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Puskas on Puskas : The Life and Times of a Footballing Legend
Brillante y repleta de magia. Puskas sobre Puskas es mucho más que una simple autobiografía; es la historia de cómo un equipo transformó el fútbol para siempre. Ferenc Puskas es uno de los grandes futbolistas de los tiempos modernos. Miembro del Salón de la Fama junto con Pelé, Di Stéfano, Maradona y Cruyff. Con 83 goles en 84 partidos disputados con Hungría, Puskas siegue siendo el mejor goleador con selecciones internacionales de todos los tiempos. A través de entrevistas grabadas, Puskas relató al historiador de fútbol Rogan Taylor las intimidades de su exitosa vida, como capitán de la selección de Hungría, invicta durante cuatro años, y después de huir de Hungría en el levantamiento de 1956. Una década gloriosa en el Real Madrid, después de haber cumplido los 30 años de edad. Este libro nos regala una historia aún viva y vivida del deporte más popular del mundo, a través de los recuerdos imborrables de uno de los jugadores que más han influido en la historia del fútbol.
244 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 14, 2018
Ferenc Puskas sits alongside Alfredo di Stefano in being widely regarded as the best player in the pre-Pele football era. His achievements were remarkable – as well as being a top player right up to his 40th birthday, he played in two of the most famous (non-World Cup) matches ever to take place on British soil, captained arguably the greatest international football team never to win a World Cup (Cruyff might have disagreed) and even coached Panathinaikos to the European Cup final. Add in 83 goals in 84 internationals, an Olympic gold medal and the fact that the FIFA Goal of the Season award is named after him, and you get some sense of his accomplishments.
Puskas on Puskas is an oral history of Puskas’ career, told mainly in his own words. Taylor and Jamrich supplement Puskas’ own memories with those of his contemporaries – players, coaches, administrators, and journalists. These reflections are supplemented by the editors providing an overview of the times Puskas lived and played in. It’s an interesting and informative approach to telling the story of Puskas, the Golden Squad and Hungary under Communist rule.
Puskas comes across as a lively, charming and determined figure. Away from football Puskas was a master smuggler, political rebel and not afraid to speak his mind. On the field he was not just a world-class player but also a charismatic leader, a committed team-mate and a tactical innovator.
Puskas starred in some of the most famous matches in history beginning with the England-Hungary 6-3 match of 1953 that is often (wrongly) portrayed as England’s first ever defeat on home soil (that honour goes to Ireland following a 2-0 win in 1949). He also played in the controversial 1954 World Cup final (the so-called Miracle of Berne) where West Germany improbably inflicted the only defeat Hungary would suffer over a 6 year period with some help from the British ref and linesman. If that wasn’t enough for one man, he scored 4 goals in the famous 1960 European Cup final in Glasgow, which saw Real Madrid beat Eintract Frankfurt 7-3 to win their 5th straight European Cup.
The book, brings to life not only the achievements of the players but also the tactical innovations of the Hungarian team and the challenges of the totalitarian regime that controlled the country. Puskas recognised and exploited the power he had, certainly before the 1954 World Cup, in a team which the Communist authorities were eager to use to demonstrate the superiority of the “Socialist Man”
There a few hints that we don’t see every side of the man – certainly some of the British players interviewed suggest he may have had a wandering eye. But the book doesn’t claim to be a comprehensive biography – rather is an oral history told mostly in the great man’s own words.
What makes the book a real treasure is the lack of other English language comprehensive books on Puskas – Taylor and Jamrich did a superb job in capturing the great man’s memories and using them to pull together an entertaining, informative book that is a fantastic read.
See all of my sports book reviews at https://allsportsbooks.reviews
Puskas on Puskas is an oral history of Puskas’ career, told mainly in his own words. Taylor and Jamrich supplement Puskas’ own memories with those of his contemporaries – players, coaches, administrators, and journalists. These reflections are supplemented by the editors providing an overview of the times Puskas lived and played in. It’s an interesting and informative approach to telling the story of Puskas, the Golden Squad and Hungary under Communist rule.
Puskas comes across as a lively, charming and determined figure. Away from football Puskas was a master smuggler, political rebel and not afraid to speak his mind. On the field he was not just a world-class player but also a charismatic leader, a committed team-mate and a tactical innovator.
Puskas starred in some of the most famous matches in history beginning with the England-Hungary 6-3 match of 1953 that is often (wrongly) portrayed as England’s first ever defeat on home soil (that honour goes to Ireland following a 2-0 win in 1949). He also played in the controversial 1954 World Cup final (the so-called Miracle of Berne) where West Germany improbably inflicted the only defeat Hungary would suffer over a 6 year period with some help from the British ref and linesman. If that wasn’t enough for one man, he scored 4 goals in the famous 1960 European Cup final in Glasgow, which saw Real Madrid beat Eintract Frankfurt 7-3 to win their 5th straight European Cup.
The book, brings to life not only the achievements of the players but also the tactical innovations of the Hungarian team and the challenges of the totalitarian regime that controlled the country. Puskas recognised and exploited the power he had, certainly before the 1954 World Cup, in a team which the Communist authorities were eager to use to demonstrate the superiority of the “Socialist Man”
There a few hints that we don’t see every side of the man – certainly some of the British players interviewed suggest he may have had a wandering eye. But the book doesn’t claim to be a comprehensive biography – rather is an oral history told mostly in the great man’s own words.
What makes the book a real treasure is the lack of other English language comprehensive books on Puskas – Taylor and Jamrich did a superb job in capturing the great man’s memories and using them to pull together an entertaining, informative book that is a fantastic read.
See all of my sports book reviews at https://allsportsbooks.reviews
August 14, 2022
Puskas foi um dos maiores futebolistas da sua geração, que junto com uma geração de ouro da seleção da Hungria revolucionou o futebol, foram os responsáveis de impor a primeira derrota na poderosa seleção da Inglaterra em terras inglesas. Um feito e tanto!
Puskas iniciou e desenvolveu sua primeira parte da carreira toda na Hungria e já com mais de 30 anos chegou ao Rea Madrid e isso após dois anos sem jogar, devido a uma punição por parte do regime Húngaro que comandava seu país de nascença.
Após um inicio problemático no time madrilenho, Puskas deslanchou e mostrou aos espanhóis que realmente era um fora de série e assim empilhou muitos prêmios individuais e títulos com a camisa do Real Madrid.
Já aposentado, Puskas virou técnico e treinou times de quase todos os continentes, foi da América do Sul a África e após muitos anos longe da Hungria devido a problemas com até então o regime Húngaro ele voltou ao seu país de origem, inicialmente foi para um jogo festivo, mas após alguns anos ele fez novamente da Hungria sua casa.
Puskas mostrou seu um cara muito simples apesar de todo o poder que tinha devido seu futebol, quase todos queriam fazer suas vontades, mas não o abalava, sabia que precisa de seus companheiros para obter as conquistas e ele fazia isso muito bem.
Puskas fez alguns inimigos, mas muito mais amigos em sua trajetória e deixou sua marca no esporte bretão, coisas que só uma lenda poderia fazer.
Puskas iniciou e desenvolveu sua primeira parte da carreira toda na Hungria e já com mais de 30 anos chegou ao Rea Madrid e isso após dois anos sem jogar, devido a uma punição por parte do regime Húngaro que comandava seu país de nascença.
Após um inicio problemático no time madrilenho, Puskas deslanchou e mostrou aos espanhóis que realmente era um fora de série e assim empilhou muitos prêmios individuais e títulos com a camisa do Real Madrid.
Já aposentado, Puskas virou técnico e treinou times de quase todos os continentes, foi da América do Sul a África e após muitos anos longe da Hungria devido a problemas com até então o regime Húngaro ele voltou ao seu país de origem, inicialmente foi para um jogo festivo, mas após alguns anos ele fez novamente da Hungria sua casa.
Puskas mostrou seu um cara muito simples apesar de todo o poder que tinha devido seu futebol, quase todos queriam fazer suas vontades, mas não o abalava, sabia que precisa de seus companheiros para obter as conquistas e ele fazia isso muito bem.
Puskas fez alguns inimigos, mas muito mais amigos em sua trajetória e deixou sua marca no esporte bretão, coisas que só uma lenda poderia fazer.
March 17, 2018
Una biografía sobre el legendario Ferenc Puskas que vá más allá del deporte. Es un libro en el que el autor entrevistó al propio Puskas y en el que se mezclan declaraciones de todos los protagonistas que rodearon su vida.
La vida de Puskas tiene un gran interés además del futbolístico por haber sido uno de los húngaros más famosos de la historia durante la época comunista de Hungría. Cuenta cómo empezó en el Honved, cómo utilizó su fama nacional para aprovecharla en sus viajes al extranjero e introducir productos de contrabando, cómo fue su relación con las autoridades comunistas húngaras, además de otras narraciones que bien podrían ser de una auténtica novela de espionaje o de una película de cine, como juicios farsa, deportaciones y la propia deserción de Puskas y algunos de sus compañeros a Occidente.
El libro mezcla relatos en primera persona de protagonistas y explicaciones del autor que contextualiza las declaraciones, incluso para gente no muy experta. Un gran libro sobre un gran hombre al que siempre admiraré en gran parte por los recuerdos de él que me inculcó mi abuelo.
La vida de Puskas tiene un gran interés además del futbolístico por haber sido uno de los húngaros más famosos de la historia durante la época comunista de Hungría. Cuenta cómo empezó en el Honved, cómo utilizó su fama nacional para aprovecharla en sus viajes al extranjero e introducir productos de contrabando, cómo fue su relación con las autoridades comunistas húngaras, además de otras narraciones que bien podrían ser de una auténtica novela de espionaje o de una película de cine, como juicios farsa, deportaciones y la propia deserción de Puskas y algunos de sus compañeros a Occidente.
El libro mezcla relatos en primera persona de protagonistas y explicaciones del autor que contextualiza las declaraciones, incluso para gente no muy experta. Un gran libro sobre un gran hombre al que siempre admiraré en gran parte por los recuerdos de él que me inculcó mi abuelo.
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May 12, 2023Puskás fue protagonista de un vida digna de una epopéyica superproducción hollywoodiense o de unas memorias como Puskás sobre Puskás, relato vital editado por el historiador británico del fútbol Rogan Taylor y la intérprete e investigadora húngara Klara Jamrich a partir de las horas y horas de grabaciones que les dejó el magnífico futbolista relatándoles su devenir. Publicada originalmente en 1997, por fin llega a nuestras librerías la (auto)biografía de uno de los grandes nombres de la historia del fútbol.
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Puedes encontrar esta review en el #Panenka71. Disponible en
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Puedes encontrar esta review en el #Panenka71. Disponible en
tienda.panenka.org.
December 25, 2023
A really interesting book and put in a unique format I haven’t seen before! However, it contained all the interesting information told by the man himself and his teammates to depict the life of a footballing legend.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews