Béla Guttmann
Encyclopedia
Béla Guttmann (ˈbeːlɒ ˈɡutmɒnː; 27 January 1899 – 28 August 1981) was a Jewish Hungarian footballer and coach. He played as a midfielder for MTK Hungária FC
, SC Hakoah Wien, Hungary
and several clubs in the United States. However he is perhaps best remembered as a coach and manager of some the world’s leading football
teams, including AC Milan, São Paulo FC
, FC Porto, SL Benfica
and C.A. Peñarol
. His greatest success came with SL Benfica
when he guided them to two successive European Cup
wins in 1961 and in 1962.
Together with Márton Bukovi
and Gusztáv Sebes
, Guttmann formed a triumvirate of radical Hungarian coaches who pioneered the 4–2–4 formation
and he is also credited with mentoring Eusébio. However throughout his career he was never far from controversy. Widely travelled, as both a player and coach, he rarely stayed at a club longer than two seasons, and was quoted as saying the third season is fatal. He was sacked at AC Milan while they were top of Serie A
and he walked out on SL Benfica
after they refused to pay him more money, leaving the club with a curse as he left. He also earned a reputation for his self confidence and his brash style, leading to comparisons with José Mourinho
.
team of the early 1920s. Playing alongside Gyula Mándi
, he helped MTK win Hungarian League
titles in 1920 and 1921. In 1922 he moved to Vienna
to escape the anti-semitism
of the Admiral Horthy
regime and joined the all-Jewish club SC Hakoah Wien. In 1925 he won another league title when Hakoah won the Austrian League
. In April 1926 the SC Hakoah Wien squad sailed to New York to begin a ten-match tour of the United States and on May 1 a crowd of 46,000 watched them play an American Soccer League XI
at the Polo Grounds
. The ASL team won 3–0.
Following the tour Guttmann and several of his teammates decided to stay on in the US. After initially playing for Brooklyn Wanderers
, he signed for the New York Giants
of the American Soccer League
, playing 83 games and scoring 2 goals over two seasons. In 1928, the Giants were suspended from the ASL as part of the "Soccer War", a dispute pitting the ASL and United States Soccer Federation
. Guttman and the Giants joined the Eastern Soccer League, but he soon moved to New York Hakoah
, a team made-up of former SC Hakoah Wien players, including Rudolph Nickolsburger
. In 1929 he helped them win the U.S. Open Cup
(then known as National Challenge Cup). After a merger with Brooklyn Hakoah
, they became the Hakoah All-Stars
in 1930. In the fall of 1930 Guttman rejoined the Giants, now known as the New York Soccer Club
, but was back at the All-Stars in the spring of 1931 where he finished his career as a player. As well as playing football, while in New York, Guttmann also bought into a speakeasy
and almost lost everything after the Wall Street Crash of 1929
.
, scoring on his debut on 5 June 1921 in a 3–0 win against Germany
. Later in the same month he also played against a Southern Germany XI. His remaining four appearances all came in May 1924 in games against Switzerland
, Saarland
, Poland
and Egypt. The latter two were at the Olympic Games
in Paris. During the preparations for the competition Guttmann objected to the fact that there were more officials than players in the Hungary squad. He also complained that the hotel was more suitable for socialising than match preparation and to demonstrate his disapproval he hung dead rats on the doors of the travelling officials.
, he had his first serious success with Újpest FC
in the 1938–39 season, winning the Hungarian League
and the Mitropa Cup
. How Guttman spent the war years in unclear. Although his elder brother died in a concentration camp, Guttmann himself is said to have escaped to Switzerland where he was interned.
After the war Guttmann briefly took charge at Vasas SC
, before joining Ciocanul
in Romania
. Due to food shortages, Guttman insisted his salary be paid in vegetables. He subsequently walked out on the Romanian club after a director attempted to intervene in team selection. He then rejoined Újpest FC
then known as Újpesti TE, and won another Hungarian League
title before succeeding Ferenc Puskás Sr.
as coach at Kispest AC
. However he fell out with Ferenc Puskás Jr.
, again over team selection, and once again Guttmann walked.
and U.S. Triestina Calcio
, he was appointed manager of AC Milan in 1953. With a team that included Gunnar Nordahl
, Nils Liedholm
and Juan Alberto Schiaffino
, Guttmann had them top of Serie A
nineteen games into his second season in charge when a string of disputes with the board led to his dismissal. He later told a stunned press conference "I have been sacked even though I am neither a criminal nor a homosexual. Goodbye." From then on he insisted on a clause in his contract that he could not be sacked if his team were top of the table. He subsequently managed a fourth Italian club Vicenza Calcio
.
in the summer of 1930. In 1957 he returned as a coach with the legendary Honvéd
team that included Ferenc Puskás
, Zoltán Czibor
, Sándor Kocsis
, József Bozsik
, László Budai
, Gyula Lóránt
and Gyula Grosics
. During a tour of Brazil
, Honvéd played a series of five games against CR Flamengo
, Botafogo
and a Flamengo / Botafogo XI.
Guttmann then stayed on in Brazil and took charge of São Paulo FC
and with a team that included Dino Sani
, Mauro
and Zizinho
, won the São Paulo State Championship
in 1957. It was while in Brazil that he helped popularise the 4–2–4 formation
, which had been pioneered by fellow countrymen Márton Bukovi
and Gusztáv Sebes
, and was subsequently used by Brazil
as they won the 1958 FIFA World Cup
. Before finally retiring as coach, in 1962 Guttmann would return to South America to manage C.A. Peñarol
, but was replaced in October by Peregrino Anselmo
, who guided the side to the Uruguayan League
title that very year.
to win his first of three Portuguese League
titles in 1959. The following season he jumped ship and joined SL Benfica. There he promptly sacked twenty senior players, promoted a host of youth players and won the league again in 1960 and 1961. Under Guttmann, SL Benfica, with a team that included Eusébio, José Águas
, José Augusto
, Costa Pereira
, António Simões
, Germano
and Mário Coluna
, also won the European Cup
twice in a row. In 1961 they beat FC Barcelona
3–2 in the final and in 1962 they retained the title, coming from 2–0 and 3–2 down to beat Real Madrid 5–3.
Legend has it that Guttmann signed Eusébio after a chance meeting in a barber
shop. Seated next to Guttman was José Carlos Bauer
, one of his successors at São Paulo
. The Brazilian team were on tour in Portugal and the coach mentioned an outstanding player he had seen while they toured Mozambique
. Eusébio had also attracted the interest of Sporting Lisbon. Guttman moved quickly and signed the then nineteen-year old player for Benfica.
After the 1962 final Guttmann approached the Benfica board of directors and asked for more money but, despite the success he had bought the club, he was turned down. On leaving Benfica he allegedly cursed the club, declaring "Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever win a European Cup". Despite being finalists on five occasions – 1963, 1965, 1968, 1988 and 1990 – Benfica have never since won any European Championship. Before the 1990 final, which was played in Vienna
, where Guttmann was buried, Eusébio even prayed unsuccessfully at his grave
and asked for the curse to be broken.
SC Hakoah Wien
New York Hakoah
São Paulo
Porto
Benfica
MTK Hungária FC
MTK Budapest FC or just MTK is a football club from Budapest, Hungary. The team plays in the second division of the Hungarian League. The club's colours are blue and white. As one of the most successful Hungarian football clubs, MTK has won the Hungarian League 23 times and the Hungarian Cup 12...
, SC Hakoah Wien, Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
and several clubs in the United States. However he is perhaps best remembered as a coach and manager of some the world’s leading football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
teams, including AC Milan, São Paulo FC
São Paulo Futebol Clube
São Paulo Futebol Clube , commonly known as São Paulo, is a professional football club based in São Paulo, Brazil. They play in the Campeonato Paulista, São Paulo's state league, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão, Brazil's national league, and are one of the only five clubs to...
, FC Porto, SL Benfica
SL Benfica
Sport Lisboa e Benfica , commonly known as simply Benfica or occasionally as Benfica Lisbon, is a Portuguese multi-sports club based in Lisbon. Although they successfully compete in a number of different sports, Benfica is mostly known for its association football team...
and C.A. Peñarol
C.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
. His greatest success came with SL Benfica
SL Benfica
Sport Lisboa e Benfica , commonly known as simply Benfica or occasionally as Benfica Lisbon, is a Portuguese multi-sports club based in Lisbon. Although they successfully compete in a number of different sports, Benfica is mostly known for its association football team...
when he guided them to two successive European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
wins in 1961 and in 1962.
Together with Márton Bukovi
Márton Bukovi
Márton Bukovi was a Hungarian association football player and manager. After playing for Ferencvárosi TC, FC Sète and Hungary he became a coach, most notably with Građanski Zagreb, MTK Hungária FC and Hungary...
and Gusztáv Sebes
Gusztáv Sebes
Gusztáv Sebes was a Hungarian footballer and coach. With the title of Deputy Minister of Sport, he coached the Hungarian team known as the Mighty Magyars in the 1950s. Among the players in the team were Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis, József Bozsik, and Nándor Hidegkuti...
, Guttmann formed a triumvirate of radical Hungarian coaches who pioneered the 4–2–4 formation
Formation (football)
In association football, the formation describes how the players in a team are positioned on the pitch. Different formations can be used depending on whether a team wishes to play more attacking or defensive football....
and he is also credited with mentoring Eusébio. However throughout his career he was never far from controversy. Widely travelled, as both a player and coach, he rarely stayed at a club longer than two seasons, and was quoted as saying the third season is fatal. He was sacked at AC Milan while they were top of Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
and he walked out on SL Benfica
SL Benfica
Sport Lisboa e Benfica , commonly known as simply Benfica or occasionally as Benfica Lisbon, is a Portuguese multi-sports club based in Lisbon. Although they successfully compete in a number of different sports, Benfica is mostly known for its association football team...
after they refused to pay him more money, leaving the club with a curse as he left. He also earned a reputation for his self confidence and his brash style, leading to comparisons with José Mourinho
José Mourinho
José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho is a Portuguese football manager and the current manager of Real Madrid. He is commonly known as "The Special One".Mourinho is regarded by some players, coaches and critics as the best ever coach in football....
.
Club career
Guttmann was a prominent member of the MTK Hungária FCMTK Hungária FC
MTK Budapest FC or just MTK is a football club from Budapest, Hungary. The team plays in the second division of the Hungarian League. The club's colours are blue and white. As one of the most successful Hungarian football clubs, MTK has won the Hungarian League 23 times and the Hungarian Cup 12...
team of the early 1920s. Playing alongside Gyula Mándi
Gyula Mándi
Gyula Mándi, also referred to as Mándi Gyula or Julius Mandel was a Hungarian footballer and manager.-Player:Mándi was part of the greatest era of MTK, the 1920s and 1930s...
, he helped MTK win Hungarian League
Hungarian League
The Nemzeti Bajnokság is a Hungarian professional league for association football clubs. The league is currently known as the OTP Bank Liga for sponsorship reasons, and it is the highest level of professional league since its inception in 1901. UEFA currently ranks the league 35th in Europe.Sixteen...
titles in 1920 and 1921. In 1922 he moved to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
to escape the anti-semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
of the Admiral Horthy
Miklós Horthy
Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya was the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary during the interwar years and throughout most of World War II, serving from 1 March 1920 to 15 October 1944. Horthy was styled "His Serene Highness the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary" .Admiral Horthy was an officer of the...
regime and joined the all-Jewish club SC Hakoah Wien. In 1925 he won another league title when Hakoah won the Austrian League
Austrian football champions
The Austrian football champions are the winners of the highest league of football in Austria. The championship has been contested through the Austrian Football Bundesliga since the 1974–1975 season.-History:...
. In April 1926 the SC Hakoah Wien squad sailed to New York to begin a ten-match tour of the United States and on May 1 a crowd of 46,000 watched them play an American Soccer League XI
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
at the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
. The ASL team won 3–0.
Following the tour Guttmann and several of his teammates decided to stay on in the US. After initially playing for Brooklyn Wanderers
Brooklyn Wanderers
The Brooklyn Wanderers was a U.S. soccer team which was a founding member of the National Association Football League in the late nineteenth century. It later joined the American Soccer League.-History:...
, he signed for the New York Giants
New York Giants (soccer)
New York Giants was a name used by three different New York soccer teams. Two of these teams were associated with the New York Giants baseball franchise. The first team that used the name played in the American League of Professional Football in 1894...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
, playing 83 games and scoring 2 goals over two seasons. In 1928, the Giants were suspended from the ASL as part of the "Soccer War", a dispute pitting the ASL and United States Soccer Federation
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
. Guttman and the Giants joined the Eastern Soccer League, but he soon moved to New York Hakoah
New York Hakoah
New York Hakoah is a former United States soccer club based in New York City.-New York Hakoah I:Originally formed by former players from SC Hakoah Wien, including among others Béla Guttmann and Rudolph Nickolsburger, they initially played in the Eastern Soccer League in the fall of 1928. In 1929...
, a team made-up of former SC Hakoah Wien players, including Rudolph Nickolsburger
Rudolph Nickolsburger
Rudolph Nickolsburger , also referred to as Nikolsburger Rezső and Rudy Nichols, is a former Hungarian footballer who played for Ferencvárosi TC, SC Hakoah Wien and Hungary...
. In 1929 he helped them win the U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
(then known as National Challenge Cup). After a merger with Brooklyn Hakoah
Brooklyn Hakoah
Brooklyn Hakoah is a former United States soccer team club based in Brooklyn, New York that played in the American Soccer League.-Brooklyn Hakoah I:Originally formed by former players of SC Hakoah Wien, they played in the American Soccer League in 1929...
, they became the Hakoah All-Stars
Hakoah All-Stars
Hakoah All-Stars is a former United States football club that played in the American Soccer League between 1930 and 1932. The club was formed after the merger of Brooklyn Hakoah of the ASL and New York Hakoah of the Eastern Soccer League...
in 1930. In the fall of 1930 Guttman rejoined the Giants, now known as the New York Soccer Club
New York Soccer Club
New York Soccer Club was the name of a New York soccer team that, in 1930, played briefly in the American Soccer League. Between 1923 and 1930 they had been known as the New York Giants. In 1930 they merged with the Fall River Marksmen to become the New York Yankees. Then in 1931 this club absorbed...
, but was back at the All-Stars in the spring of 1931 where he finished his career as a player. As well as playing football, while in New York, Guttmann also bought into a speakeasy
Speakeasy
A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages. Such establishments came into prominence in the United States during the period known as Prohibition...
and almost lost everything after the Wall Street Crash of 1929
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
.
Hungarian International
Between 1921 and 1924 Guttman also played six times for HungaryHungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, scoring on his debut on 5 June 1921 in a 3–0 win against Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
. Later in the same month he also played against a Southern Germany XI. His remaining four appearances all came in May 1924 in games against Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
, Saarland
Saarland national football team
The Saarland national football team was the association football team representing Saarland from 1950 to 1956 during the French occupation following World War II...
, Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
and Egypt. The latter two were at the Olympic Games
Football at the 1924 Summer Olympics
At the 1924 Summer Olympics held in Paris, Uruguay dominated the Football tournament winning the Gold.-Amateur Status:In 1921, the Belgium Football Association first allowed for payments to players for time lost from work; in the months that followed four other Associations permitted similar...
in Paris. During the preparations for the competition Guttmann objected to the fact that there were more officials than players in the Hungary squad. He also complained that the hotel was more suitable for socialising than match preparation and to demonstrate his disapproval he hung dead rats on the doors of the travelling officials.
A Return to Europe
Guttmann returned to Europe in 1932 and in the years before the outbreak of the Second World War he coached teams in Austria, The Netherlands and Hungary . After spells with his former club SC Hakoah Wien and then SC EnschedeFC Twente
FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys...
, he had his first serious success with Újpest FC
Újpest FC
Újpest Football Club , earlier known as Újpesti TE and Újpesti Dózsa, is a Hungarian football club, based in Újpest, Budapest. The club's colours are purple and white...
in the 1938–39 season, winning the Hungarian League
Hungarian League
The Nemzeti Bajnokság is a Hungarian professional league for association football clubs. The league is currently known as the OTP Bank Liga for sponsorship reasons, and it is the highest level of professional league since its inception in 1901. UEFA currently ranks the league 35th in Europe.Sixteen...
and the Mitropa Cup
Mitropa Cup
The Mitropa Cup, officially called the La Coupe de l'Europe Centrale was one of the first really international major European football cups for club sides...
. How Guttman spent the war years in unclear. Although his elder brother died in a concentration camp, Guttmann himself is said to have escaped to Switzerland where he was interned.
After the war Guttmann briefly took charge at Vasas SC
Vasas SC
Vasas SC is one of Hungary's major sports clubs. Most of its facilities are situated in Budapest's 13th district in the north of the town. Members of the Hungarian Union of Iron Workers founded the club as Vas-és Fémmunkások Sport Clubja, the "Sport Club of Iron and Steel Workers", on 16 March 1911...
, before joining Ciocanul
Maccabi Bucuresti
Maccabi or Macabi Bucureşti, later known as Ciocanul, was a Romanian sport club, representing the Jewish community, akin to the famous Hakoah Vienna...
in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. Due to food shortages, Guttman insisted his salary be paid in vegetables. He subsequently walked out on the Romanian club after a director attempted to intervene in team selection. He then rejoined Újpest FC
Újpest FC
Újpest Football Club , earlier known as Újpesti TE and Újpesti Dózsa, is a Hungarian football club, based in Újpest, Budapest. The club's colours are purple and white...
then known as Újpesti TE, and won another Hungarian League
Hungarian League
The Nemzeti Bajnokság is a Hungarian professional league for association football clubs. The league is currently known as the OTP Bank Liga for sponsorship reasons, and it is the highest level of professional league since its inception in 1901. UEFA currently ranks the league 35th in Europe.Sixteen...
title before succeeding Ferenc Puskás Sr.
Ferenc Puskás I
Ferenc Puskás I, born Ferenc Purczeld, also referred to as Puskás Ferenc , was a Hungarian football player and manager. He was the father of the legendary Ferenc Puskás Biro, who is commonly referred to as Ferenc Puskás....
as coach at Kispest AC
Budapest Honvéd FC
Budapest Honvéd FC |football]] team. "Honved" means the Homeland Defense. Originally formed as Kispest AC, they became Kispest FC in 1926 before reverting to their original name in 1944. The team enjoyed a golden age during the 1950s when it was renamed Budapest Honvéd SE and became the Hungarian...
. However he fell out with Ferenc Puskás Jr.
Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, and 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and was a World Cup finalist in 1954...
, again over team selection, and once again Guttmann walked.
Italy
Like many other Hungarian footballers and coaches, Guttmann spent time in Italy. After spells with Calcio PadovaCalcio Padova
Calcio Padova is an Italian football club, based in Padua, Veneto. The club was founded in 1910. Padova is playing in Serie B, having last been in Serie A in 1996...
and U.S. Triestina Calcio
U.S. Triestina Calcio
Unione Sportiva Triestina is an Italian football club based in Trieste, in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.It is in the season 2010-11 from Serie B, having returned there in 2002 after 11 seasons in Serie C and Serie D, the club was relegated to Lega Pro Prima Divisione.-History:The club was...
, he was appointed manager of AC Milan in 1953. With a team that included Gunnar Nordahl
Gunnar Nordahl
Gunnar Nordahl was a Swedish football player, best known for his play in AC Milan 1949-1956.-Sweden:...
, Nils Liedholm
Nils Liedholm
Nils Liedholm was a Swedish football midfielder and coach. Il Barone , as he is affectionately known in Italy, was renowned for being part of Sweden's "Gre-No-Li" trio of strikers along with Gunnar Gren and Gunnar Nordahl at A.C. Milan and the Swedish national team...
and Juan Alberto Schiaffino
Juan Alberto Schiaffino
Juan Alberto "Pepe" Schiaffino Villano was an Italian Uruguayan football player. He played inside forward, in particular with CA Peñarol and AC Milan, and won the 1950 FIFA World Cup with the Uruguayan national team...
, Guttmann had them top of Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
nineteen games into his second season in charge when a string of disputes with the board led to his dismissal. He later told a stunned press conference "I have been sacked even though I am neither a criminal nor a homosexual. Goodbye." From then on he insisted on a clause in his contract that he could not be sacked if his team were top of the table. He subsequently managed a fourth Italian club Vicenza Calcio
Vicenza Calcio
Vicenza Calcio is an Italian football club based in Vicenza, Veneto. The club was formed in 1902 and currently plays in Italy's Serie B, having spent the entire 1960s and a large part of the 1990s in Serie A...
.
South America
Guttmann first went to South America on tour with the Hakoah All-StarsHakoah All-Stars
Hakoah All-Stars is a former United States football club that played in the American Soccer League between 1930 and 1932. The club was formed after the merger of Brooklyn Hakoah of the ASL and New York Hakoah of the Eastern Soccer League...
in the summer of 1930. In 1957 he returned as a coach with the legendary Honvéd
Budapest Honvéd FC
Budapest Honvéd FC |football]] team. "Honved" means the Homeland Defense. Originally formed as Kispest AC, they became Kispest FC in 1926 before reverting to their original name in 1944. The team enjoyed a golden age during the 1950s when it was renamed Budapest Honvéd SE and became the Hungarian...
team that included Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, and 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and was a World Cup finalist in 1954...
, Zoltán Czibor
Zoltán Czibor
Zoltán Czibor Suhai , also referred to as Czibor Zoltán, was a Hungarian footballer who played for several Hungarian clubs, including Ferencváros TC and Honvéd, and Hungary before joining CF Barcelona. Czibor played as a left-winger or striker and was notable for having a powerful shot, good...
, Sándor Kocsis
Sándor Kocsis
Sándor Kocsis Péter was a Hungarian footballer who played for Ferencváros TC, Budapest Honvéd, Young Fellows Zürich, FC Barcelona and Hungary. During the 1950s, along with Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, József Bozsik and Nándor Hidegkuti, he was a member of the Mighty Magyars...
, József Bozsik
József Bozsik
József Bozsik was a Hungarian footballer. He represented Hungary in various international tournaments, and is a member of the Mighty Magyars.-Biography:...
, László Budai
László Budai
László Budai , also referred to as László Bednarik, Budai László or Budai II is a former Hungarian footballer and coach. Budai was born in Budapest and played as a midfielder and forward for Ferencvárosi TC, Honvéd and Hungary. During the 1950s he was a member of the legendary Hungarian national...
, Gyula Lóránt
Gyula Lóránt
Gyula Lóránt , also referred to as Gyula Lipovics or Lóránt Gyula, was a Hungarian football player and manager...
and Gyula Grosics
Gyula Grosics
Gyula Grosics is a Hungarian former football goalkeeper who played 86 times for the Hungarian national football team and was part of the legendary Golden Team of the 1950s. He was nicknamed the Black Panther ....
. During a tour of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Honvéd played a series of five games against CR Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo , also known as Flamengo and familiarly as Mengão, is a Brazilian sports club based in the Flamengo bairro, Zona Sul, Rio de Janeiro, best known for its professional football team...
, Botafogo
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas , also known as Botafogo and familiarly as Estrela Solitária, is a Brazilian sports club based in Botafogo, neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, best known for its football team. They play in the Campeonato Carioca, Rio de Janeiro's state league, and the Campeonato...
and a Flamengo / Botafogo XI.
Guttmann then stayed on in Brazil and took charge of São Paulo FC
São Paulo Futebol Clube
São Paulo Futebol Clube , commonly known as São Paulo, is a professional football club based in São Paulo, Brazil. They play in the Campeonato Paulista, São Paulo's state league, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão, Brazil's national league, and are one of the only five clubs to...
and with a team that included Dino Sani
Dino Sani
Dino Sani is a former Brazilian footballer and coach.He started his career at local club Palmeiras, XV de Jaú, Commercial-SP and São Paulo FC, and played in the Argentine First Division for Boca Juniors in 1961, where he played 13 games, scoring 4 goals...
, Mauro
Mauro Ramos
Mauro Ramos, full name Mauro Ramos de Oliveira, was an association footballer. He played centre-back for São Paulo F.C., Santos F.C. and the Brazilian national team....
and Zizinho
Zizinho
Thomaz Soares da Silva, also known as Zizinho , was a Brazilian football player, who played as an attacking midfielder or winger for Brazil's national team. He came to international prominence at the 1950 World Cup, where scored two goals...
, won the São Paulo State Championship
Campeonato Paulista
The Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1, simply known as the Campeonato Paulista, is the top-flight professional football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The league is contested between 20 clubs and typically lasts from January to April...
in 1957. It was while in Brazil that he helped popularise the 4–2–4 formation
Formation (football)
In association football, the formation describes how the players in a team are positioned on the pitch. Different formations can be used depending on whether a team wishes to play more attacking or defensive football....
, which had been pioneered by fellow countrymen Márton Bukovi
Márton Bukovi
Márton Bukovi was a Hungarian association football player and manager. After playing for Ferencvárosi TC, FC Sète and Hungary he became a coach, most notably with Građanski Zagreb, MTK Hungária FC and Hungary...
and Gusztáv Sebes
Gusztáv Sebes
Gusztáv Sebes was a Hungarian footballer and coach. With the title of Deputy Minister of Sport, he coached the Hungarian team known as the Mighty Magyars in the 1950s. Among the players in the team were Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis, József Bozsik, and Nándor Hidegkuti...
, and was subsequently used by Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
as they won the 1958 FIFA World Cup
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
. Before finally retiring as coach, in 1962 Guttmann would return to South America to manage C.A. Peñarol
C.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
, but was replaced in October by Peregrino Anselmo
Peregrino Anselmo
Juan Peregrino Anselmo was a striker for Uruguay who was a member of the champion squad at the 1930 FIFA World Cup, as he scored 3 goals in the tournament, including 2 in the semi-finals. He also won the gold medal with Uruguay at the 1928 Summer Olympics. He was a player and later coach of C.A....
, who guided the side to the Uruguayan League
Primera División Uruguaya
The Liga Profesional de Primera División , also known as the Primera División Uruguaya or Primera División de Uruguay , is a professional football league in Uruguay at the top of the country's football league system. It is organized by the Uruguayan Football Association and is contested by 16 teams...
title that very year.
Portugal
In 1958, Guttmann arrived in Portugal and embarked on the most successful spell of his career. He took charge of FC Porto and helped them overhaul a five point lead enjoyed by SL BenficaSL Benfica
Sport Lisboa e Benfica , commonly known as simply Benfica or occasionally as Benfica Lisbon, is a Portuguese multi-sports club based in Lisbon. Although they successfully compete in a number of different sports, Benfica is mostly known for its association football team...
to win his first of three Portuguese League
Portuguese Liga
The Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
titles in 1959. The following season he jumped ship and joined SL Benfica. There he promptly sacked twenty senior players, promoted a host of youth players and won the league again in 1960 and 1961. Under Guttmann, SL Benfica, with a team that included Eusébio, José Águas
José Águas
José Pinto de Carvalho Santos Águas was a Portuguese footballer who played as a striker.He endured a lengthy professional spell with Benfica, never scoring less than 18 goals in his first division seasons.-Football career:...
, José Augusto
José Augusto
José Augusto |Barreiro]]) is a former Portuguese footballer and a current coach. He was one of the top players in the legendary S.L. Benfica "Dream Team" and the Portuguese national football team during the 1960s.- Player:...
, Costa Pereira
Costa Pereira
Alberto da Costa Pereira was a Portuguese football goalkeeper....
, António Simões
António Simões
António José Simões da Costa ; born Corroios, 14 December 1943) is a Portuguese footballer and a current coach. He played as a left winger for Benfica, from 1961/62 to 1974/75. With only 1.58 m of height, he is seen as the first "Giant Gnome" of Portuguese football, before Rui Barros...
, Germano
Germano
Germano Luís de Figueiredo , commonly known by just Germano , was a Portuguese central defender, considered by many one of the best Portuguese football players of all time...
and Mário Coluna
Mário Coluna
Mário Esteves Coluna is a former Portuguese and Mozambican footballer. He was primarily a left-half and was nicknamed the "O Monstro Sagrado" .-Career:...
, also won the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
twice in a row. In 1961 they beat FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
3–2 in the final and in 1962 they retained the title, coming from 2–0 and 3–2 down to beat Real Madrid 5–3.
Legend has it that Guttmann signed Eusébio after a chance meeting in a barber
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
shop. Seated next to Guttman was José Carlos Bauer
José Carlos Bauer
José Carlos Bauer, commonly known as Bauer was a former Brazilian football player and manager. Born in São Paulo, he was the son of a Swiss man and an Afro-Brazilian woman....
, one of his successors at São Paulo
São Paulo Futebol Clube
São Paulo Futebol Clube , commonly known as São Paulo, is a professional football club based in São Paulo, Brazil. They play in the Campeonato Paulista, São Paulo's state league, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão, Brazil's national league, and are one of the only five clubs to...
. The Brazilian team were on tour in Portugal and the coach mentioned an outstanding player he had seen while they toured Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. Eusébio had also attracted the interest of Sporting Lisbon. Guttman moved quickly and signed the then nineteen-year old player for Benfica.
After the 1962 final Guttmann approached the Benfica board of directors and asked for more money but, despite the success he had bought the club, he was turned down. On leaving Benfica he allegedly cursed the club, declaring "Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever win a European Cup". Despite being finalists on five occasions – 1963, 1965, 1968, 1988 and 1990 – Benfica have never since won any European Championship. Before the 1990 final, which was played in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where Guttmann was buried, Eusébio even prayed unsuccessfully at his grave
Grave (burial)
A grave is a location where a dead body is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries....
and asked for the curse to be broken.
Player
MTK Hungária FC- Hungarian LeagueHungarian LeagueThe Nemzeti Bajnokság is a Hungarian professional league for association football clubs. The league is currently known as the OTP Bank Liga for sponsorship reasons, and it is the highest level of professional league since its inception in 1901. UEFA currently ranks the league 35th in Europe.Sixteen...
: 2- 1919–20, 1920–21
SC Hakoah Wien
- Austrian Champions: 1
- 1924–25
New York Hakoah
- U.S. Open CupLamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
: 1- 19291929 National Challenge CupThe 1928–29 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. This edition of the soccer tournament featured 100 entrants...
- 1929
Manager
Újpest FC/Újpesti TE- Hungarian League: 2
- 1938–39Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1938-39-Final standings:P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points-External links:*...
, 1946–47Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1946-47-Final standings:P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points-External links:*...
- 1938–39
- Mitropa CupMitropa CupThe Mitropa Cup, officially called the La Coupe de l'Europe Centrale was one of the first really international major European football cups for club sides...
: 1- 1939
São Paulo
- São Paulo State ChampionsCampeonato PaulistaThe Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1, simply known as the Campeonato Paulista, is the top-flight professional football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The league is contested between 20 clubs and typically lasts from January to April...
: 1- 1957
Porto
- Portuguese LigaPortuguese LigaThe Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
: 1- 1958–59
Benfica
- European ChampionsUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 2- 1960–61, 1961–62
- Portuguese LigaPortuguese LigaThe Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
: 2- 1959–60, 1960–61
- Portuguese Cup: 1
- 1961-62
See also
- List of select Jewish football (association; soccer) players
External links
- Guttmann at United States Soccer Hall of Fame
- Guttmann at www.jewsinsports.org
- Guttmann at www.jewishsports.net
- A Guttmann these days is hard to find by Jonathan Wilson
- Unofficial International Appearance
- UEFA biography
- Biographical article on Guttmann, Bremen University (in German)
- John Lambie Hall of Fame