davieG Posted 17 November 2006 Posted 17 November 2006 Last Updated: Friday, 17 November 2006, 07:58 GMT Hungary legend Puskas dies at 79 Puskas led Hungary's greatest team Hungary and Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas has died at the age of 79. 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. After leading Hungary to the 1952 Olympic Gold medal, he was part of the Mighty Magyars who became the first overseas team to beat England on home soil in 1953, scoring twice in the 6-3 win at Wembley. FERENC PUSKAS FACTFILE Born: 2 April 1927, Budapest, Hungary Clubs: Kispest Honved (354 apps, 357 goals) & Real Madrid (528 apps, 512 goals) Honours: Hungarian league (5), Spanish league (5), Spanish Cup, European Cup (3), Intercontinental Cup, Olympics Hungary then rolled England over 7-1 in Budapest and were consequently installed as favourites for the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland. But injury to Puskas severely hampered the Magyars and they lost in the final to Germany. Puskas joined Real Madrid and, along with Alfredo di Stefano, was the inspiration behind a string of domestic and European titles. He scored four goals in Real's 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in a remarkable final at Hampden Park in 1960, and won the European Cup three times with the Madrid side. In all, he scored 512 goals for Real in 528 matches and in 1962 he took out Spanish citizenship in time to play for his adopted country in the 1962 World Cup. Puskas retired in 1967, going on to coach clubs in several countries, leading Greek side Panathanaikos to the European Cup final in 1971. As the last millennium drew to a close, Puskas was voted the 20th century's fourth best player by the International Federation for Football History and Statistics.
Daggers Posted 17 November 2006 Posted 17 November 2006 From an age when football was played by gentlemen.
davieG Posted 17 November 2006 Posted 17 November 2006 He scored four goals in Real's 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in a remarkable final at Hampden Park in 1960, and won the European Cup three times with the Madrid side. I remember watching that on a big screen/projector style at the YMCA in the mid 60's, that was the only way you got to see those games and then it tended to be few years down the line, made a big impression on me.
Thracian Posted 17 November 2006 Posted 17 November 2006 I saw that 6-3 England defeat on television and Puskas was majestic. How cruel that the insidiousness of disease should mock him during his final years. He was up their with the real legends of the game - the people who set standards of play which others could only dream about. Look at the goals per game, and so many for arguably the world's most entertaining team ever. It was a privilege to have seen him. RIP - and thanks.
MC Prussian Posted 17 November 2006 Posted 17 November 2006 R.I.P. Ferenc. It's a shame Hungary doesn't provide us with any more comparable talent these days. (As for the high goals-per-game average, keep in mind that back in the days, they had like 5 strikers on each side, before 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 was invented)
Guest Gist Posted 17 November 2006 Posted 17 November 2006 R.I.P Sounds like a true legend to the game.
Shipman Out Posted 17 November 2006 Posted 17 November 2006 As a tribute i shall unlock him on PES 6 and buy him for my Master League team. A real legend
Thracian Posted 17 November 2006 Posted 17 November 2006 R.I.P. Ferenc. It's a shame Hungary doesn't provide us with any more comparable talent these days. (As for the high goals-per-game average, keep in mind that back in the days, they had like 5 strikers on each side, before 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 was invented) I don't know that I'd always call all five forwards strikers but yes, even the wingers and attacking midfielders weighed in with a fair share of goals. I don't think the rules have changed so there's nothing to stop five forwards now of course - except money, fear and the misguided philosophies of managers.
Head Honcho Posted 17 November 2006 Posted 17 November 2006 I saw that 6-3 England defeat on television and Puskas was majestic. How cruel that the insidiousness of disease should mock him during his final years. He was up their with the real legends of the game - the people who set standards of play which others could only dream about. Look at the goals per game, and so many for arguably the world's most entertaining team ever. It was a privilege to have seen him. RIP - and thanks. I'm pretty sure I saw him at Filbert Street in the late 70's playing for a World XI against City for a testamonial. It was a long time ago so I'd appreciate it if someone else can remember it and fill me in a bit more on who played I can remember Lev Yashin, Eusebio and Di Stefano being there, but no one else.
vanfox12 Posted 17 November 2006 Posted 17 November 2006 How ironic that another Legend dies almost to a year since George Best died. What a great team their must be up in Heaven right now.
davieG Posted 17 November 2006 Posted 17 November 2006 I'm pretty sure I saw him at Filbert Street in the late 70's playing for a World XI against City for a testamonial. It was a long time ago so I'd appreciate it if someone else can remember it and fill me in a bit more on who played I can remember Lev Yashin, Eusebio and Di Stefano being there, but no one else. I have a very vague recollection of something like that -you could well be right.
Daggers Posted 18 November 2006 Posted 18 November 2006 How ironic that another Legend dies almost to a year since George Best died. What a great team their must be up in Heaven right now. If there is a heaven, which I strongly doubt, I'm going to be pretty pissed off to find that I could have behaved like George Bast and still got in.
Fez of Mahrez Posted 18 November 2006 Posted 18 November 2006 If there is a heaven, which I strongly doubt, I'm going to be pretty pissed off to find that I could have behaved like George Bast and still got in. Yeah, it'd be a right bummer after turning down all those Miss Worlds.
vanfox12 Posted 18 November 2006 Posted 18 November 2006 If there is a heaven, which I strongly doubt, I'm going to be pretty pissed off to find that I could have behaved like George Bast and still got in. In that case he's in hell, if hell exists.
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