Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás (April 2, 1927 – November 17, 2006) was a Hungarian football forward and coach.
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[edit]- I would be a liar if I said we were not pretty nervous on the day of the match. I was in my kit, hanging about in the corridor, when I saw the England inside-right [Ernie] Taylor, who wasn't very tall. I popped back into the dressing room and said to the others: 'Listen, we're going to be all right, they've got someone even smaller than me'.
- Ferenc Puskas before Hungary demolished England 6-3 at Wembley in 1953. BBC
About Ferenc Puskás
[edit]- I was with (Bobby) Charlton, (Denis) Law and Puskás, we were coaching in a football academy in Australia. The youngsters we were coaching did not respect him including making fun of his weight and age...We decided to let the guys challenge a coach to hit the crossbar 10 times in a row, obviously they picked the old fat one. Law asked the kids how many they thought the old fat coach would get out of ten. Most said less than five. Best said ten. The old fat coach stepped up and hit nine in a row. For the tenth shot he scooped the ball in the air, bounced it off both shoulders and his head, then flicked it over with his heel and cannoned the ball off the crossbar on the volley. They all stood in silence then one kid asked who he was, I replied, "To you, his name is Mr. Puskás".
- Look at that little fat chap. We’ll murder this lot.
- An unidentified, overconfident English player upon seeing Puskás before their England v Hungary (1953) encounter. [2]
- 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.
- Nándor Hidegkuti Los Angeles Times
- Puskás scared the hell out of goalkeepers from the 30-35 metre range. He did not just have a powerful shot, but precision as well. I thought he was a genius.
- Raymond Kopa [3]
- 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 but life, my friend, when you least expect it comes to an end.
- Alfredo Di Stéfano [4]
- There is not one Hungarian who would be left untouched by the death of Ferenc Puskás. The best-known Hungarian of the 20th century has left... Ferenc Puskás has left us, but "Puskás Öcsi" the legend will always stay with us.
- Ferenc Gyurcsány, the Prime Minister of Hungary [5]
- He got along with everyone and had a very jovial character that helped him play with a striking amount of joy and calmness. He had a great shot and he could accelerate very quickly, ... all-around skilled and above all explosive.
- Luis Suarez [6]
- Although he was a famous footballer he seemed very normal compared to today's modern stars. He lived in a modest flat below ours and was very generous. He often brought home footballs from training for the kids in the block to play with.
- Olalla Maranon, A former Neighbour In Madrid [7]
- "He was a special player in his day without question. How that Hungary team didn't win the 1954 World Cup is beyond me". (Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson)
- "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". (Preston and England legend Sir Tom Finney)
- "He had such control of the ball and so much skill. He could make long, accurate passes and could score goals". (Former BBC pundit Jimmy Hill)
