Mighty, Magical, Magnificent, Marvellous. All of these prefixes have been used to describe the Magyars Hungarian team of the1950’s, and for good reason. Between 1950 and 1956, this team recorded 42 victories, 7 draws and just one, all important, defeat - the 1954 World Cup final. Under the Elo rating system, they are the greatest national side ever. They are credited for successfully implementing an early version of Total Football, and were participants in several of the most famous football matches in the history of the game, including the “Match of the Century”, “The Battle of Berne” and the “Miracle of Berne”. The team was built around 6 key players: Puskas, Koscsis, Hideguti, Czibor, Bozsik and Grosics.

 

Their dominance began in 1950, when they went on a 2 year unbeaten run prior to the 1952 Olympic games. The Mighty Magyars easily defeated all their opponents in the first round of the games, before facing defending Olympic champions Sweden in the semi-finals. Hungary demolished them 6-0 to set up a final against Yugoslavia, who the Magyars defeated 2-0 to take the Olympic Gold medal. In 1953, Hungary participated in the forerunner to the European Championships, easing their way to the final and beating Italy 2-0 to win the trophy. On November 25, 1953, and with Hungary by then the world’s number one ranked team, a friendly match took place against England at Wembley. The press called the game “The Match of the Century” - it was the originators of the game versus the best team in the world at the time. England were confident in beating Hungary having never lost a game on home soil to a continental European team. However, Hungary simply thrashed England 6-3, scoring 4 goals in the first 27 minutes alone. England wanted revenge for the humiliation and a rematch was scheduled to take place on Hungarian soil in May 1954. Any hopes that the Wembley game was a fluke were dispelled when Hungary tore England apart 7-1, inflicting their heaviest ever defeat.

 

Hungary entered the 1954 World Cup as firm favourites. They won their opener against South Korea 9-0, then destroyed West Germany 8-3 with Koscic scoring 4 goals. However, fouling on Puskas (it was the only way to stop him), left him with a fractured ankle, and he was unavailable for the next two stages. The Magyars met Brazil in a highly anticipated quarter final. This game became infamous for the number of deliberate fouls performed by both sides. Hungary went 2-0 up, and then the match descended into incessant fouls, free kicks, fights and general chaos resulting in 3 dismissals. After Hungary won 4-2, fighting carried on in the tunnels and players dressing rooms. As a result, this match was dubbed “The Battle of Berne.” The semi-final was against Uruguay, the defending World Cup champions. Even without Puskas, Hungary ended the Uruguayans unbeaten World Cup record with a 4-2 win in what has been described as one of the most beautiful displays of football in a World Cup.

 

The final against West Germany became known as “The Miracle of Berne”. The Germans were a team of amateurs who didn’t have their own national league, playing the undisputed best team on Earth. Hungary had already beaten them 8-3 in the first round. Hungary took the lead 2-0, but then the Germans rallied and clawed 2 goals back. With 6 minutes left, Helmut Rahn scored a third for Germany, and it was all over. In one of the biggest upsets in history, Hungary’s run had ended. But, they continued to dominate football for another 2 years. Hungary’s defeat of the Soviet Union in 1956 was a minor contributing factor to the wave of patriotic fervour that sparked the Hungarian Revolution. This event brought about the demise of the team, with many key players fleeing the country with their families.

Achievements: FIFA World Cup – Runners up x1
                   Central European International Cup – Runners up x1
                    Olympic Games – Gold Medal x1

Star player: Ferenc Puskas, 1 April 1927, Budapest, Hungary, nickname: The Galloping Major

One of the games most prolific goalscorers ever, Puskas has to his name 84 goals in 85 matches for Hungary and 514 goals in 519 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He was an Olympic champion and World Cup finalist, won 3 European Cups, 10 national titles and 8 top individual scoring honors. His first club was Kispest, which was taken over by the army and renamed Budapest Honved and all its players given military ranks. Psukas became a major which led to his nickname “The Galloping Major”.  He along with several teammates formed the nucleus of the Mighty Magyars squad that dominated world football in the 1950’s. He played the entire 1954 World Cup final with a fractured ankle and still managed to score, although his team was famously defeated. Post-Revolution, Puskas moved to Spain and had an immensley succesful term with Real Madrid alongside Alfredo di Stefano, scoring 4 hat-tricks in his first season with the club. He helped Real win La Liga 5 times in a row between 1961 and 1965. He later took Spanish nationality and played for Spain in the 1962 World Cup. After playing he had a long coaching career and passed away from Alzheimers in 2000. Hungarys national stadium was renamed Stadium Puskas Ferenc is his honor.