Hungary and Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas has died at the age of 79.

Puskas, who was in hospital for six years with Alzheimer's disease, died in Budapest at 0600 GMT on Friday after suffering from a fever and pneumonia.

Puskas led Hungary's golden team of the early 1950s, before taking Spanish citizenship and becoming part of Real Madrid's all-conquering team.

Puskas scored 83 goals in 84 games for Hungary from 1945 to 1956 and later played for Spain in the 1962 World Cup.

After leading Hungary to the 1952 Olympic Gold medal, he was part of the Mighty Magyars who became the first overseas team to beat England on home soil in 1953, scoring twice in the 6-3 win at Wembley.

Hungary then rolled England over 7-1 in Budapest and were consequently installed as favourites for the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland.

But injury to Puskas severely hampered the Magyars and they lost in the final to Germany.

Puskas joined Real Madrid and, along with Alfredo di Stefano, was the inspiration behind a string of domestic and European titles.

He scored four goals in Real's 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in a remarkable final at Hampden Park in 1960, and won the European Cup three times with the Madrid side.

In all, he scored 512 goals for Real in 528 matches and in 1962 he took out Spanish citizenship in time to play for his adopted country in the 1962 World Cup.

Puskas retired in 1967, going on to coach clubs in several countries, leading Greek side Panathanaikos to the European Cup final in 1971.

As the last millennium drew to a close, Puskas was voted the 20th century's fourth best player by the International Federation for Football History and Statistics.

FERENC PUSKAS FACTFILE
Born: 2 April 1927, Budapest, Hungary
Clubs: Kispest Honved (354 apps, 357 goals) & Real Madrid (528 apps, 512 goals)
Honours: Hungarian league (5), Spanish league (5), Spanish Cup, European Cup (3), Intercontinental Cup, Olympics


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I hadn't realised what an incredible scoring record he had...........RIP.

me either dunc.

83 goals in 84 games

a legend in anyones books no mater who you play for.


RIP Ferenc

I've just read this on 365 and jumped back here to post this:
HUNGARY LEGEND PUSKAS DIES
Posted 17/11/06 08:07


Hungary and Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas - one of football's all-time greats - has died after a long battle against pneumonia.

The 79-year-old, nicknamed the 'Galloping Major', had been in intensive care at a Budapest hospital for two months but had also been confined to hospital for six years with Alzheimer's disease.

He led his country's 'Golden Team' of the early 1950s, and was part of the first foreign side to beat England at Wembley, winning 6-3 on 25 November 1953 in one of the game's most famous upsets.

Puskas later took Spanish citizenship and became part of Real Madrid's all-conquering side, which claimed five successive European Cups between 1956 and 1960.

Puskas' international goalscoring record was truly remarkable.

In 84 matches for Hungary between 1945 and 1956, he scored 83 times, including two goals in the Magical Magyars' famous match against England.

He also starred in a subsequent 7-1 win in Budapest which saw Hungary made favourites for the 1954 World Cup.

However, an injury limited his impact in Switzerland and the Magyars lost in the final to Germany.

He won the nickname the 'Galloping Major' after serving in the Hungarian Army.

Puskas went on to enjoy unprecedented success at Real Madrid, where he and Alfredo di Stefano were the cornerstone of a succession of domestic and European glories.

He scored four goals in Real's 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in a remarkable final at Hampden Park in 1960, and won the European Cup three times in all.

He scored 512 goals in 528 matches for Real and in 1962 he took out Spanish citizenship in time to play for his adopted country at the 1962 World Cup.


I did actually know his scoring record(I read it somewhere a long time ago and it was one of those things that stuck in my mind)

Ferenc R.I.P.....A true legend of European and World Football.

I've seen him play only in old film footage, but I've heard of his records as a goalscorer. so he can truly be counted as one of the legends of the game.

Rest in peace Galloping Major.

A legend indeed.

Terrible shame.

Vicky

True Legend.


R.I.P

Legend.

RIP

i true great dies, and 1 who made several guest appearances at the mol with Billy wright. Bet he's running you ragged again now Billy

one of the grea-*test*-('") players of all time..arguably the GREATEST European player ever with the possible exception of johan cryuff... his left peg was a thing of magic..
and competely an opposite of what one would expect from a footballer, short, stocky, overweight... but what control and what vision

RIP OSCI... all lovers of 'the beautiful game ' are indebted to you

R.I.P Ferenc. Will in Gods team this weekend with all the great players god has give us.