Description
Few could compete with the playing pedigree of the great Ferenc Puskás, who distinguished himself so notably in the 50s and 60s for Honved, Hungary, and Real Madrid. Upon retiring in 1966, he embarked on a new career in management, but unnoticed stints in Spain and the US did not mark him out as a future management star.
Everything changed when he took the reins of Panathinaikos in 1970. His first season proved miraculous as he led his new troops from the amateur backwaters of European football to the European Cup final, where they would be defeated by the mighty Ajax of Michels and Cruyff.
Puskás may not have succeeded in winning Europe's top prize, but he instilled a new sense of confidence and self-belief into the Greek mentality, convincing them that football in their country could compete with larger and richer leagues. The Hungarian stayed at the club for 4 years and provided them with a national title in 1972.
