These days, most football fans outside of the Eastern European nation would be hard pressed to name a player or even a club from Hungary. But during  the 1950’s and 60’s, Hungary was a mighty footballing nation, and it was a time when Honved, Vasas, MTK and Ferencvaros were household names. During the Cold War era, Hungarian football ruled the roost thanks to heavy investment by the state and military, and many a team shuddered at the thought of having to take a trip behind the iron curtain to play a side from Eastern Europe. Affectionately nicknamed “Fradi”, Ferencvaros once counted themselves amongst Europe’s most feared clubs- the last of the Mighty Magyars.

 

Led by one of Hungarian football’s all time legends, Florian Albert, Ferencvaros played in three European finals, winning the Inter Cities Fairs Cup away to Juventus. The Inter Cities Fairs Cup was basically the precursor today’s UEFA Europa League. The competition was essentially formed to promote international trade fairs, and the it initially ran on a one city, one rule team. For example, cities that entered teams included London, Basel, Birmingham, Copenhagen, Vienna, Milan, Barcelona and Zagreb. A record of no less than 48 teams entered the 1965 edition of the tournament. That year Ferencvaros progressed all the way to semi finals, defeating Roma and Athletic Bilbao on the way, where they faced the might of Manchester United who were blessed with one of the strongest sides in their history. Even they couldn’t stop Ferencvaros, going down 2-1 in a playoff after the teams drew 3-3 on aggregate. Fardi went through to the final where they took on an incredibly talented Juventus team managed by Heriberto Herrera and featuring Spanish legend Luis Del Sol. The end result was 1-0 to Ferencvaros, making them the first, and to date the only, Hungarian team to win a major European trophy.

 

Three years later, they had another excellent run in the same competition, disposing of Liverpool, Zaragoza, Bilbao and Bologna before making life difficult for Don Revie’s excellent Leeds United side, however it was that club that eventually prevailed in the semi final. Back at home, Ferencvaros cemented their position as comfortably the best team in Hungary. The club won four league championships during the period, and in 1967, their superstar Florian Albert was crowned European Footballer of the Year.

 

Other Hungarian clubs did very well in this era, too. In the three European competitions in operation at the time, a Hungarian team reached at lease the quarter finals every year between 1962 and 1968. Their national team claimed the gold medal at the 1964 Olympics and were one of the darkhorses of the 1966 World Cup and of the European Championships held at the time. Great achievements considering that Hungarian football had it’s heart and soul ripped out from the Revolution, with many of it’s top players leaving the country and refusing to return, and that it’s players were considered soldiers first and footballers second. But from 1968 onwards, football in Hungary spiralled into a steep decline – since then the story of Hungarian football has been a grim one, both internationally and on the domestic scene. In the 1960’s Ferencvaros averaged 46,000 spectators at home games. Today, they’re lucky to get 9,000 show up. The 1950’s and 60’s are a bygone era for football in the country, and in commercial and globalised times, it’s unlikely that Hungarian football will ever reach such heights again.

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Acheivements:
Inter Cities Fairs Cup – Winners x1
Hungarian Championship – Champions x4

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Star player: Florian Albert dob 15 September 1941, pob Hercegszanto, Hungary, nickname: The Emperor

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The epitome of the one-club man, and a legend at Ferencvaros, of Hungarian football, and of world football in general, Florian Albert is one of the most elegant footballers in history. The son of a blacksmith, Albert grew up near the border with Yugoslavia, where he enjoyed a kickabout with his two brothers. At 11 years old. Albert and his father and brothers (his mother died when he was 2) moved to Budapest where he participated in a talent day at Ferencvaros. They were so impressed, he was signed to the club and he stayed there ever since, playing for Fardi from 1952 to 1974. He first represented Hungary against Sweden in 1959, World Cup runners up the previous year. Albert scored 2 goals in a 3-1 win over the Scandinavians. Despite Hungary being knocked out of the 1962 World Cup in the quarter finals, Albert was still one of the four winners of the Golden Boot Award. He put in a brilliant performance in England in 1966, particularly against Brazil in a match that is thought to be one of the greatest World Cup games ever played. In 1967, Albert won the European Footballer of the Year award, had a son (who also became a Ferencvaros player), won the Hungarian league with Ferencvaros and beat Bobby Charlton to the Balon D’Or. Not a bad year at all. His career declined following a serious leg injury sustained in 1969. He had to take an entire year away from football and when he returned, he was never quite the same player. Alberts final match was in March 1974. He contributed a goal, and was carried from the pitch on the shoulders of his team mates. Albert died of a heart attack from heart surgery complications in 2011. His funeral was broadcast live on Hungarian TV, and on the same day, Ferencvaros wore a special all black kit in his memory.