 21 21 2 4 — — 23 25
1952 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 26 22 — — — 26 22
1953 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 26 27 3 12 — — 29 39
1954 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 20 21 — — — 20 21
1955 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 26 18 6 4 4Template:Efn 3 — 36 25
1956 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 13 5 — 2Template:Efn 1 — 15 6
Total 350 358 11 20 6 4 — 367 382
Real Madrid 1958–59 La Liga 24 21 5 2 5Template:Efn 2 — 34 25
1959–60 La Liga 24 25 5 10 7Template:Efn 12 — 36 47
1960–61 La Liga 28 28 9 14 2Template:Efn 0 2Template:Efn 2 41 44
1961–62 La Liga 23 20 8 13 9Template:Efn 7 — 40 40
1962–63 La Liga 30 26 7 5 2Template:Efn 0 — 39 31
1963–64 La Liga 25 21 0 0 8Template:Efn 7 — 33 28
1964–65 La Liga 18 11 4 4 3Template:Efn 2 — 25 17
1965–66 La Liga 8 4 3 1 3Template:Efn 5 — 14 10
Total 180 156 41 49 39 35 2 2 262 242
Career total 530 514 52 69 45 39 2 2 629 624

Template:Notelist

International

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

Appearances and goals by national team and year[78][79][80]

National team Year Apps Goals
Hungary 1945 2 3
1946 3 3
1947 5 5
1948 6 7
1949 8 11
1950 6 12
1951 3 4
1952 12 10
1953 7 6
1954 11 8
1955 12 10
1956 9 4
Total 85 84
Spain 1961 1 0
1962 3 0
Total 4 0
Madrid 1963 1 2
Total 1 2
Career total 90 86

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
<templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />GScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />WScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />DScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />LScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Win %Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Hércules Template:Flagicon 23 July 1966 28 June 1967

Template:WDL

Alavés Template:Flagicon 1 July 1968 26 June 1969

Template:WDL

Panathinaikos Template:Flagicon 1 July 1970 4 September 1974

Template:WDL

Real Murcia Template:Flagicon 6 December 1974 16 June 1975

Template:WDL

Colo-Colo Template:Flagicon 17 June 1975 19 August 1976

Template:WDL

AEK Template:Flagicon 11 June 1978 17 March 1979

Template:WDL

Hungary Template:Flagicon 9 April 1993 22 June 1993

Template:WDL

Honours

Player

Budapest Honvéd

Real Madrid

Hungary

Individual

Manager

Panathinaikos

Sol de América

South Melbourne Hellas

See also

Script error: No such module "Portal".

Notes

Template:Notelist-lr

References

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "IPA"., Template:IPAc-en, Script error: No such module "Respell".[1][2][3]

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ 'Memorials of the "Galloping Major" Template:Webarchive. Visit Hungary, undated, accessed 9 December 2022
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Külker Online – Hall of fame No.2: Puskás Ferenc Template:Webarchive
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  22. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1"..
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ The World Cup: The Complete History by Terry Crouch. 2006.
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ FIFA.com – Previous Tournaments Template:Webarchive
  32. ↑ Previous Tournaments – FIFA.com Template:Webarchive
  33. ↑ FIFA.com – Previous Tournaments Template:Webarchive
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ FIFA.com – Previous Tournaments Template:Webarchive
  36. ↑ 1954 FIFA World Cup Switzerland ™ – FIFA.com Template:Webarchive
  37. ↑ FIFA.com – 1954 FIFA World Cup Switzerland ™ Template:Webarchive
  38. ↑ 1954 FIFA World Cup Switzerland ™ – FIFA.com Template:Webarchive
  39. ↑ 1954 FIFA World Cup Switzerland ™ – FIFA.com Template:Webarchive
  40. ↑ FIFA.com – 1954 FIFA World Cup Switzerland ™ Template:Webarchive
  41. ↑ Peter Kasza: Die Welt im linken Bein. In: Tagesspiegel vom 18. November 2006.
  42. ↑ Behind the Curtain: Football in Eastern Europe by Jonathan Wilson. 2006.
  43. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ 50 Years of the European Cup and Champions League by Keir Radnedge. 2005.
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  68. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  69. ↑ Ferenc Puskás Street - Memorials PUSKAS.COM
  70. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  71. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  72. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  73. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  74. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  75. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  76. ↑ The world of Little Puskás IMDB.COM
  77. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  78. ↑ The Galloping Major. FIFA.com
  79. ↑ Ferenc Puskás at National-Football-Teams.comScript error: No such module "EditAtWikidata".Script error: No such module "WikidataCheck".
  80. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  81. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  82. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  83. ↑ "ERIC BATTY's WORLD XI – THE SIXTIES" Template:Webarchive Retrieved on 26 November 2015
  84. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  85. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  86. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  87. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Refbegin/styles.css" />

External links

Template:Sister project Template:Sister project

Script error: No such module "navboxes". Template:1954 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament Template:FIFA World Cup Statistical Summary's Best Player Template:Central European International Cup top scorers Template:UEFA Champions League top scorers Template:Nemzeti Bajnokság I top scorers Template:La Liga top scorers Template:Hungarian Footballer of the Year Template:1960 World Soccer World XI Template:1961 World Soccer World XI Template:1962 World Soccer World XI Template:1963 World Soccer World XI Template:FIFA World Cup All-Time Team Template:European Team of the 20th Century Template:IFFHS Men's World Team of the 20th Century Template:IFFHS Men's European Team of the 20th Century Template:FIFA 100 Template:UEFA Jubilee Awards Template:Golden Foot Legends AwardScript error: No such module "navboxes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "navboxes". Template:Hungary football squad 1952 Summer Olympics Script error: No such module "national squad". Script error: No such module "national squad".Script error: No such module "navboxes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "navboxes". Template:Deportivo Alavés managers Template:Panathinaikos FC managers Template:Real Murcia managers Template:Saudi Arabia national football team managers Script error: No such module "Football manager history". Template:AEK Athens F.C. managers Template:Club Sol de América managers Template:Cerro Porteño managers Template:South Melbourne FC managers Template:Hungary national football team managersScript error: No such module "navboxes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Ferenc_Puskás&oldid=4555124"