Bizarrely enough, Pusks was at the centre of a bitter controversy which meant that the final almost did not take place. Despite sharing a surname, George Puscas is not related to Ferenc Puskas. It was time for Pusks to respond and he did emphatically, scoring from an extraordinarily difficult angle to add Madrids third on the stroke of half-time. It is because of everyone that we as strikers get our chances.. They called and invited me to London. Read about our approach to external linking. Budapest Honvd entered the European Cup in 1956 and were drawn against Athletic Bilbao in the first round. The social media outrage began in April 2015 when a Twitter user posted a tweet. Video, 00:02:59Could the EFL Cup final change Karius' career? I met all the big footballers who were there and got a lot of help from people like Javier Zanetti, Rodrigo Palacio and Esteban Cambiasso.. GEORGE PUSCAS shares a surname with one of footballs greatest icons. Pusks was an out-and-out goalscorer, he would never come back for the ball or spray it around the field, which was why he complemented Di Stfano so perfectly. In 1993, he returned to Hungary and took temporary charge of the Hungarian national team. All the things I text and videos is to put a smile on everyones face. Director: He appears in one scene in the Egyptian movie. Ill be the Romanian Puscas. [6] On 9 August he made his debut for Bari as a substitute replacing Anthony Partipilo in the 60th minute of a 21 home defeat against Foggia in the second round of Coppa Italia. [7] He played his first Serie B match later on 22 September 2015 in the 41 away loss to Crotone, starting and playing for 57 minutes. Video, 00:00:47, 'They've got Puskas and Pele haven't they? [24] Pusks scored in the subsequent 33 draw but Honvd were eliminated 65 on aggregate, and the Hungarian players were left in limbo. He initially used the pseudonym "Mikls Kovcs" to help circumvent the minimum age rules[16] before officially signing at the age of 12. Video, 00:01:00No regrets starting Kane on bench - Stellini, Whoops! Most football fans in the United Kingdom could probably tell you that. [24] After his ban expired, Pusks tried to play in Italy but was not able to find a top-flight club willing to sign him, as Italian managers were concerned about his age and weight. I did well. The 24-year-old loves celebrating his goals by simulating firing a rifle and he was doing just that on Tuesday as he scored on his first start against Blackburn after a three-month lay-off with a hernia injury. 'Massive performance' from Man Utd - Ten Hag. [51] In a state funeral, his coffin was moved from Pusks Ferenc Stadion to Heroes' Square for a military salute. Puscas is one of the characters in the Reading dressing room. Puscas would love to play in the Premier League. After the success of its pan-continental televising of the iconic Eurovision Song Contest from 1956 onwards, they made the bold choice to expand into sporting coverage. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. After retiring as a player, he became a coach. Im always close to the players because we believe we can achieve big things., News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Despite opposition from other board members, he signed him prior to the start of the 1958/59 season, using his intermediaries to persuade UEFA to lift the FIFA suspension. After refusing to return to Hungary, Pusks initially played a few unofficial games for RCD Espanyol. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Both men were in their early-30s when their partnership was created and together they won four consecutive LaLiga titles, a Copa del Rey, as well as winning a European Cup in addition to being losing finalists on two occasions, making them arguably the most prolific and successful scoring partnership to have performed at the top level of European, if not world football. [44] His family name, Puca, originates from the Hungarian Pusks. [21], Pusks made his debut for Hungary team on 20 August 1945 and scored in a 52 win over Austria. Ill do it my way. Video, 00:01:00, No regrets starting Kane on bench - Stellini, Whoops! I did well. He instantly caught the eye of the club President Santiago Bernabu and a bid immediately followed. But the Reading striker does not like to draw parallels with the Hungary legend Ferenc Puskas because he is from Romania. His mother, Margit Bir (19041976), was a seamstress. Most football fans in the United Kingdom could probably tell you that Alfredo Di Stfano and his partner Ferenc Pusks were the best strikers in Europe, if not the world. The West German side had faced the Scottish Champions Rangers in the semi-final and put twelve goals past them over the two ties. Hungary won the championship after finishing top of the table with 11 points. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Not bad for an overweight, ageing player with a beer belly. He did not just have a powerful shot, but precision as well. There is no evidence that he is related to one of the "greatest players of all time". And now pairing up with 20-goal Luas Joao up front, the Royals certainly have the firepower to cause anyone in the Championship a serious threat. Pusks was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2000. He played an individual version of total football, long before the term had been coined. [32] Puca scored his first EFL Championship hat-trick against Wigan Athletic on 30 November 2019 in a 3-1 victory, with the goals all coming in the space of 4 minutes 54 seconds. Video, 00:01:08Why does who owns Manchester United matter? Had history taken a different course, he might have been there already. [28], On 7 August 2019, Puca signed for Reading on a five-year contract from Inter Milan for 8 million euros plus 2 million in bonuses, becoming Reading's most expensive signing in history. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), How Alfredo Di Stfano and Ferenc Pusks became footballs most prolific partnership, Brighton and Crystal Palace: the rise of a rivalry separated by 39 miles, The madness of Liverpools first foray into European competition, The tale of Queens Park: the early innovators who became last of the amateurs, Bobby Robson, Ipswich Town and a brutal quest for the 1981 treble, The Harriers of Norway: welcome to the most unlikely Kidderminster supporters club. Video, 00:07:26Can Everton ever be great again? - Ten Hag almost forgets EFL Cup, '22m followers doesn't make it a 50-50 fight' Video, 00:00:57'22m followers doesn't make it a 50-50 fight', Burn hopes to end Newcastle trophy drought. But the club were first docked 20 points for financial irregularities before the authorities relegated them two divisions to Serie D. Inter exercised their buy-back option before promptly selling him to Reading on a five-year deal in August 2019. Pusks was born in Budapest on 2 April 1927. He retired from play in 1966 and worked for several years as a coach. He even broke into the clubs training ground during the first lockdown just so he could train on his own. [22], On 8 August 2018, Puca joined Palermo and subsequently signed a four-year contract. In 1953, they also won the 1948-53 Central European International Cup. Wolves won the 1954 match 32, with the 1993 match ending in a 11 draw. Puscas laughed: I like to keep the atmosphere nice because I know theres a lot of pressure here. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Its a great challenge for me, a new challenge and I hope it will be a great time for the fans, for me and for the club, so we will have a great result.. Di Stfano was a prolific striker for his club scoring 100 goals in 110 appearances. George Puscas joined Reading from Inter Milan this summer. Video, 00:00:19, '22m followers doesn't make it a 50-50 fight' Video, 00:00:57, '22m followers doesn't make it a 50-50 fight', Burn hopes to end Newcastle trophy drought. [citation needed], Pusks returned to Hungary for the first time in 1981 and in 1990, he made Budapest his home again. I had to do the surgery but now Im feeling fit and good. Were looking of course towards second and achieving great things. [citation needed]. 3 George Puscas celebrates his goals for Reading and Romania by simulating shooting a rifle 3 He was the front man of the "Mighty Magyars", as the dominant Hungarian national team was known in the 1950s. Sud-americanii au jucat o or n 10", "Puca a marcat primul gol pentru naional, dup 7 minute de la debutul ntr-un meci oficial", "gy lett Pusksbl s Pelbl 61 v utn Puscas s Pele", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Puca&oldid=1141920008, *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 February 2023, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 15:21. I had to do the surgery but now Im feeling fit and good. Despite sharing a surname, George Puscas is not related to Ferenc Puskas. Ferenc Pusks, also called the Galloping Major, (born April 2, 1927, Budapest, Hungarydied November 17, 2006, Budapest), Hungarian professional football (soccer) player who was the sport's first international superstar. Puscas got his Serie A breakthrough at the San Siro under the management of former Manchester City Premier League-winning coach Roberto Macini. In 1958, two years after the Hungarian Revolution, he emigrated to Spain where he played for Real Madrid. [21] The following week, in his second appearance, Puca scored his first career hat-trick to give his side the 31 win at Cittadella. View our online Press Pack. Boss Veljko Paunovic revealed how the Romanian is always entertaining the players in their WhatsApp group by posting funny messages and videos. [19][20] He debuted for his new team five days later in the 21 home defeat to Ascoli, netting his team's only goal in the first half. They played together for Real Madrid for a total of six seasons. ", "Romnia Chile 32. '- press officer interrupts Guardiola. The highlight of his coaching career came in 1971 when he guided Panathinaikos to the European Cup final, where they lost 20 to AFC Ajax. The voting and award process related to the FIFA Pusks Award is detailed in the respective Rules of Allocation. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Alfredo became the heart and soul of Real. A capacity crowd of 127,000 packed into the stadium to watch Eintracht Frankfurt take on the might of Real Madrid, who had won the previous four finals. While playing with Real Madrid, Pusks won four Pichichis and scored seven goals in two European Champions Cup finals. Puscas quickly established himself as a fans favourite at the Madejski Stadium for his hard-working performances. NASAs SpaceX Crew-6 Safely En Route to International Space Station, With a Redesigned Car, Mercedes Hopes It Can Unseat Red Bull as F1 Champion, Carabao Cup final watched by record audience on Sky Sports as Man Utd beat Newcastle to trophy | Football News, Cricket news 2023, Australia vs India Test series, greats questions Cameron Green lbw decision in collapse, Farmer reveals hes spent 4,000 clearing up waste including caravans, piles of broken furniture, Insular Indias exporters will struggle to fill Chinese shoes. The Spanish matadors emphatic slaying of Eintracht Frankfurt by seven goals to three is the most famous final in the history of the European Cup. Di Stfano had found his perfect partner. In the final Panathinaikos lost 20 to Johan Cruyff's Ajax. [31] On 18 August 2019 he scored two goals on his home league debut for the Royals against Cardiff City. [14] In June 2017 he scored the goal that sealed Benevento's promotion to Serie A. Pusks scored 83 goals in 84 games with the Hungarian national team and was a member of three European Cup-winning teams (1959, 1960, 1966) with the Spanish club Real Madrid. It didnt matter. Not bad for an overweight, ageing player with a beer belly. [5] A forward, he scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary and played four international matches for Spain. Several high-profile European teams had shown interest in signing Pusks so for the fascist regime of Franco having a communist superstar move to Spain was a considerable propaganda coup. [8] On 22 February he played his first entire match for Bari, a 10 away defeat against Virtus Lanciano. After retiring as a player, Pusks became a coach and managed teams in Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. After returning to Europe, the players parted ways. As the BBC commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme mused on air, Koran always seems to know everything but he didnt know he would not be on television tonight!. I trained with them and even did a session with Arsene Wenger coaching. He said: Making my debut under him was my favourite moment. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here. He said: To be honest, I am Romanian and have nothing to do with his name. As the doyen of football correspondents Brian Glanville noted, to his strength, stamina and electric change of pace, Di Stfano added superb ball control. A young Bobby Charlton opined that he had never seen such a complete footballer.. It was the match that suddenly opened British eyes to the wider European game. There he teamed with Alfredo di Stefano to form one of the most dangerous scoring duos in the world. They played together for Real Madrid for a total of six seasons. The Madrid coach was given the order to get him fit. But the Reading striker does not like to draw parallels with the Hungary legend Ferenc Puskas because he is from Romania. He won three European Cups (1959, 1960, 1966), ten national championships (five Hungarian and five Spanish Primera Divisin) and eight top individual scoring honors. For aged just 16 Arsenal brought him over to London for a one-week trial after scouts flew to Romania to watch him playing for Bihor Oradea. [37], Puca scored seven times for Romania under-21 in the 2019 UEFA European Championship qualifiers, as his side won its group and progressed to the final tournament in Italy. Ferenc Pusks ( Hungarian pronunciation: [frnts puka], UK: / frnts pk, pk / FERR-ents PUUSH-ksh, PUUSH-kash; [2] [3] [4] born Ferenc Purczeld; [1] 1 April 1927 - 17 November 2006) was a Hungarian football player and manager, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and the sport's first international Unde va juca atacantul romn", "Puscas regala la vittoria al Palermo al 90', "George Puscas: Reading sign Inter Milan striker on five-year deal", "George Puca signs permanently from Inter Milan", "George Puca a semnat cu Reading! He was also able to dummy his opponents with fake dribbles and would confuse his markers by pretending to go one way before going another. Video, 00:01:24Klopp uses driving analogy to explain confidence, 'Can I finish? It is no wonder with the superstars at Mancinis disposal that Pucas only made seven appearances for Inter and ended up being loaned out to Bari, Benevento and Novara. Despite this, he scored his fourth goal of the tournament to put Hungary ahead after six minutes, and with Czibor adding another goal two minutes later, it seemed that the pre-tournament favorites would take the title. Puscas would love to play in the Premier League. Yet while he is not proud to be a namesake of a man seen as a God by bitter rivals in a neighbouring country, he loves what the names means. No player has ever scored in five consecutive finals since. Boehly set to continue spending as Chelsea revive interest in World Cup star, Six Arsenal stars face the axe as Arteta eyes four new signings - including Rice, Arsenal dealt transfer blow as Brazilian starlet reveals desire to join Barcelona, Kane at Man United is the most likely signing to give fans what they want the most, Raheem Sterling makes decision on Chelsea future with Arsenal interested, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window). [35], Because of his Hungarian ancestry, Puca could have represented Hungary via naturalisation. Name in home country: George Alexandru Puca Date of birth: Apr 8, 1996 Place of birth: Marghita Age: 26 Height: 1,88 m Citizenship: Romania Position: Attack - Centre-Forward Foot: right Player agent: Wasserman Current club: Genoa CFC Joined: Aug 25, 2022 Contract expires: Jun 30, 2023 Contract option: Obligation to buy with conditions On loan The outrage began on social media in April 2015, when a Twitter user posted a tweet. Pusks scored 512 goals in 528 appearances for the Spanish club and was instrumental in Real Madrids five consecutive league championships (196165) and three European Cup titles. [citation needed] At the same time, both AC Milan and Juventus attempted to sign him, but then he received a two-year ban from UEFA for refusing to return to Budapest,[39] which prevented him from playing in Europe. While his famous name has seen him mentioned in the same breath as Hungary legend Ferenc Puskas, the 23-year-old Romanian version . His international goal record included two hat tricks against Austria, one against Luxembourg and four goals in a 120 win over Albania. If the new signings at the Madejski Stadium can live up to their namesakes, then Reading fans are certainly in for a treat. [19] As the army club, Honvd used conscription to acquire the best Hungarian players leading to the recruitment of Zoltn Czibor and Sndor Kocsis. Puscas who needed an operation told SunSport: Its been a few tough months. Pusks, who was now 31, had put on over 18 kilos in weight and had a visible belly. Then Di Stfano started to dominate proceedings. But we dont look at the table every day so if we simply take it step by step well see where it takes us.. In his first full game as a fully-fledged, Pusks, who was now 31, had put on over 18 kilos in weight and had a visible belly. Arsenal had been following me since I was just 15 playing for my local team. Pusks joined Real Madrid shortly after his defection. I did well. [38] He netted again in the next group game against England, surpassing Ionu Luu as the highest scorer of the Tricolorii mici. It was my first experience moving to another country. Puskas was also excellent at the set pieces, often scoring a powerful direct free-kicks. The name back home in Romania means rifleman.. Video, 00:00:26, 'Can I finish? Puca made his Internazionale debut on 1 February 2015 by appearing in the last minutes of a 31 loss to Sassuolo in the 201415 Serie A matchday 21. Read |When Real Madrid offered Alfredo Di Stfano to Manchester United, The BBC had even taken the bold step of displacing the great figure of TV mystery of the time, Koran, whose usual invitation to a half hour of intrigue was withdrawn to make space for the live coverage of the game. He appears in Wonder Striker (A csodacsatr). The players decided against going back to communist Hungary and arranged for the return with Athletic to be played at Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium. However, the West Germans pulled back two goals before half time, with six minutes left the West Germans scored the winner. We find each other well on the pitch. All the things I text and videos is to put a smile on everyones face. Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Video, 00:03:36Burn hopes to end Newcastle trophy drought, Klopp uses driving analogy to explain confidence. - Ten Hag almost forgets EFL Cup. Video, 00:02:59. Mancini was a great coach. He was a striker and used to stay with me after training to teach me a lot of things. [44] During his four-year tenure at Panathinaikos, Pusks helped the team secure one Greek Championship in 1972. Puscas quickly established himself as a fans favourite at the Madejski Stadium for his hard-working performances. Puscas is one of the characters in the Reading dressing room. However, his performances had been noted by several leading Spanish clubs, including Barcelona which resulted in a Byzantine struggle for his signature. In 1971, he guided Panathinaikos of Greece to the European Cup final, the only time a Greek club has reached a European final to date. The scores contain links to the article on football in the Helsinki Olympics and the round in question.[26]. Lying in sixth and seventh position were the only two strikers whose careers had coincided at the same club. On 4 August 2015, Puca, along with his teammate Gaston Camara, were sent on loan at Serie B for the 201516 season. He deserves his 20 goals. Had history taken a different course, he might have been there already. Video, 00:02:44, How 'listener' Howe has improved Newcastle, Why does who owns Manchester United matter? The user posted two photos . I was doing all the treatments but it wasnt getting better. He scored 619 goals in 618 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues and National Cups. He became an Olympic champion in 1952 and led his nation to the final of the 1954 World Cup. Pusks played the entire 1954 World Cup final against West Germany with a hairline fracture. He was eventually sold to Serie B Palermo in 2018 and enjoyed a great season football-wise, making 33 outings and scoring nine goals. Alfredo Di Stfano was born in Buenos Aires on 4 July 1926 where, according to legend, he built up his extraordinary stamina running through the streets of the capital. Video, 00:00:58'Massive performance' from Man Utd - Ten Hag, No regrets starting Kane on bench - Stellini. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Pusks started his career in Hungary playing for Kispest and Budapest Honvd. On 27 minutes he tapped in a cross to level the game and then, just before the half-hour mark, he pounced on a parry from the Frankfurt keeper Loy to score his second. In 1937, his father changed the family name to Pusks. But all the team are good. A street named jtemet utca near Stadium Bozsik in the Hungarian capital of Budapest (specifically the district of Kispest) was renamed after Pusks precisely one year after the footballer's death. Puscas, back in his native land, means Rifleman.. [3] On 26 February 2015, he made his UEFA Europa League debut as a substitute replacing Rodrigo Palacio in the 89th minute of a 10 home win over Celtic. [39] Puca then gave Romania a half-time lead after scoring a double against Germany in the semi-finals, but Romania eventually lost the match 42. Calvin Harris has cleared up rumors he was to blame for ex-Rita Ora's scrapped album; [20] He was considered by Manchester United to strengthen a squad ravaged by the Munich Air Disaster in 1958, but because of FA rules regarding foreigners and Pusks' not knowing the English language, stand-in manager Jimmy Murphy could not fulfill his wish of signing the Hungarian. And with Brentford losing four out of their last six games, the Royals are only six points behind the second automatic promotion spot. There is no evidence that he is related to one of the greatest players of all time. So far, nothing has established his relationship with Ferenc Puskas. He helped Real win La Liga five times in a row between 1961 and 1965 and the Copa del Generalsimo in 1962. Despite sharing a last name, George Puscas is not related to Ferenc Puskas. It was the time before the advent of saturated coverage of European football. In his garden, he hung plastic rings of differing sizes form a crossbar and spent hours practising putting the ball through them. To keep up with the latest news about The Best, check out FIFA.com and FIFA's . Cardiff boss Neil Warnock has fun with the names of Reading players before Sunday's Championship game. Why does who owns Manchester United matter? [22] He went on to play 85 games and scored 84 times for Hungary. Its my first time here, Im excited and I cant wait to start. [17] On 3 December 2017, Puca scored his first Serie A goal in the 22 home draw versus Milan that gave Benevento their first ever point in the top flight. George Alexandru Puca ( Romanian pronunciation: [deorde aleksandru puka]; born 8 April 1996) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie B club Genoa, on loan from EFL Championship club Reading, and the Romania national team . [29][30] He scored his first goal for Reading in an EFL Cup tie against Wycombe Wanderers on 13 August 2019, and also went on to score one of the penalties as Reading won the shoot-out. Some, including Bozsik, returned to Hungary while others, including Czibor, Kocsis and Pusks, found new clubs in Western Europe. Puskas had one of the most powerful left shots in history and often scored from 30 to 35 metres from goal. Whenever a member of the press approaches him about his relationship with Ferenc, he states that he does not like to be associated with him and that their shared last name has nothing to do with their relationship. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Barcelona thought they had clinched a deal with his original club River Plate, Real Madrid were convinced that they had come to an agreement with Millonarios. And now pairing up with 20-goal Luas Joao up front, the Royals certainly have the firepower to cause anyone in the Championship a serious threat. They summoned[clarification needed] their families from Budapest, and despite opposition from FIFA and the Hungarian football authorities, they organised a fundraising tour of Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Brazil. Royals pair George Puscas and Pele - or Judilson Mamadu Tuncar Gomes to give him his full name - are namesakes of legendary Hungarian player Ferenc Puskas and Brazilian great Pele.. GEORGE PUSCAS shares a surname with one of footballs greatest icons. Though they have the same pronunciation, their spelling is different. I trained with them and even did a session with Arsene Wenger coaching. For aged just 16 Arsenal brought him over to London for a one-week trial after scouts flew to Romania to watch him playing for Bihor Oradea. A few English internationals of that time such as Neil Franklin of Stoke City accepted the financial incentives to play there as well. Could the EFL Cup final change Karius' career? He was the conductor, his fellow players the instruments. [45] While managing the Australian club, one of his players was future Australia and Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, who has spoken of the influence Puskas' all out attacking approach had on his coaching style. At that age, you just see them both as big clubs and Inter wanted me at that moment so I went there.. Mancini was a great coach. He was eventually sold to Serie B Palermo in 2018 and enjoyed a great season football-wise, making 33 outings and scoring nine goals. On 18 June 2019, he obtained the penalty from which he scored the opener in a 41 victory over Croatia. George Alexandru Puca (Romanian pronunciation:[deorde aleksandru puka]; born 8 April 1996) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie B club Genoa, on loan from EFL Championship club Reading, and the Romania national team. For footballing cognoscenti of a certain age, the memory of the first live European Cup Final they ever witnessed on their television screens lives on forever. He scored 20 or more goals in each of his first six seasons in the Spanish league, and won the Pichichi four times: in 1960, 1961, 1963, and 1964, scoring 25, 28, 26 and 21 goals, respectively. Ferenc Puskas, the legendary Real Madrid striker, inspired the Puskas Award given to the greatest goal of any given season, while Brazil striker Pele wasn't bad either. He began his career as a junior with Kispest AC,[13] where his father, who had previously played for the club, was a coach. Pusks proved to be the perfect foil for Di Stfano but more importantly he was happy for his partner to be considered the star of the team.

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