Sandor
Kocsis
(Hungary)
Top
scorer in the 1954 World Cup with 11 goals, Sandor
Kocsis was a superb header of the ball and known as
"The Man With The Golden Head". In 68
internationals he scored an incredible 75 goals,
including a record seven hat-tricks. Born in Budapest
in September 1929, he began with KTC before moving to
Ferencvaros and at 19 helped them win the 1949
Hungarian title. After Ferencvaros were amalgamated
into the new Honved team, he established a great
partnership with Ferenc Puskas at both club and
international level.
Kocsis made his international debut in 1949 and in the
early 1950's was the Hungarian league's top scorer
three times. A key member of the Hungarian side that
remained unbeaten from the start of the decade, he was
in the team that beat England 6-3 at Wembley in 1953.
He scored two extra-time goals in the 1954 World Cup
semifinal against Uruguay, but could not add to his
1952 Olympic Gold medal.
In 1956 Honved were playing in Spain during the
Hungarian uprising and Kocsis, Puskas and others
decided not to return home. Kocsis became player-coach
of Young Boys Berne, then joined Barcelona in 1957 and
scored in their defeat by Benfica in the 1961 European
Cup final. He retired in 1966, at the age of 37, and
died in 1978.
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