Golden Team

The Golden Team (Hungarian: Aranycsapat; also known as the Mighty Magyars, the Magical Magyars, the Magnificent Magyars, or the Marvellous Magyars) refers to the Hungary national football team during the 1950s. It is associated with several notable matches, including the "Match of the Century" against England in 1953. The team inflicted notable defeats on then-footballing world powers England, Uruguay and the Soviet Union. The 1956 Hungarian Revolution caused the breakup of the side. The team is considered by many as one of the greatest Football teams of all time.

Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold 1952 Helsinki Team
World Cup
Silver 1954 Switzerland Team
Central European International Cup
Gold 1948–53 Central Europe Team

Between 1950 and 1956, the team played 50 matches, which included 42 victories, 7 draws and just 1 defeat. The defeat came in the 1954 FIFA World Cup Final against West Germany. Under the Elo rating system they achieved the highest rating recorded by a national side (2231 points, 30 June 1954), just ahead of 2nd place Germany (2223 points, 13 July 2014). In 2016, the BBC listed the team as the best international football team in football history.[1]

The team is generally credited for successfully implementing an early form of "Total Football", which would later be used by the Netherlands during the 1970s.

The famous 2-3-3-2 formation employed by the side

All-time team highs and lows

The following is a list of national football teams ranked by the highest Elo rating they ever reached.[2] The table also includes the highest ranking as well as the lowest rating and ranking reached by each nation. The team that has achieved the highest rank in each confederation is shown in color.

Rank Nation High rating
(rank)[a]
High rating
date[b]
High rank
(first,last year)
Low rating
/ low rank[c]
Low rating
date[b]
1   Golden Team 2230 (1st) 30 Jun 1954 1st (1952,1960) 1527 / 75th 19 Nov 2003
2   Germany 2223 (1st) 13 Jul 2014 1st (1966,2017) 1639 / 24th 26 Sep 1920
3   England 2216 (1st) 9 Sep 1912 1st (1872,1988) 1790 / 17th 31 Mar 1928
4   Brazil 2194 (1st) 17 Jun 1962 1st (1958,2019) 1813 / 20th 24 Sep 1922
5   Spain 2165 (1st) 11 Jul 2010 1st (1920,2013) 1800 / 19th 25 Jun 1969
6   Argentina 2159 (1st) 3 Apr 1957 1st (1929,2016) 1751 / 26th 8 Jun 1990
7   Netherlands 2154 (2nd) 12 Jul 2014 1st (1978,2014) 1550 / 53rd 24 Oct 1954
8   France 2137 (1st) 30 May 2001 1st (1984,2007) 1506 / 40th 18 May 1930
9   Italy 2132 (1st) 11 Jun 1939 1st (1952,2006) 1604 / 22nd 29 Aug 1920
10   Uruguay 2108 (1st) 13 Jun 1928 1st (1920,1929) 1635 / 44th 5 Sep 1979
11   Scotland 2104 (1st) 10 Mar 1888 1st (1876,1926) 1600 / 64th 26 Mar 2005
12   Russia[d] 2088 (1st) 23 Jul 1966 1st (1963,1988) 1449 / 48th 14 Sep 1913
13   Belgium 2084 (3rd) 12 Oct 2018 3rd (2018,2019) 1498 / 70th 29 Mar 1936
14   Poland 2083 (2nd) 1 Sep 1974 2nd (1974,1975) 1526 / 61st 26 Aug 1956
15   Denmark 2077 (1st) 25 Jun 1916 1st (1914,1916) 1536 / 61st 24 May 1967
16   Austria 2068 (1st) 31 May 1934 1st (1934) 1550 / 74th 2 Sep 2011
17   Chile 2041 (3rd) 26 Jun 2016 2nd (2016) 1384 / 60th 6 Jul 1916
18   Czech Republic 2037 (1st) 27 Jun 2004 1st (2004,2005) 1670 / 46th 4 Sep 2017
19   Colombia 2035 (5th) 28 Jun 2014 3rd (2016) 1304 / 100th 13 Mar 1957
20   Portugal 2022 (3rd) 28 Jul 1966 2nd (2006) 1619 / 42nd 7 Nov 1962

  1. The ranking in parentheses is that at the time the highest rating was reached.
  2. 2.0 2.1 The date given is when the highest or lowest rating was first reached.
  3. The team's indicated lowest ratings and rank may not have coincided in time.
  4. Russia reached its lowest rating as the Russian Empire (after 7 matches) and its highest rating and ranking as the Soviet Union.

Results

Date Venue Opponents Score Comp Hungary scorers Attendance
1949-05-08   Budapest   Austria 6–1 Central European Cup Puskás (3), Kocsis, Deák (2) 50,000
1949-06-12   Budapest   Italy 1–1 Central European Cup Deák 47,000
1949-06-19   Stockholm   Sweden 2–2 Friendly Kocsis, Budai 38,000
1949-07-10   Debrecen   Poland 8–2 Friendly Deák (4), Puskás (2), Egresi, Keszthelyi 30,000
1949-10-16   Vienna   Austria 4–3 Friendly Deák (2), Puskás (2) 65,000
1949-10-30   Budapest   Bulgaria 5–0 Friendly Puskás (2), Deák, Budai, Rudas 36,000
1949-11-20   Budapest   Sweden 5–0 Friendly Kocsis (3) Puskás, Deák 50,000
1950-04-30   Budapest   Czechoslovakia 5–0 Friendly Kocsis (2) Puskás (2), Szilágyi 47,000
1950-05-14   Vienna   Austria 3–5 Friendly Kocsis, Puskás, Szilágyi 65,000
1950-06-04   Warsaw   Poland 5–2 Friendly Puskás (2), Szilágyi (3) 60,000
1950-09-24   Budapest   Albania 12–0 Friendly Puskás (4), Budai (4), Palotás (2), Kocsis (2) 38,000
1950-10-29   Budapest   Austria 4–3 Friendly Puskás (3), Szilágyi 45,000
1950-11-12   Sofia   Bulgaria 1–1 Friendly Szilágyi 35,000
1951-05-27   Budapest   Poland 6–0 Friendly Kocsis (2), Sándor, Puskás (2), Czibor 42,000
1951-10-14   Ostrava   Czechoslovakia 2–1 Friendly Kocsis (2) 45,000
1951-11-18   Budapest   Finland 8–0 Friendly Hidegkuti (3), Kocsis (2), Czibor, Puskás (2) 40,000
1952-05-18   Budapest   East Germany 5–0 Friendly Hidegkuti (2), Szusza, Kocsis, Sándor 38,000
1952-06-15   Warsaw   Poland 5–1 Friendly Kocsis (2), Puskás (2), Hidegkuti 50,000
1952-06-22   Helsinki   Finland 6–1 Friendly Puskás, Bozsik, Kocsis (3), Palotás 25,000
1952-07-15   Turku   Romania 2–1 1952 Olympics Czibor, Kocsis 14,000
1952-07-21   Helsinki   Italy 3–0 1952 Olympics Palotás (2), Kocsis 20,000
1952-07-24   Kotka   Turkey 7–1 1952 Olympics Palotás, Kocsis (2), Lantos, Puskás (2), Bozsik 20,000
1952-07-28   Helsinki   Sweden 6–0 1952 Olympics Puskás, Palotás, Lindh (o.g.), Kocsis (2), Hidegkuti 35,000
1952-08-02   Helsinki   Yugoslavia 2–0 1952 Olympics Puskás, Czibor 60,000
1952-09-20   Bern   Switzerland 4–2 Central European Cup Puskás (2), Kocsis, Hidegkuti 35,000
1952-10-19   Budapest   Czechoslovakia 5–0 Friendly Hidegkuti, Egresi, Kocsis (3) 48,000
1953-04-26   Budapest   Austria 1–1 Friendly Czibor 44,000
1953-05-17   Rome   Italy 3–0 Central European Cup Hidegkuti, Puskás (2) 90,000
1953-07-05   Stockholm   Sweden 4–2 Friendly Puskás, Budai, Kocsis, Hidegkuti 40,000
1953-10-04   Sofia   Bulgaria 1–1 Friendly Szilágyi 45,000
1953-10-04   Prague   Czechoslovakia 5–1 Friendly Csordás (2), Hidegkuti, M. Tóth, Puskás 50,000
1953-10-11   Vienna   Austria 3–2 Friendly Csordás, Hidegkuti (2) 65,000
1953-11-15   Budapest   Sweden 2–2 Friendly Palotás, Czibor 80,000
1953-11-25   London   England 6–3 Friendly Hidegkuti (3), Puskás (2), Bozsik 105,000
1954-02-12   Cairo   Egypt 3–0 Friendly Puskás (2), Hidegkuti 28,000
1954-04-11   Vienna   Austria 1–0 Friendly Happel (o.g.) 65,000
1954-05-23   Budapest   England 7–1 Friendly Lantos, Puskás (2), Kocsis (2), M. Tóth, Hidegkuti 92,000
1954-06-17   Zurich   South Korea 9–0 1954 World Cup Puskás (2), Lantos, Kocsis (3), Czibor, Palotás (2) 15,000
1954-06-20   Basel   West Germany 8–3 1954 World Cup Kocsis (4), Puskás, Hidegkuti (2), J. Tóth 53,000
1954-06-27   Bern   Brazil 4–2 1954 World Cup Hidegkuti, Kocsis (2), Lantos 60,000
1954-06-30   Lausanne   Uruguay 4–2 (a.e.t.) 1954 World Cup Czibor, Hidegkuti, Kocsis (2) 50,000
1954-07-04   Bern   West Germany 2–3 1954 World Cup Puskás, Czibor 65,000
1954-09-19   Budapest   Romania 5–1 Friendly Kocsis (2), Hidegkuti (2), Budai 93,000
1954-09-19   Moscow   Soviet Union 1–1 Friendly Kocsis 85,000
1954-10-10   Budapest   Switzerland 3–0 Friendly Kocsis (2), Bozsik 94,000
1954-10-24   Budapest   Czechoslovakia 4–1 Friendly Kocsis (3), Sándor 93,000
1954-11-14   Budapest   Austria 4–1 Friendly Kocsis, Czibor, Sándor, Palotás 94,000
1954-12-08   Glasgow   Scotland 4–2 Friendly Kocsis, Hidegkuti, Bozsik, Sándor 134,000
1955-04-24   Vienna   Austria 2–2 Central European Cup Hidegkuti, Fenyvesi 65,000
1955-05-08   Oslo   Norway 5–0 Friendly Puskás, Kocsis, Palotás (2), Tichy 34,000
1955-05-11   Stockholm   Sweden 7–3 Friendly Puskás (2), Kocsis (3), Hidegkuti, Szojka 40,000
1955-05-15   Copenhagen   Denmark 6–0 Friendly Kocsis (2), Sándor (3), Palotás 41,000
1955-05-19   Helsinki   Finland 9–1 Friendly Palotás (3), Puskás, Tichy (2), Csordás (2), J. Tóth 30,000
1955-05-29   Budapest   Scotland 3–1 Friendly Kocsis, Hidegkuti, Fenyvesi 100,000
1955-09-17   Budapest   Switzerland 5–4 Central European Cup Puskás (2), Kocsis, Machos (2) 45,000
1955-09-25   Budapest   Soviet Union 1–1 Friendly Puskás 103,000
1955-10-02   Prague   Czechoslovakia 3–1 Central European Cup Kocsis, Tichy, Czibor 50,000
1955-10-16   Budapest   Austria 6–1 Central European Cup Kocsis, Puskás, Czibor (2), Tichy, J. Tóth 104,000
1955-11-13   Budapest   Sweden 4–2 Friendly Puskás, Tichy, Czibor (2) 90,000
1955-11-27   Budapest   Italy 2–0 Central European Cup Puskás, J. Tóth 103,000
1956-06-03   Brussels   Belgium 4–5 Friendly Puskás, Kocsis (2), Budai 75,000
1956-09-23   Moscow   Soviet Union 1–0 Friendly Czibor 105,000

Records and statistics

 
Memorial of the Aranycsapat in Szeged, Hungary
  • World Record: (June 4, 1950 to Feb 19 1956) 42 victories, 7 draws, 1 defeat ("Miracle of Bern") – 91.0% winning percentage ratio.
    • Team Record (June 4, 1950 to July 3, 1954) 31 game undefeated narrative.
  • World Record: most consecutive games scoring at least one goal: 73 games (April 10, 1949 to June 16, 1957).
  • World Record: longest time undefeated in 20th and 21st centuries: 4 years 1 month (June 4, 1950 to July 4, 1954).
  • World Record: most collaborative goals scored between two starting players (Ferenc Puskás & Sándor Kocsis) on same national side (159 goals).
  • World Record: Highest rating ever attained in the sport's history using the Elo rating system for national teams with 2230 points on June 30, 1954.
 
Hungarian pennant for the 1954 World Cup.
  • 20th Century Record: Hungary manager Gusztáv Sebes holds the highest ratio of victories per game past 30 matches with 82.58% (49 wins, 11, draws, 6 defeats). Brazil legend Vicente Feola (1955–1966) owns the second highest with 81.25 (46 wins, 12 draws, 6 defeats).
  • 20th Century Record: Most International Goals: Ferenc Puskás (84 goals).
  • World Cup Record: 27 goals scored in a single World Cup finals tournament.
  • World Cup Record: 5.4 goals-per-match in a single World Cup finals tournament.
  • World Cup Record: +17 goal differential in a single World Cup finals tournament.
  • World Cup Record: 2.2 goals-per-match average for individual goal scoring in a single World Cup finals tournament (Sándor Kocsis 11 goals in 5 games).
  • World Cup Record: highest margin of victory ever recorded in a World Cup finals tournament match ( Hungary 9, South Korea 0 – July 17, 1954).
  • World Cup Precedent: first national team to defeat two-time and reigning World Cup champion Uruguay in a World Cup finals tournament (Hungary 4, Uruguay 2, semi-final — July 30, 1954).
  • World Cup Precedent: Sándor Kocsis, first player to score two hat tricks in a World Cup finals tournament (Hungary 8, West Germany 3 – July 20, 1954 & Hungary 9, South Korea 0 – July 17, 1954).
  • National Record: Highest margin of victory recorded by Hungarian national team (Hungary 12, Albania 0 – Sept. 23 1950).
  • Precedent: first national side from outside the British Isles to defeat England at home since the codification of association football in 1863, a span of 90 years (Hungary 6, England 3, see "Match of the Century" – Nov. 25 1953).
    • Hungary's 7–1 defeat of England in Budapest the next year is still England's record defeat.
  • Precedent: first national side in the world to eclipse an 1888 Scottish record of being undefeated in 22 consecutive matches (32 games).
  • Precedent: first non-South American national side to defeat Uruguay (Hungary 4, Uruguay 2, semi-final — July 30, 1954), breaking a 17-game Uruguayan unbeaten run against non-South American competition dating from May 26, 1924.
  • Precedent: first national side to defeat the Soviet Union at home (Hungary 1, Soviet Union 0 – Sept. 23 1956).
  • Precedent: first national team in history to simultaneously host the No.1 and No. 2 world record holders for most goals scored internationally (Ferenc Puskás 84 goals, Sándor Kocsis 75 goals) from May 11, 1955 to October 14, 1956.
  • Team Record vs. Elo Ranked Opponents: (June 4, 1950 – Oct. 14 1956), vs. world Top 10 ranked opponents: 11 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss / vs. world Top 5 opponents: 4 wins, 0 draw, 1 loss.

Honours

Golden Team Media

References

  1. "The greatest international team ever?". BBC Sport. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36387046. 
  2. World Football Elo Ratings; under the columns tab choose "Highest Rank / Rating" as well as "Lowest Rank / Rating"

Bibliography

  • Rogan Taylor, ed. (1998). Puskas on Puskas: The Life and Times of a Footballing Legend. Robson Books. ISBN 1861051565.
  • Terry Crouch, ed. (2006). The World Cup: The Complete History. Aurum Press Ltd. ISBN 1845131495.
  • Michael L. LaBlanc & Richard Henshaw, ed. (1994). The World Encyclopedia of Soccer. Invisible Ink Press. ISBN 0810394421.
  • Jonathan Wilson, ed. (2006). Behind the Curtain: Travels in Eastern European Football. Orion Publishing. ISBN 9780752879451.
  • Rogan Taylor & Andrew War, ed. (1996). Kicking & Screaming: An Oral History of Football in England. Robson Books. ISBN 0860519120.
  • Diego Mariottini, "Tiki-taka Budapest: leggenda, ascesa e declino dell'Ungheria di Puskás", Bradipolibri, 2016, ISBN 9788899146214

Other websites