The world-known and renowned life-work of Ferenc Puskás

Ferenc Puskás is the most popular Hungarian athlete ever, whose name is known almost everywhere in the world. His life’s work is still well-known in Hungarian sports culture.

If a Hungarian meets a foreigner anywhere in the world, Hungary will be immediately identified with a few Hungarikums from the  world of gastronomy,  folk art ingenious  inventions, such as the Rubik’s Cube, and of course the beauty of Hungarian ladies, known far and wide. But the name that is mentioned most often in these conversations is the name of Ferenc Puskás, or Pancho as Spanish people know him.

Why is a football player so popular? Let us introduce you his career and talent!

Who is Puskás “Öcsi”?

• He was born in 1927, his father was a football coach, training young talents
• As a child, he was eager to chase the ball with the little kids in the area. His father discovered their talent and tried to improve the children’s game.
• He was selected as a teenager for Kispest N1 team. He needed to lie about his age, since he was too young to play in the adults’ team
• In the team he got the nickname “Öcsi” (little brother), since he was way younger than his teammates

The Golden Team

In 1945, at the end of world war, life, including sports life, slowly resumed. At the invitation of the young Puskás, the national team was reunited, and soon they had their first triumph over Austria with a 5:2 result. The 18-year-old Puskás had already attracted attention by shooting straight goals and maintaining a virtuoso ball-game.

In the 1950s, the Golden Team, officially known as the “Dream Team”, played together, as the best Hungarian football team of  all time. They became legendary, dreaded opponents in football arenas around the world.

Their soaring began with the glory of winning the gold medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and after that they seemed unstoppable. The exceptional talent and concerted style of play of the national team is demonstrated by the fact that in this period they played 32 games in 4 years without defeat, while Ferenc Puskás was the captain of the team.

They deservedly gained international notion, including a 3:0 victory in the European Cup final against the Italian team. One of their most densely mentioned triumphs was the unforgettable match of the century, when they triumphed 6:3 over the previously undefeated England team. This is the achievement that he was most proud of too, as he told during several interviews. His tricky ball technique is still taught to the younger generations nowadays.

It was a legendary period in Hungarian sport history: a long triumphal procession with Ferenc Puskás in the center of attention.

International success

The revolution of 1956 changed his and his family’s life. He always demonstrated his talent under the Hungarian coat of arms, but like many members of his team, he eventually decided not to return home from Italy, but to start a new life abroad. The biggest international football clubs were fighting for him, but he was banned from signing a contract for one and a half year.

He showed tremendous willpower and perseverance when after a long break, he managed to return. He was overage, he needed to get rid of 18 kilos, but he was able to join Real Madrid, where he was known as Pancho. For years, he achieved great success, as the goal king of the best team in the world, setting a record that is still unbeaten: 4 goals in 1 match.

The birth of a legend

With his exceptionally accurate left-leg goal shots and brilliant dribbles he won all the great awards available in the world of football. And he was not only successful as a player, but later as a coach as well. He has a place in the FIFA Hall of Fames, and with representing his country, with his nice attitude, and the developing of the Hungarian football he won the hearts of the fans, gaining a great respect.

Ferenc Puskás retired from active sports in the 1960s, returned to Hungary in the 1990s, and in 1993 he was the coach of the Hungarian football team for 4 months. He died in 2006, at the age of 79.

The memory of Ferenc Puskás

The ambassador of Hungarian football is still popular in Hungary, you can see a lot of reminders in the world of sport:

• Countless documentaries, films, books, monuments praise his memory
• In recognition, the International Football Association named an award after him, which is given to player who shoots the most beautiful goal
• The Hungarian national stadium was named after him (Puskás Ferenc Stadion)
• … and, of course, almost anywhere in the world, if a foreigner meets a Hungarian, it is certain that the name Ferenc Puskás will appear during the conversation!

Over the years, “Öcsi” has become an unforgettably mythical figure in the football world. His popularity has not diminished since then, and Hungarians are proud to have a sportsman like  him.

Photo: http://www.puskas.com