That was the nickname given to the most mesmerising member of Hungary’s fabled national team of the 1950s, the Magical Magyars —Ferenc Puskas. He was the top goal scorer in all of Europe in 1945, and he was soccer’s first international superstar.
Think of just a few of his statistics: He scored an astonishing 83 goals in 84 games for Hungary, and scored 512 goals in his 528 appearances for Real Madrid.
He was also a member of three European Cup-winning sides (again, Real Madrid) — in 1959, 1960, and 1966.
With his short, heavyset build, outstanding agility and ball control, he possessed an incredibly accurate left-footed shot. The man was, quite simply, a phenomenon — one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Fast forward now — years later I was on the cusp of having him in Galway for the official opening of my showcase of personal items from the Hungarian team that became the first to beat England at Wembley. The score line at the final whistle on 25th November 1953 was: England 3 Hungary 6.
I’d had a few meetings in Dublin with the Hungarian Ambassador to Ireland, Laslo Mohai. We became good friends, and he helped greatly in putting together personal items from the fabulous Hungary team of the 1950s, the team that went unbeaten for 4 years. Their only loss was to West Germany (2 — 1) in the 1954 World Cup Final. They had two what looked like perfect goals disallowed, flagged offside, decisions that were hotly disputed and reckoned by many to have been wrong.
Ambassador Mohai, as well as helping me with exhibits, endeavoured to bring Puskas to Galway for the opening of the showcase. The only thing that prevented it happening was that Puskas had another commitment that he had to honour. But the story didn’t end there.
Ambassador Mohai travelled down from Dublin for the event. The photograph shows him opening the showcase. Then, out of the blue shortly afterwards, I received an invitation to Puskas’s 70th Birthday Gala in his home city of Budapest.
It was a grand and glittering affair with some of the “greats” of football in attendance, people like Fritz Walter, Germany’s World Cup-winning captain, Alfredo di Stefano, and Gento.
When Puskas made his entrance, he electrified all of us by putting his two fingers to his lips, and making as loud a whistle as any referee’s blast. He beckoned us all outdoors, and took us on a guided tour of Budapest.
At the end of the night’s celebrations, as he walked by my table, he put out his hand and we exchanged high fives. It was very special.
Unforgettable occasion. Unforgettable man.
MEETING THE GALLOPING MAJOR
