Puskás, politics and plot twists: A big what-if in European football

One might not think so but there once was a time when one of mightiest football clubs in Europe resided in Hungary. At least in theory, because wars, regimes, and yet-to-be-born European competitions never gave us the possibility to find out.

In a new OlyBet.TV series, we introduce you to former greats that have now fallen into oblivion or have simply become mortal. This is the story of Budapest Honvéd FC, originally known as Kispest AC.

Founded on 10 August 1908 by Dr. Bálint Varga, a local teacher, the club was born in Kispest, then a village on the outskirts of Budapest. However, early organizational struggles delayed the formal agreement on the club’s constitution until 3 August 1909, which is why this later date is recognized as the official foundation.

In its first few decades, the club was just another small-town team and it wasn’t until 1926 that Kispest won its first major honour – the Hungarian Cup. Otherwise, they lingered in relative obscurity. Yet, the 1940s would change everything.

From village club to national contender

This decade marked the emergence of two footballing giants who would come to define both Kispest and Hungary: Ferenc Puskás and József Bozsik. Both debuted for the club in 1943, though the true revolution was still to come. In 1949, the club found itself at the epicentre of Hungarian football’s transformation when it was taken over by the Hungarian Ministry of Defence.

This military takeover was masterminded by Gusztáv Sebes, the influential national team coach. Sebes had grand designs for Hungarian football, drawing inspiration from the Austrian Wunderteam and Italy’s World Cup-winning squads of the 1930s.

Both nations had successfully centralized their national talent around one or two clubs, and Sebes envisioned the same for Hungary. The perfect opportunity presented itself in 1949, when Hungary became a communist state, leading to the nationalization of football clubs.

Military’s role in Honvéd’s rise

At that time, Hungary’s biggest teams were Ferencváros and MTK. However, Ferencváros, known for its right-wing and nationalist affiliations, was deemed unsuitable, while MTK was taken over by the secret police.

That left Kispest AC, a smaller club without such political baggage, ripe for Sebes’ vision. As Kispest had become a part of Budapest by that time as well, the club was rebranded as Budapest Honvéd – with Honvéd meaning “defender of the homeland,” a nod to its new affiliation with the Hungarian Army.

With state support, Honvéd quickly became the hub of Hungarian football. Puskás and Bozsik were joined by a golden generation of talent, including Sándor Kocsis, Zoltán Czibor, László Budai, Gyula Lóránt, and Gyula Grosics.

Sebes used Honvéd as a training ground for his national team, creating a symbiotic relationship between club and country that would lead to unprecedented dominance in both arenas.

The golden generation: Puskás, Bozsik and other

The 1950s were Hungary’s golden age of football. The national team, known as the Mighty Magyars, went on a near-invincible run, losing only one (!) match out of 50 between 1950 and 1956. That sole defeat, however, came at the worst possible moment: the 1954 World Cup final, where they were famously upset by West Germany.

At the same time, Honvéd dominated in Hungary, claiming the league title in 1949/50, 1950, 1952, 1954, and 1955.

By 1954, Honvéd’s reputation had spread well beyond Hungary’s borders and on December 13, the club faced English champions Wolverhampton Wanderers in a much-anticipated friendly. Honvéd led 2–0 at halftime, but Wolves fought back to win 3–2.

Honvéd’s European Cup drama

In 1955, a new chapter of European football was written with the creation of the European Cup, the predecessor of today’s UEFA Champions League. Although Honvéd initially declined to participate, they entered the competition in the 1956–57 season.

However, fate intervened during their tie against Athletic Bilbao. After losing the away leg 2–3, the Hungarian Revolution broke out before the return leg. As Soviet tanks rolled into Budapest, Honvéd’s players found themselves stranded in Western Europe. Rather than return to war-torn Hungary, the club arranged for the second leg to be played in Brussels.

But tragedy struck Honvéd there, with their goalkeeper injured early on, and with no reserve-goalie with them, winger Zoltán Czibor had to step in as a makeshift goalkeeper. Despite their valiant effort, the match ended in a 3–3 draw, meaning Honvéd were eliminated 6–5 on aggregate.

Stranded abroad: Honvéd’s world tour

Honvéd’s elimination from the European Cup left the team in limbo. With no desire to return to a Soviet-occupied Hungary, the club organized a fundraising tour across Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Although a friendly tour, Honvéd dazzled the crowds, for example drawing 5–5 with Madrid XI and defeating FC Barcelona 4–3.

During the tour, Honvéd received an unexpected offer from Mexico. They were offered political asylum and received an official invitation to join the Mexican national league altogether. The players, however, turned down that offer and instead went on a tour in Brazil, facing giants like CR Flamengo and Botafogo.

Break-up of Hungary’s finest

By the time they returned to Europe, the squad had begun to disband. Some players, including Bozsik, Budai, Lóránt, and Grosics, opted to return to Hungary. Others, such as Kocsis and Czibor, found new homes in Western Europe, with both eventually signing for FC Barcelona. The team’s biggest star, Ferenc Puskás, would go on to become a Real Madrid legend.

Honvéd, now without its brightest stars, struggled in the years following the Hungarian Revolution. In 1957, they narrowly avoided relegation, saved only by an expansion of the first division. The club’s fortunes improved slightly in the coming years, with a Mitropa Cup (Central European Cup) win in 1959 and a Hungarian Cup victory in 1964 offering brief moments of glory amid a challenging era.

And although the club managed to have a second-coming in the 80s, it was never as great as with Hungary’s golden generation, whose real strength was never really uncovered.