Ferenc Puskas

Early Life

Ferenc Puskas was born on April 1, 1927, in Budapest, Hungary. Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. He grew up in a poor family. His father was a football coach. Young Ferenc loved football from a very early age. He played football in the streets every day with his friends.

Starting Football

Ferenc started playing football when he was very young. He was only five years old! His first football was made of rags (old clothes). He could not buy a real football because his family did not have much money. But Ferenc practiced every day. He used his left foot to kick the ball. He became very, very good with his left foot.

First Team

When Ferenc was 16 years old, he started playing for Budapest Honved. Budapest Honved was a big team in Hungary. Many people came to watch him play. They saw that he was special. Ferenc was not very tall. He was also a bit heavy. But he could score many goals. People called him "The Galloping Major" because he played for an army team.

Playing Style

Ferenc Puskas was famous because:
- He was very good at scoring goals
- He could shoot very well with his left foot
- He was very good at passing the ball
- He could control the ball very well
- He was smart on the football field
- He helped other players score goals

The Mighty Magyars

Ferenc played for Hungary's national team. The team was very, very good. People called them the "Mighty Magyars" or the "Magic Magyars." They were one of the best teams ever. With Ferenc, Hungary:
- Did not lose a game for four years
- Won the Olympic Games in 1952
- Beat England 6-3 in England
- Beat England 7-1 in Hungary
- Scored many, many goals

Famous Games

One of Ferenc's most famous games was against England in 1953. England had never lost a game at home to a team from outside the British Isles. But Hungary won 6-3! Ferenc scored two goals. Everyone in England was surprised. They called this game "The Match of the Century."

Moving to Spain

In 1956, there were problems in Hungary. Ferenc had to leave his country. He went to Spain. Many teams wanted him. But some people said he was too old and too fat. Real Madrid gave him a chance. This was a very good decision! Ferenc played for Real Madrid for eight years. He scored many goals and won many titles.

Playing for Real Madrid

At Real Madrid, Ferenc was amazing:
- He scored 242 goals in 262 games
- He won five Spanish league titles
- He won three European Cups
- He played with other great players
- He became one of Real Madrid's best players ever

Important Numbers

Here are some important numbers about Ferenc Puskas:
- He scored 84 goals for Hungary
- He played 85 games for Hungary
- He scored 514 goals in 530 games for Budapest Honved
- He scored 242 goals for Real Madrid
- He won 10 league titles in Hungary and Spain
- He scored 4 goals in one European Cup final

Winning Titles

Ferenc Puskas won many important titles:
- Hungarian League Champion (5 times)
- Spanish League Champion (5 times)
- European Cup Winner (3 times)
- Olympic Champion with Hungary (1 time)
- Top Scorer in many competitions
- Spanish Cup Winner (1 time)

Life After Playing

After he stopped playing football, Ferenc became a coach. He worked in many countries:
- Greece
- Chile
- Saudi Arabia
- Egypt
- Paraguay
- Australia

He helped many teams win titles. In Australia, people still remember him as a very good coach.

Personal Life

Ferenc married his wife Elisabeth in 1949. They stayed together all their lives. They had one daughter. Ferenc was a happy person who liked to joke and laugh. Many people loved him because he was friendly and kind.

His Legacy

Today, people remember Ferenc Puskas as:
- One of the best football players ever
- The best Hungarian player in history
- A great goalscorer
- A kind and friendly person
- Someone who made football beautiful
- A hero in Hungary and Spain

Awards and Honors

Ferenc won many special awards:
- FIFA made a special award with his name (The Puskas Award)
- He is in the FIFA Hall of Fame
- Hungary named their biggest stadium after him
- He was the top scorer in the 20th century
- UEFA named him one of the best players ever
- He got special awards from Hungary and Spain

Learning from Ferenc

Young players can learn many things from Ferenc Puskas:
- Practice every day
- Don't give up if you are not tall
- Be friendly and kind
- Help your teammates
- You can be successful at any age
- Size does not matter in football

Fun Facts

Here are some interesting facts about Ferenc:
- He never used his right foot to shoot
- He could score goals from very far away
- He liked to make jokes
- He spoke Spanish and English
- He played football until he was 39 years old
- He scored goals in every country where he played

Vocabulary Help

Here are some important words from the text:
- Coach = someone who teaches sports
- Score = to get a goal in football
- Title = a prize for winning a competition
- Legacy = what people remember about you
- National team = the team of your country
- Olympics = big sports competition every four years
- Stadium = where football teams play

Remember

Ferenc Puskas showed us that:
- You can be successful even if you are not tall
- Practice makes you better
- Being kind is important
- You can start again in a new country
- Age is just a number
- Help others when you can

His Influence Today

Ferenc Puskas is still important today:
- FIFA gives the Puskas Award for the best goal each year
- Young players learn about him
- Hungary's national stadium has his name
- People watch videos of his goals
- Coaches teach his skills to young players
- He inspires people to follow their dreams

Ferenc Puskas was one of football's greatest players. He showed that you can be successful even if you are not tall or fast. He was good at scoring goals, but he was also a kind person. People remember him as a great player and a good man. His story teaches us to never give up on our dreams.

Questions about Ferenc Puskas

Part 1: True or False
Mark these sentences as True (T) or False (F):

1. Ferenc Puskas was born in Spain. ( )
2. His first football was made of rags. ( )
3. He was a very tall player. ( )
4. He played for Real Madrid for eight years. ( )
5. He only used his left foot to shoot. ( )
6. He was a goalkeeper. ( )
7. His father was a football coach. ( )
8. Hungary beat England 6-3 in England. ( )
9. He never worked as a coach. ( )
10. FIFA made a special award with his name. ( )

Part 2: Multiple Choice
Choose the best answer (a, b, or c):

1. How old was Ferenc when he started playing football?
a) 16
b) 5
c) 10

2. What was his nickname?
a) The Magic Magyar
b) The Galloping Major
c) The Goal Scorer

3. How many goals did he score for Real Madrid?
a) 514
b) 84
c) 242

4. Which team did he play for in Hungary?
a) Budapest Honved
b) Real Madrid
c) National Team

5. In which year did Hungary beat England in the "Match of the Century"?
a) 1956
b) 1952
c) 1953

Part 3: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the missing words:

1. Ferenc Puskas was born in _______ in 1927.
2. People called the Hungarian team the "_______ Magyars."
3. Ferenc scored _______ goals for Hungary's national team.
4. He won _______ European Cups with Real Madrid.
5. After being a player, he became a _______.

Part 4: Short Answer Questions
Write short answers to these questions:

1. Why did Ferenc leave Hungary in 1956?
2. What did people say about him when he went to Spain?
3. Name two countries where he worked as a coach.
4. What special thing did FIFA do to remember Ferenc Puskas?
5. How many games did Hungary's team not lose for?

Part 5: Matching
Match the number with the correct fact:

Numbers:
1. 84
2. 39
3. 242
4. 1927
5. 3

Facts:
a) Goals he scored for Hungary ( )
b) The year he was born ( )
c) His age when he stopped playing ( )
d) Goals he scored for Real Madrid ( )
e) European Cups he won ( )

Part 6: Simple Discussion Questions
Think about these questions and discuss with a partner:

1. What makes Ferenc Puskas a football legend?
2. Why do you think he was so good at scoring goals?
3. Which part of his story do you find most interesting?
4. What can young football players learn from Ferenc Puskas?
5. Why do you think FIFA named an award after him?