Hallam Football Club

I will compile information about footballing legends, who like Puskas have died recently

Ferenc Puskas was one of the best players of all time, Pele, Maradona, George Best, Bobby Charlton and Marco Van Basten were legends. George Best the finest Irish sportsman ever, died earlier this year aged 59

Born in April 1927 Puskas was something of a boy wonder, he made his debut for Kispest while he was just 16 years old. Puskas became Hungary's legend, a god to Hungary and its people. A man who scores 83 goals in 84 games for his country is not only good but exceptionally talented. A country who beat one of England's greatest ever national team's 7-1 must be quite good but to become the first side to beat England on their own patch and win 6-3 shows a World Conquering team and in 1954 Germany defeated the Magnificent Magyars 3-2 in the World Cup Final.  

Puskas then took Spanish citizenship and Real Madrid became the first footballing giants. They won no less than five consecutive European Cup titles from 1956-1960 (two without the magic Puskas as he hadn't signed for them yet) and most famous of all the 7-3 defeat of Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960. In that particular game Alfredo Di Stefano got a hat-trick which was good but Perfect Puskas got four goals in a comprehensive hammering

After bagging a hat-trick for Real in the 1962 European Cup Final, they still lost. 5-3 to Benfica of Portugal. In 1966 he left Real to pursue a coaching career, he success was mediocre yet in 1971 he took Greek side Panathinaikos to the European Cup final but they sadly lost 2-0 to Dutch Giants Ajax. In 1993 Puskas became Hungary's caretaker manager during the World Cup Qualifiers.

But unknown to millions of people Puskas had managed 14 teams in a managerial career spanning 27 years!

In 1999 Puskas was declared sixth best player of the century, also in 2002 the Hungarian National Stadium was renamed Stadion Puskas Ferenc. But by this time Puskas had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In 2003 he was declared best Hungarian player of the last 50 years at UEFA's Jubilee Awards. 2 months ago Puskas was admitted to intensive care in a Budapest Hospital. He lost his battle with pneumonia on 17th November this year and another great footballing legend had gone

Puskas' All time Playing record

Puskas' club record - 869 goals in 885 games

Puskas' international record - 83 goals in 84 goals

All time record - 952 goals in 969 games

Clubs: Kispest AC Honved (1946 - 1956), RCD Espanol (1956), Real Madrid (1956 - 1967)

Puskas' All time Managerial record