Hungary’s Resurgence: The unspoken success of Hungarian football after the 1956 uprising
[This article was published in Issue #1 of DiegoMagazine]
It is a common misconception to think Hungarian football’s excellence died after the uprising of 1956. Up until then, Hungary had enjoyed its Golden Age of football. Securing Gold at the Olympics in 1952, thrashing England 6–3 at Wembley in 1953, winning the Central European International Cup (a 5-year tournament that preceded the Euros) later that year, humiliating England again 7–1 in 1954 and then finishing runners-up in the World Cup to Germany 6 weeks later — remaining undefeated up to this point since 1950.
The exploits and successes of Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis, Nándor Hidegkuti and József Bozsik with the national team throughout the 1950s had contrasted heavily with a divided, increasingly unhappy Hungarian society. Since the end of the second world war the country had been controlled from Moscow, with Soviet troops patrolling the cities and enforcing a suppressive communist regime.
Nikita Khrushchev, head of the communist party of the Soviet Union, had delivered his ‘secret speech’ in February 1956, heavily criticising Joseph Stalin’s reign before his death in 1953. When the contents of the speech reached Hungary, the anti-Stalin message ignited an already divided political system. Protests erupted and Hungarian Communist Party leader Mátyás Rákosi was called to resign in the hopes of Imre Nagy taking his place. Rákosi eventually left office a few months later in July but instead of the much-wanted Nagy, the Soviet committee appointed Ernő Gerő, a likeminded politician.
Resentment grew in tandem with Soviet interference in Hungarian politics. Tensions reached boiling point in late October as 200,000 student-led protesters demanded the removal of Gerő and appointment of Nagy as well as the withdrawal of Soviet troops stationed in Hungary. Stalin statues were toppled and protesters attempted to take over a local radio station, resulting in clashes with Soviet and Hungarian security forces. Imre Nagy assumed position of Prime Minister the following day and requested all Soviet troops disperse from Hungary immediately. Khrushchev denied the request, sent in more troops along with military vehicles to restore order, and after a week of violent fighting with 3,000+ Hungarian deaths, the USSR’s sheer military force and weaponry won, bringing an end to the revolution on November 10th 1956. Imre Nagy was imprisoned and later secretly hanged.
Many of Hungary’s star football players left after the revolution. Puskás, Czibor and Kocsis all defected to Italy while negotiating the validity of their Hungarian domestic contracts (as well as a ban) with FIFA. Before long, their bans were lifted and FIFA gave the go-ahead to sign contracts with new teams, never to play for the National team again. Others like Hidegkuti, Bozsik and Gyula Grosics remained in Hungary and continued playing for the national team. But they failed to reach the same heights towards the latter part of the decade; crashing out of their group at the 1958 World Cup.
The start of the 1960s began with Hungary finishing second in the final instalment of the Central European International Cup. The team who began that tournament in pre-revolution 1955 was vastly different to the team who finished in 1960. The most notable changes being future Ballon d’Or winner Flórián Albert, János Göröcs and tournament top-scorer Lajos Tichy — joining many of his fellow countrymen. Later that year Hungary would claim Bronze at the 1960 Olympics, losing out in the semi-finals to a Harald Nielsen-inspired Denmark.
1962 would mark the start of quiet brilliance from the Hungarian footballers. Victories against England (2–1) and Bulgaria (6–1) and a hard-fought draw with Argentina ensured Hungary qualified top of their group at the 1962 World Cup. An unfortunate loss to eventual finalists Czechoslovakia in the quarter-finals dampened the mood but Hungary found solace in an improvement from their previous showing in addition to Flórián Albert finishing joint top-scorer and voted best young player of the tournament.
Two years later, The Aranycsapat would outperform expectations yet again. In a team built around youth prospects they reached the Euro 1964 semi-final where they faced hosts Spain. A politically-tense, increasingly physical encounter, in large part thanks to Puskás, Czibor and Kocsis’ emigration following the 1956 uprising, would see the score remain 1–1 going into extra time. As the Spanish crowd grew increasingly agitated they began throwing bottles and hurling insults towards the Hungarian fans and coaching staff. The match was forced to be stopped numerous times but play resumed soon after. Eventually, Amancio Amaro would score the winning goal in the 112th minute, sending the Magyars home. Although some viewed this as a positive, preventing a final between Hungary and the USSR.
Four months later, at the 1964 Japanese Olympics, Hungary found themselves in a group with only Morocco and Yugoslavia as North Korea withdrew at the last minute. Not that it would have made much difference to Hungary’s chances. 19-year-old Ferenc Bene, donning the captain’s arm band, scored a double hat-trick in a 6–0 win over Morocco (funnily enough not the only double hat-trick of the tournament) and contributed to the exhilarating 6–5 triumph over Yugoslavia. Subsequent wins over Romania (2–0) and the United Arab Republic (6–0 and another four goals for Bene) ensured smooth sailing to the final where they enacted revenge on Czechoslovakia, dispatching them 2–1 and claiming their second Olympic Gold in football. Like Garrincha two years prior, Bene had become the focal point to Hungary’s Olympic success; scoring 12 goals in 5 appearances throughout the tournament.
Hungary’s domestic football grew concurrently with its international success. MTK would reach the final of the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1964, losing out to Sporting CP, who, on their way to the final, had recorded an absurd 16–1 win over APOEL. The following year, Ferencváros reached the final of the modern-day Europa League (The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup), coming away victorious after beating Juventus 1–0 in Turin. Meanwhile in the European Cup, Vasas ETO Győri, spearheaded by Olympic Gold medallist and captain Károly Palotai, reached the semi-final as they lost to Eusebio’s Benfica. Vasas ETO Győri would reach another quarter-final in 1968, succumbing to eventual finalists Benfica once more. The 1966 Ballon d’Or voting would see three of the top ten players represent the Hungarian team in János Farkas (9th) Ferenc Bene (6th) and Flórián Albert (5th).
A compound of skill and determination provided arguably Hungary’s most successful post-revolution year yet. Flórián Albert, high off finishing top-scorer of the European Cup and leading Ferencváros to a quarter-finals finish, produced one of the most impressive World Cup performances in history. Albert and the Aranycsapat dazzled the world with scintillating displays of attacking football. “If the World Cup were awarded for entertainment, it would go to Hungary,” wrote John Arlott in The Observer. After succumbing to a 3–1 loss at the hands of Portugal, Hungary defied all odds and destroyed back-to-back world champions Brazil 3–1. “Hungary would not have been flattered if they had won by six goals,” wrote Hugh McIlvanney in The Observer. Another 3–1 triumph over Bulgaria guaranteed progress to the next round and quarter-final fixture with the USSR.
Despite the perceived tensions between the two nations, political relations had improved over the past decade. János Kádár, having been appointed head of state by the USSR after the revolution, ensured that, by 1958, high-profile revolutionaries, like Imre Nagy, had been either arrested or executed, fostering an environment where the two could grow politically closer. A relatively tame quarter-final ended in a 2–1 defeat for the Hungarians, but journalists and the like drew praise over the entertaining football they brought to the tournament. “There is no side better equipped to counter the threat of negative play,” wrote Hugh McIlvanney while Flórián Albert’s performances earned him a place in the team of the tournament.
The arrival of 1967 brought the Ballon d’Or to a Hungarian player for the first — and only — time in history. Flórián Albert’s outstanding performances at the world cup, along with his continental goal-scoring record in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, earned him 1st place in that year’s voting. “Because he is the brilliant successor of all the prestigious Hungarian football artists, because he has total influence on his club team as well as on his national selection, because he is the most balanced footballer of the moment,” remarked Netherlands’ voting representative Anton Witkamp. Albert’s ability to bring the ball under control and see the unseen was unmatched. “He made the new Hungarian team and even developed all the qualities of a world-class footballer. He is both Bozsik and Puskás simultaneously,” wrote East Germany’s voting representative Horst Braunlich.
1968. Another Euro Championship and another Olympics provided similar stories. Aggregate wins over East Germany (3–2), Netherlands (4–3) — who featured a young Johan Cruyff — and Denmark (8–0) catapulted Hungary to the quarter-finals where, yet again, they faced familiar foes the USSR. Despite winning the first leg 2–0 in Budapest, Hungary fell to the Soviet sword 3–0 in Moscow one week later.
The Mexico City Olympics later that year provided Hungary the opportunity to defend their title. The Aranycsapat did it with ease. Wins against El Salvador (4–0) and Israel (2–0) and a draw with Ghana (2–2) propelled them to qualification with a first-place finish in Group C. A surprisingly tight 1–0 quarter-final win over Guatemala evidently appeared to be a blip as they tore apart Japan 5–0 in the semi-finals and Bulgaria 4–1 in the final; joining Great Britain and Uruguay as the only nations to defend their Olympic title (later joined by Argentina in 2008).
International success continued to coincide with club success. Ferencváros made another Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final in 1968, losing out to Don Revie’s Leeds Utd while Ferenc Bene worked wonders in helping Újpesti Dózsa reach the same stage in 1969, again losing to English opposition in Joe Harvey’s Newcastle.
The new decade would mark the start of decline as failure to beat Czechoslovakia in a play-off would see Hungary not qualify for the 1970 World Cup. However, another Euro championship and Olympic tournament two years later would result in more competitive performances for the Hungarians. A further semi-final appearance at the 1972 Belgian Euros having qualified top in a group consisting of Bulgaria, France and Norway. Duly dispatching Romania in the quarter finals in a play-off following two draws, Hungary were beaten 1–0 by — you guessed it — the USSR in a tedious affair only attended by 1,659 spectators. This was the third successive tournament the USSR had knocked out the Hungarians.
Nonetheless, staying true to their Olympic form, Hungary reached yet another final at the 1972 West German Olympics but were beaten by a Kazimierz Deyna-inspired Poland who scored both goals in a 2–1 win. 1972 would mark the Aranycsapat’s final appearance at a Euro championship until 2016. Furthermore, they would never reach their Olympic heights again, only making a sole appearance at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics where they lost all their games and finished bottom of their group. Qualification for the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups would see Hungary progress no further than the group stages, failing to qualify for another since.
While the domination of the Magical Magyars of the 1950s were not equalled, the Aranycsapat of the 1960s and early 1970s certainly came close. In a short twelve-year time-span they finished: semi-finalists of the 1964 and 1972 Euro championship. Quarter-finalists of the 1962 and 1966 World Cup and 1968 Euros. And Gold medallists at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics, as well as Bronze in 1960 and Silver in 1972. Not bad for a team who were considered past their best.
