Statue of Benfica’s Hungarian star coach unveiled

(MTI) – The statue of Bela Guttmann, the Hungarian coach who guided Benfica to two successive Champion Teams’ European Cup wins, was unveiled in Lisbon on Friday.

The statue, which depicts the legendary trainer holding the two cups, was set up at a gate of Estadio da Luz on the 110th anniversary of the foundation of the club, State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Zsolt Nemeth told MTI over the phone.

Benfica triumphed in the Champion Teams’ European Cup in 1961, putting an end to the five-season winning streak of Real Madrid, and repeated its victory a year later.

Guttmann also gained credit for discovering Eusebio, one of the greatest players soccer has ever known.

In a message, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said: “Bela Guttmann was endowed with exemplary talent. With his legendary expertise and strength of mind, he led the club to great victories.”

Noting that Guttmann was a Hungarian Jew who escaped the Holocaust, Orban said “this moment also warns us not to let inhuman ideas gain ground.”

Photo: www.footballtarget.com

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters