Heartfelt gratitude, admiration and respect for the late Ferenc Puskas.

Ferenc Puskas Biro died on November 17 due to a long illness he had been suffering. He was 79 years old. Puskas was born in Budapest on April 2 1927 and played for Real Madrid between 1958 and 1967. He is considered to be the best goal scorer of the 20th Century and one of the best players in football history. Puskas won five Spanish Leagues and three European Cups with Real Madrid. The whole Madridista family grieves the loss of one of its greatest legends.


Official Announcement from Real Madrid
Heartfelt gratitude, admiration and respect for the late Ferenc Puskas

Real Madrid wish to express their deepest grief for the passing away of Ferenc Puskas, legendary player of our Club from 1958 to 1967 and to convey their heartfelt gratitude, admiration and respect for one of the biggest stars in the history of the Madridista pantheon.

In the minds of all Madridista fans, the name of Puskas is linked to the biggest domestic and international successes of Real Madrid and most specifically to the European Cup. An entire generation grew up watching the feats of this brilliant Hungarian player, his sole mention reminiscent of their younger years, trading picture cards, black and white TV sets and sepia-toned photography.

On this painful hour, Real Madrid wish to thank a person and player that gave everything for his Club, and express their admiration for his footballing talent and their respect for a phenomenal human being.

Ferguson remembers 'special' Puskas

Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Ferenc Puskas as "a very special player" following news of the legendary Hungarian's death.

The Manchester United manager met Puskas on more than one occasion and was in the crowd when the former Real Madrid star enjoyed one of the most memorable nights of his career. However, while Ferguson will never forget Puskas' four-goal salvo in the 1960 European Cup final win over Eintracht Frankfurt at Hampden Park, a visit to Ibrox three years later also sticks in the mind.

"I was lucky to see Puskas play quite a few times," said Ferguson. "I have many memories of him. I was at the European Cup final in 1960 but I also saw him score the only goal against Rangers at Ibrox, before he got a hat-trick against them when Real scored six in the second leg."

He added: "In his day he was a special player without question, part of that great period for Hungarian football. How they did not win the World Cup in 1954 is beyond me.

"It is sad news. But when a great player like that passes, you can at least reflect on what a great player he was and the great games he played in."

Puskas was part of the 'Magical Magyars' team that became the first Continental side to beat England at Wembley in 1953, a game Ferguson remembers well.

"There was one point when Puskas cut back inside Billy Wright and took him so far out of the game he had to pay three and six to get back into the ground," he laughed.

"He was a marvellous player in a fantastic team. The following month they went to Scotland and beat them as well.

"The European Cup final at Hampden was amazing. He scored four then but he also got three against Benfica in 1962 when Real Madrid lost.

"Can you imagine scoring a hat-trick in a European Cup final and not winning? That is amazing."

Wenger - Puskas was a sensational player

Arsène Wenger has paid tribute to Ferenc Puskas, the Hungary and Real Madrid legend who died at the age of 79 on Friday morning.

Puskas led the revered Hungary team of the early 1950s before inspiring Real Madrid to a string of domestic and European trophies. He scored 512 goals in 528 games for the Spanish giants and netted 83 times in 84 international appearances.

"As a player he was absolutely fantastic not only from the very little I saw, but also what people told me," said Wenger at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"I saw a little bit of him at Real Madrid because I had a black and white television. But people told me he was amazing. The fact that he won what he won and he got the respect from everybody as well tells you a lot.

"It tells you a little bit of what life was like at that time. He was one of the two or three best players in the world and at the end of his life he had nothing to survive on.

"People had to put money together so he could be treated in another way because he had Alzheimer's and that's what life was at that time - greatness and difficult times as well.

"As a coach he had a difficult career, he was ill but we have great respect for him because he was a sensational player."

Puskas, who scored four times in Madrid's famous 7-3 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1960 European Cup Final, was part of the Mighty Magyars side which became the first overseas team to beat England on home soil in 1953.

He was voted the 20th century's sixth best player by the International Federation for Football History and Statistics. Wenger believes Puskas would have been a giant of the game regardless of the era he played in.

"I don't like to compare players from different times but I always say the best from their generation would have adapted and would still be the best today.

"It's difficult to ask if he was better than Zidane but I saw a guy today saying he had the brain of Zidane, the determination of Rooney and the skill of some Arsenal players, so he must have been a hell of a player."