The Galloping Major: Ferenc Puskas

When The Football History Boys was established in February, our initial aim was to find the top 250 football players of all-time. One of such players is Ferenc Puskas, a Hungarian forward, war veteran and Mighty Magyar. Despite being dubbed as the "top scorer of the twentieth-century" Puskas is often forgotten by the modern day football fans. What makes Ferenc's career stand out from others and why is he is so forgotten in modern-day football conversation?

Born in Budapest in 1927 as Ferenc Purczeld, his early life was dominated by inter-war struggles between European powers in the newly formed nation of Hungary following its independence from Austria after World War One. The Purczeld family however Magyarizing its name to Puskas in 1937 to remove itself from any German links in a time where Adolf Hitler's Nazi's were beginning their attempt for dominance on the continent.

Puskas' early career as a teenager was centered around rising through the ranks of local team Kispest FC initially under the name of Miklos Kovacs due to only being 12 years of age and too young for the team. His first apperances for the first team came during the Second World War in 1943, inheriting the nickname "Ocsi", meaning "buddy" along the way. Following the War, Kispest were taken over by the Hungarian Ministry of Defence in 1949, being renamed Budapest Honved in the process. Ocsi after the militant takeover gained the new nickname "The Galloping Major" due the Hungarian M.o.D giving military ranks to the players, Ferenc gradually earning the title of 'Major'.

Honved's Star man

It is with Honved where Puskas made his initial impact on the footballing world. In 1948 earned the top goalscorer in Europe award scoring 50 goals in the 1947-8 season, and subsequently leading the goal scoring charts 3 more times whilst playing for the Hungarian champions. The Honved team also boasting the likes of Hungary internationals Jozsef Bozsik, Zoltan Czibor and Sandor Kocsis.

"He had a full career in Hungary and he repeated it in Spain with Real Madrid. That's why he is not only world class, but he belongs to the realm of dreams." - Gyula Grocsis

Honved went on to become on Europe's most feared teams, with their success transmitting onto the national side. Honved entered the inaugural European Cup in 1955-56 and were drawn against a strong Athletic Bilbao side, losing 6-5 on aggregate. The reasons as for why such a strong team lost were found due to the domestic unrest with the now infamous Hungarian Uprising resulting in the Soviet Union crushing any revolutionaries. Furthermore the revolution led to players like Kocsis and Puskas staying abroad as they were on a tour of western Europe when the uprising came to an end.

“He had a roly poly physique but a wonderful left foot and he was a brilliant finisher. I would put Puskas in any list of all time greats.” - Sir Tom Finney

Perhaps for Puskas', the most famous side he played with was the Hungarian National Team of the 1950s, dubbed the Mighty or Magical Magyars. Under head coach Gustav Sebes, Puskas and the Magyars become one of the World's greatest ever sides, still holding the record for the highest all-time ELO ranking. The side spearheaded by the Galloping Major played with a style of football similar to the "Total Football" of the 1970s Dutch sides. The formation of 4-2-4, was different to any seen before on the continent and resulting in the Magyars going 4 years unbeaten, winning the 1952 Olympics and triumphing in a game some dubbed to be the "Match of the Century."

Magical Magyars

“Of all of us, he was the best. He had a seventh sense for soccer. If there were 1,000 solutions, he would pick the 1001st.” - Nandor Hidegkuti

The match of course we are referring too is of course England 3-6 Hungary. Before the game, England had never lost a home international to a side outside of the British Isles. Hungary were expected by the British press to be walked over by England, but Puskas, described by one player as that "little fat chap", had other ideas scoring two goals, the first becoming known as the "drag-back goal". Puskas' side ran riot, scoring six before recording seven in the return fixture in Hungary. The match went on to change England's view on football and the way they played their game, culminating in the 1966 World Cup win. The Hungarian side finally entered the World Cup in '54 as favourites but ultimately went home disappointed after a 3-2 final defeat to West Germany, Puskas was not 100% fit for final, and not able to influence the game like his usual self. (Read our 1954 Miracle of Bern piece here)

Exchanging pleasantries with Billy Wright

In 1958 Puskas joined Real Madrid, his first club since his 2 year UEFA enforced hiatus for not returning to Hungary in 1956. In the two-year period with no club Ferenc briefly appeared for Espanyol before almost signing for Manchester United to bolster their squad following the tragic Munich Air Disaster, only for English football rules regarding foreigners scuppering any chance of a move. Despite being 31 years of age and to some, overweight, Puskas went on to have a successful career at the Castilian club winning three European Cups and five consecutive domestic titles. Ferenc scored a staggering 242 goals in 262 appearances for Madrid and formed an unbeatable partnership with Real legend Alfredo Di Stefano.

Scoring versus Frankfurt

One of Puskas' greatest records is that he is the only player to record hat-tricks in two different European Cup finals. The first coming in arguably one the greatest European finals, Real Madrid 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt at Hampden Park in 1960. Puskas in fact scored four in the final before scoring three times against Benfica in the 1962 final defeat to Bela Guttmann's side. Puskas' love for the Spanish game and his acceptance by the Iberian crowds led to him even representing Spain at the 1962 World Cup, albeit surprisingly unsuccessfully and uncharacteristically as he failed to score in any of the games.

“The man was a supertalent. I have lost a friend and quality player. That’s how Puskás was as a person and a football player. He was one of the greatest players of all time... my friend” - Alfredo Di Stefano

Puskas retired in 1966 with the untouchable title of "Top goal-scorer of the Twentieth-Century" scoring 616 goals in 620 games, as well as holding the unrivaled record of 84 international goals in 85 caps. However, in the modern game Puskas has been often forgotten by football fans. Of course die hard supporters realise the great man's talents and he still remains one of Madrid's best loved sons, but for many the great Madrid side is remembered for Di Stefano and Francisco Gento due to their larger trophy cabinets.

Perhaps if Puskas has emerged victorious in the 1954 World Cup to alongside his "Golden Ball" award, his name may be more talked about today. In 2009, three years after his death FIFA recognized this, resulting in them creating the "Puskas Award" in order to find the 'Most Beautiful Goal' each year. The Award so far has been won by Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar amongst others.

Miroslav Stoch - The latest winner of the Puskas Award

For me, he is and always will be one of football's greatest ever players, with his unmatchable goal-scoring records, his undoubtable skill and technical ability. In terms of the Top 250? He sure gets my vote!

 "We saw a style of play, a system of play that we had never seen before. None of these players meant anything to us. We didn't know about Puskás. All these fantastic players, they were men from Mars as far as we were concerned...They called Puskás the 'Galloping Major' because he was in the army - how could this guy serving for the Hungarian army come to Wembley and rifle us to defeat? But the way they played, their technical brilliance and expertise - our WM formation was kyboshed in ninety minutes of football."
- Sir Bobby Robson

By: Unknown On 17.12

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Bela Guttmann - A Story That Needs To Be Told

Bela Guttmann

 22 different clubs, 13  different countries, 2 European Cups, a curse that still exists to this day and one of football’s greatest journeymen, it’s safe to call Bela Guttmann a trailblazer! Born in 19th century Austria-Hungary to a Jewish family, Guttmann is regarded by many as the original Brian Clough or Jose Mourinho. A controversial figure from the outset he never stayed at a club from more than 3 season because by his own admission “the third season is fatal” (similar to Pep Guardiola’s sentiments after 4 years at Barcelona). When playing he once hung dead rats on Hungarian officials hotel room door’s as a protest, so we can already see there’s more to this man than just statistics and self confidence...

 Bela Guttmann’s management career began before the Second World War broke out in 1939 but throughout most of Europe football was put on hold till 1945. Guttmann’s Jewish background meant he had to escape Nazi persecution and while not much is known about his war experience it is thought he spent his time in neutral Switzerland; his brother though was killed in a concentration camp. After the War Guttmann did not take long to restart his career with a spell in his native Hungary before moving to all Jewish club Ciocanul in Romania. Here, he demanded to be paid in vegetables for him and his family to combat the hunger crisis that swept across post-war Europe. This was not to last however and after the frustration with the board who intervened with team selection he resigned and rejoined Ujpest FC in Hungary where he won his second league title with the club. The next big disagreement came with the legendary Ferenc Puskas in 1948, his captain at Kispest AC where he had succeeded Ferenc’s father, this saw Guttmann move to Italy.

Guttmann - Just as tough talking as Brian Clough

 The biggest job for him in Italy was Milan, coaching the likes of Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm, unfortunately this only latest 19 games after he was sacked for another run in with the board. They were top of the league and this infuriated Bela, he said at the press conference “I have been sacked, even though I am neither a criminal nor a homosexual. Goodbye”. From this point on Guttmann insisted on a clause in his contract everywhere he went stating he could not be sacked with his side top of the league. 

 This is where the Bela Guttmann story becomes extraordinary. In 1957 after returning to Honved and a team that contained many of the Mighty Magyars; he took them on a tour to Brazil where they faced Flamengo and Botafogo, however Guttmann did not return with his side. He liked what he saw in South America and did what was unheard of for a European at the time by taking over Sao Paulo. At Sao Paulo he won the State Championship but perhaps more importantly, he helped give Brazil the famous 4-2-4 formation. The system used by the Brazilian national team as they went on to win the 1958 World Cup. Guttmann though, sticking to his philosophy only hung around in South America till 1958 as he moved back to Europe and took on the Porto job. 

Bela Guttmann with his superstar Eusebio

 Portugal is where the maverick really made his name, winning the Portuguese Liga by overhauling great rivals Benfica’s 5 point lead in his first season. The summer was not exactly a quiet one though, he moved to said rivals Benfica and sacked 20 of the senior players! How did he replace them? Well he promoted the youth team as well as signing an unheard of 19 year old from a club in Mozambique. Suicidal decisions? Not the case, that 19 year old turned out to be one of Benfica’s and Portugal’s greatest ever players... Eusebio! Oh and of course he won the Liga for the next two seasons as well! Not his greatest achievements however, these came in the European Cup. In 1961 and 1962 Bela Guttman’s Benfica beat Barcelona 3-2 and then the might of Real Madrid 5-3 (with a side containing Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano) to incredibly become the only side other than Real Madrid to win the tournament at the time! 

 Guttmann was on top of the World and with Clough levels of self assurance asked for a pay rise (seemingly justified?) but his request was rejected by the Benfica directors and he stormed out of the club. He left them with a parting shot though, ‘The Curse of Bela Guttmann’, uttering as he departed “Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever win a European Cup”. “Rubbish!” I hear you cry, well maybe not. Since 1962 Benfica have been in 7 European finals 1963, 1965, 1968, 1983, 1988, 1990 and Wednesday night v Chelsea (15/5/2013)... They have lost every single one! For Benfica fans the curse is very real, every time the team plays close to his grave in Vienna they take flowers and ask for the curse to be lifted. Before the European Cup final against Milan in Vienna in 1990 Eusebio himself went and prayed to Bela Guttmann, Benfica lost 1-0 and as we saw this week how success is still not easy to come by for Benfiquistas.

 For Guttmann his career continued with time spent in Uruguay, Switzerland, Greece and with the Austrian national team before his retirement in 1973. His legacy? Well as CNN describe him a “charismatic and sometimes eccentric genius”. Trophies, particularly in Portugal, were many and his innovations tactically have been regarded as some of the best. This nomadic, no nonsense, man manager means I think comparisons with Mourinho are accurate, not to mention them both leaving Benfica in rather acrimonious circumstances. For me Bela Guttmann’s story is an important one, when chatting with the other Football History Boys we noted how incredible this man’s career was and how it’s a tale that needed to be told. The only thing I wish is that the curse could’ve been lifted before Wednesday night so we wouldn’t have to listen to that ridiculous “Champions of Europe” song from Chelsea fans for another flipping season!!!

Chelsea fans, don't get too comfortable with Jose again, remember "The third season is fatal"!

Gareth Thomas TFHB (Follow me on twitter @GJ_Thomas and @TFHBTop250)

By: Unknown On 11.05

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Life Below The Premiership? You Better Believe It!

A Good Year For Welsh football!

This is the most exciting yet most painful time of the season for a football man, “squeaking bum time” as Sir Alex used to called it. Titles, promotion, cup finals and relegation will all be decided within the next few weeks making or breaking seasons for thousands of fans. For me, Cardiff City’s promotion was my best experience as a football fan, winning the Championship and having a crazy party in the Cardiff Bay area to celebrate with 20,000+ others. This topped off an amazing year for Welsh football with Swansea winning the Capital One Cup, Newport winning Promotion to League 2 and Gareth Bale cleaning up with the individual player awards too. There is something that’s been getting to me though; the amount of people who couldn’t give a stuff about anything under the Premier League!

Cardiff City's Promotion Pitch Invasion

 I’m a backer of “support your local club”, can’t say I always was but certainly the last 10 years I’ve been down at Ninian Park then Cardiff City Stadium following City’s Championship exploits and you know what? Despite regular play off heartbreaks I wouldn't change that for the world! In fact while of course I can’t wait for our Premiership adventure and silly season rumors to begin I will miss being in the second tier, not least because the fans that are there care so much about the side. Promotion and Premier League brings glory fans, good for revenue, good for filling the stadium but ultimately not immersed with club life like the rest of us. But what about even further down? What about those games on the Football League show gone 1am or those that don’t even get a highlight show?

Newport County faced off against Wrexham in an all Welsh Blue Square Premier play off final at Wembley, 16,346 were there as County won 2-0 to make it back into the Football League for the first time since their reforming in 1989. For The Exiles fans’ it was the stuff of dreams although I have since heard people saying it doesn’t matter or mocking the achievement. Surely this is what we should be investing our time and money in? Developing the love for the game from the basement divisions and at grass roots level, you can only win what’s on offer in the league you play in as it is! 

Delight At Wembley For Newport County

Looking even further down we find Gosport Borough who dramatically sealed a penalty play off final win to be promoted from the Evo-Stik Southern Premier League. Next season they will play in the Conference South, an incredible achievement of back to back promotions as well as winning the Russell Cotes Cup 2-1! Those FL show viewers will recognise Gosport as Steve Claridge’s 23rd career team when he turned out for them last season but next season they will only be 2 tiers from the Football League (2 leagues from being on FIFA to those who don’t track below the Prem!). Check out the video of their game from this link: 2-2, a cracker of a free kick and then the magic of penalties. What stuck me though was their fans being interviewed after the game, dizzy at the prospect of Havant and Waterloovile and Eastleigh! It genuinely made me happy to see their joy at such teams most would scoff as ‘minnows’, that’s what football is about. No one turning out for Gosport really has a chance at making the national set up or the Champions League but for them, winning the Evo-Stik Southern Premier play off is what they’ll be going on about for the next few seasons!

Gosport Borough Fans Celebrate Back To Back Promotions

 You see, football isn’t just incredible turns, worldie volleys or millions and millions of pounds spent on transfers. That’s what we like to fill it with that’s what so many seek but actually football is permanent and does matter regardless of what league and stadium you’re in. No Newport, Gosport and even Cardiff don’t play tika taka to rival Barcelona or don’t boast a star studded line up but my goodness it’s entertaining to watch! Dining at the top table with Cardiff will see everything we do now come under scrutiny, manager Malky Mackay linked already painfully with the Everton job and we will have to deal with the ridiculous play acting and rolling about seen weekly in Europe’s top divisions. 

Barcelona B -The Next Generation

 Today (11/5/2013) as well as watching the FA Cup final,  I’ll be at the Cardiff City Stadium as our Development Side take on Charlton Athletic’s in the Development League 2 play off final. Some may call that silly but my club is what I care about, the success of my team includes our youth academy and reserves sides too. I can't claim this is always my intention but this is definitely the attitude in those successful nations, like Spain and Germany, who are considered current greats. They have encouraged this and the youth system is vital meaning in testament to this, Barcelona B v Castilla (the 2 El Clasico reserve sides) had a full stadium of 15,000 for the Mini Clasico. The FA this year opened St George’s Park, a move that should, within the next 2 decades at least, certainly mean the national team finds much more talent and desire at a grass roots level.

 Ultimately, as someone told me when Cardiff lost in the play off finals “football will continue to happen, whatever league you’re in you’ll play home and away and you’ll win some and lose some”, this is the heart of what I'm writing about. Football is permanent, football is important, from the Premier League to Evo-Stik Southern

 Premier and beyond...

(Credit The Football Ramble)

Gareth Thomas TFHB (Follow me on twitter @GJ_Thomas)

By: Unknown On 17.43

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Phil Neal - The Man They Called "Zico"

When someone mentions Liverpool in the 70s and 80s, you could be forgiven to think firstly of Dalglish, Hansen, Keegan and Rush. However, there is one player who is often forgotten despite being an ever present in the Liverpool XI and making a staggering 417 consecutive appearances from October 1976 to September 1983. A player up until 2003 was unmatched in European Cup triumphs. The man i'm writing about is Phil Neal. 

In modern day football it seems almost inevitable that a player will pick up at least one injury every season, unless you are Michael Owen and seem to suffer one every five minutes. The likelihood of a player making 417 appearance in-a-row now is almost unthinkable. Former Liverpool man Brad Freidel's run of 310 successive league appearances for a number of clubs was an impressive achievement, but Neals run was also laden with success and trophies.

The Heysel Disaster had a big impact on Neal's life.

Signed from Northampton Town for £66,000 in 1974 to replace the ageing Chris Lawler, Neal would make himself an Anfield regular almost at-once. The manager who brought him to Merseyside was Bob Paisley, Liverpool's most decorated boss. Neal found himself in a side still reeling over the loss of their former leader and inspiration William "Bill" Shankly and trusting in "bootroom" member Paisley. The 1974/5 season provided Neal and Liverpool a trophy-less season, the only one during the full-back's Anfield career. The man the players nicknamed "Zico" due to his goal-scoring prowess, would go on to win 6 leagues, 4 European Cups, 4 League Cups, 5 Charity Shields, a UEFA Cup and a Super Cup. A Total of twenty-one awards and a trophy cabinet to rival the greatest players to play the modern game. With success came tragedy for Neal, a member of the team during the Heysel Disaster in 1985, one of his last games for the club, a difficult time for Neal personally and a poignant reminder that sometimes things are more important than football.

Mr Consistent - Steve Finnan

His position? Full-back. Often regarded by many as football's least glamorous position, not having the flair of a winger, the glory of a striker or being the centre of attention like it's defensive counter-part or the central midfield role. However, as his appearance record suggests, the role of right or left-back can become the most consistent and stable area on a football pitch. Liverpool's later right-backs Steve Nicol, Rob Jones, Markus Babbel, Steve Finnan and the current choice Glen Johnson could all adopt the title of "Mr Consistent" despite performing in an at-times underachieving Liverpool side from the 90s and 00s.

Capped by England 50 times (5 goals), at the time of Liverpool's succes it is without doubt that Neal would've been recognized as the great player he was. But the Anfield club's other heroes have gone on to pursue media careers or opt into management (e.g. Hansen, Lawrenson, Lee, Keegan and Dalglish). It's true that Neal went into management, having less successful times, Bolton aside, with Coventry, Cardiff and Manchester City. It is important football remembers the unsung heroes of the truly great teams throughout the  20th and 21st Centuries, be it a Dennis Irwin of Manchester United, Ivan Helguera of Madrid or Lauren of the invincible Arsenal between 2003/4. Without these players the great teams of old would have had nowhere near the success we read about today.

16 years of Trophy-Laden service

Yesterday, Jamie Carragher announced his retirement from football after a 16-year career, accumulating in over 720 appearances and scoring 4 goals, 5 if you count his deflected effort against Middlesborough in 2008/9.  The link between Carra and Neal is clear, although one played for only one club their respective careers, both can be considered as examples of Liverpool's most consistent players since its establishment in 1892 and have to be seen as shoe-ins for the top 10 in the Merseyside club's "Players Who Shook The Kop" list to be decided later on this year. Carragher's retirement also sees another legend depart Anfield, trophy-laden, but also with a sense of the what the club stands for, its ethos and an understanding for the passion involved in derby games, seemingly lacking from the recent 2-1 defeat to Manchester United. In conclusion, Phil Neal and Jamie Carragher will be remembered for the success, the passion and the commitment to the club and of course the five European Cup victories the club is internationally respected for. But without doubt Neal's fondest memory would be scoring in the 1984 European Cup final against Roma.

1984 European Cup Success with Alan Kennedy

By: Unknown On 16.40

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