Historic moment: permanent Puskás Museum opens its doors in Budapest – PHOTOS
The myth of Hungary’s legendary Golden Team will continue, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Monday, adding that successors of Ferenc Puskás and his team-mates must be capable of following their example.
The opening ceremony included speeches by Mária Schmidt, Director General of the House of Terror Museum and Chief Curator of the Puskás Museum, Emilio Butragueno, former Real Madrid star and current International Director, Sándor Csányi, President of the Hungarian Football Association (MLSZ), and video messages from Gianni Infantino, the head of the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the European Football Association (UEFA), and Aleksander Ceferin.
Orbán: We rebuilt the Hungarian football
Addressing the opening of a Puskás Museum in Budapest, Orbán said that 15 years ago, when his government began its efforts “to rebuild Hungarian football, “the favorite sport of the world and of Hungarians was “in ruins in Hungary.” “It was unbelievable that in fifty years, Hungary had nearly disappeared from the map in an area where it had been among the world’s best,” Orbán said.
“Russians back home, long live Hungarian freedom, go Hungary, go Hungarians!”
– Orbán quoted the former slogan, stressing that while communism is essentially internationalist, football is national.
Thanks to Puskás, Hungary has been aware of the Golden Team myth, Orbán said.
“When we founded a football academy and named it after him, or built a stadium … we continued to see world championships and champions’ league finals, stunning goals and beating Britain, Germany, or Brazil …,” he said.
The Puskás Museum, “a worthy memorial” dedicated to the legendary football player, has been set up within Budapest’s Puskás Stadium as a completion of the facility, Orbán said.
The relationship between Real Madrid and Ferenc Puskás is eternal
Emilio Butragueno, Real Madrid International Director, said that Ferenc Puskás was one of the most outstanding figures of Real Madrid, as he was part of the legendary team that, together with Alfredo Di Stefano and Paco Gento, under the leadership of President Santiago Bernabéu, changed the history of Real Madrid and world football forever.
According to Butragueno, the Real Madrid community remembers Ferenc Puskás not only as a footballer who achieved extraordinary results wearing the club crest and shirt but also as a man who represented values that captured the hearts of all Madridites. These include hard work, self-sacrifice, team spirit, respect, camaraderie, and humility, all of which are paramount for Real Madrid,” he added.
The International Director stressed that the entire Real Madrid community takes special pride in the museum, which also serves to transmit the values above. He concluded by saying that they are also grateful to Ferenc Puskás for his great role in the fact that so many people in Hungary are also fans of Real Madrid.
“This relationship between Real Madrid and Ferenc Puskás is eternal,” he concluded.
Video messages from UEFA and FIFA
A video message from Aleksander Ceferin, President of the European Football Association (UEFA), and Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, was played at the opening ceremony. Both paid tribute to Ferenc Puskás, highlighting his significant role in European and world football. The latter called the exhibition beautiful and world-class.
Photo Gallery
Day of Hungarian Football
25 November is also a symbolic date: The day of Hungarian Football is celebrated to commemorate the Hungarian football team’s defeat of the previously unbeaten English national team 6:3 in London on this day in 1953.
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