Ferenc Sas
Encyclopedia
Ferenc Sas - born as Ferenc Sohn, in Argentina known as Francisco "Sas" Sohn - (16 August 1915 in Budapest
- 3 September 1988 in Buenos Aires
) was a Hungarian football player. With the Hungary he played in the final of the World Cup 1938
. With Hungária MTK FC and CA Boca Juniors he won national championships.
, and Roza Sohn. He later hungarised his name, selecting "Sas", the Hungarian word for "Eagle", in order to get easier access to the Hungarian national football team.
The right winger debuted in 1934 with Hungária FC, today's MTK Budapest. He impressed with his speed and technical abilities, one-on-ones were not his strength. He played in the front row alongside Pál Titkos
and the Austrian Heinrich "Wudi" Müller
in the team coached by Alfréd Schaffer
that won the Hungarian Championships of 1936 and 1937.
In April 1936 Sas played for the first time for the national team, alongside Jenö Vincze on the right outfield, defeating Austria 5-3. A few days later in a match against Ireland he scores his first goal for the Magyars. Sas remained part of the Hungarian standard formation for the next two years.
In 1937 he was part of a Central-European selection that played in Amsterdam against a Western-European XI. In this match, which was organised by FIFA
, he contributed with assists from György Sárosi and Italy's Silvio Piola
two goals to the 3:1 victory of his side.
In 1938 he participated with Hungary at the World Cup in Italy
. After 6-0 and 2-0 wins against Dutch India
(today's Indonesia) and Switzerland, Hungary, coached by Alfréd Schaffer, defeated Sweden in the semi-final 5-1, Sas scoring the 2-1 lead. Despite of the support of the majority of the crowd, in the final Hungary had little chance against Italy led by Giuseppe Meazza
and Silvio Piola
, arguably two of the greatest players of the era, and lost 2-4.
After the World Cup he migrated to Argentina. In December 1938 he debuted in a friendly for CA Boca Juniors. In the ensuing season he played 24 matches for the Juniors, scoring 9 goals, sharing the club's top scorer honours with two other players. The following season won the championship of Argentina. Sas, now called Francisco Sohn, however faced strong competition within the team and only played for league matches in that season. A friendly in March 1941 was his last match for Boca Juniors.
From the beginning of 1943 he played for three seasons in the second division with Argentinos Juniors
. There he scored 12 goals in 72 matches. He continued to play at amateur level with Macabi, where he also coached. He also coached at the Colegio David Wolfsohn.
In Argentina he married his fiance who followed him from Hungary with whom he had a son and three grandchildren. In later years he worked for the renown clothing store Raitor, cinemas and a jeweller's store.
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
- 3 September 1988 in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
) was a Hungarian football player. With the Hungary he played in the final of the World Cup 1938
1938 FIFA World Cup
The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 June to 19 June. Italy retained the championship, beating Hungary 4–2 in the final.-Host selection:...
. With Hungária MTK FC and CA Boca Juniors he won national championships.
Life
Ferenc Sas was born as the son of Leopold, who fell in world War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and Roza Sohn. He later hungarised his name, selecting "Sas", the Hungarian word for "Eagle", in order to get easier access to the Hungarian national football team.
The right winger debuted in 1934 with Hungária FC, today's MTK Budapest. He impressed with his speed and technical abilities, one-on-ones were not his strength. He played in the front row alongside Pál Titkos
Pál Titkos
Pál Titkos was a Hungarian footballer. He played for MTK Hungária FC and the Hungary national football team. He scored two goals in the 1938 FIFA World Cup, including one in the final itself....
and the Austrian Heinrich "Wudi" Müller
Heinrich Müller (footballer)
Heinrich "Wudi" Müller was an Austrian football player and coach. In the early 1930s he was an albeit minor part of Austria's all conquering Wunderteam. As coach he defined the post-World War II glory period of FK Austria Wien.-Club career:The trained shoemaker played from 1921 to 1935 for Wiener...
in the team coached by Alfréd Schaffer
Alfréd Schaffer
Alfréd Schaffer was a Hungarian footballer who has the distinction of playing for a record number of professional clubs; he played for a total of 21 clubs in a 15 year career which lasted from 1910–1925....
that won the Hungarian Championships of 1936 and 1937.
In April 1936 Sas played for the first time for the national team, alongside Jenö Vincze on the right outfield, defeating Austria 5-3. A few days later in a match against Ireland he scores his first goal for the Magyars. Sas remained part of the Hungarian standard formation for the next two years.
In 1937 he was part of a Central-European selection that played in Amsterdam against a Western-European XI. In this match, which was organised by FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
, he contributed with assists from György Sárosi and Italy's Silvio Piola
Silvio Piola
Silvio Piola was an Italian footballer from Robbio Lomellina, province of Pavia. He is known as a highly prominent figure in the history of Italian football due to several records he set. Piola won the 1938 FIFA World Cup with Italy, scoring two goals in the final.Piola is third in the all-time...
two goals to the 3:1 victory of his side.
In 1938 he participated with Hungary at the World Cup in Italy
1938 FIFA World Cup
The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 June to 19 June. Italy retained the championship, beating Hungary 4–2 in the final.-Host selection:...
. After 6-0 and 2-0 wins against Dutch India
Dutch India
Dutch India is a term used to refer to the settlements and trading posts of the Dutch East India Company on the Indian subcontinent. It is only used as a geographical definition, as there has never been a political authority ruling all Dutch India...
(today's Indonesia) and Switzerland, Hungary, coached by Alfréd Schaffer, defeated Sweden in the semi-final 5-1, Sas scoring the 2-1 lead. Despite of the support of the majority of the crowd, in the final Hungary had little chance against Italy led by Giuseppe Meazza
Giuseppe Meazza
Giuseppe "Peppino" Meazza , also known as il Balilla, was an Italian footballer playing mainly for Internazionale in the 1930s, scoring 242 goals in 365 games for the club. He led Italy to win two World Cups: in 1934 and in 1938, winning the Golden Ball Award in 1934. He is widely considered the...
and Silvio Piola
Silvio Piola
Silvio Piola was an Italian footballer from Robbio Lomellina, province of Pavia. He is known as a highly prominent figure in the history of Italian football due to several records he set. Piola won the 1938 FIFA World Cup with Italy, scoring two goals in the final.Piola is third in the all-time...
, arguably two of the greatest players of the era, and lost 2-4.
After the World Cup he migrated to Argentina. In December 1938 he debuted in a friendly for CA Boca Juniors. In the ensuing season he played 24 matches for the Juniors, scoring 9 goals, sharing the club's top scorer honours with two other players. The following season won the championship of Argentina. Sas, now called Francisco Sohn, however faced strong competition within the team and only played for league matches in that season. A friendly in March 1941 was his last match for Boca Juniors.
From the beginning of 1943 he played for three seasons in the second division with Argentinos Juniors
Argentinos Juniors
Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors is an Argentine football club based in La Paternal, Buenos Aires. Founded on August 15, 1904, the club was originally called the “Martyrs of Chicago”, in homage to the eight anarchists imprisoned or hanged after the 1886 Haymarket Riot in Chicago.-Early...
. There he scored 12 goals in 72 matches. He continued to play at amateur level with Macabi, where he also coached. He also coached at the Colegio David Wolfsohn.
In Argentina he married his fiance who followed him from Hungary with whom he had a son and three grandchildren. In later years he worked for the renown clothing store Raitor, cinemas and a jeweller's store.
External links
- Ferenc Sas (Sohn), EU-Football (List of international matches of Ferenc Sas)
- Sas, Ferenc Sohn - Trayectoria y Biobrafia, Historia de Boca, (all matches of Ferenc Sohn Sas for CABJ)
- Javier Roimiser: Un Húngaro en Argentinos Juniors, Te Acordás Bicho?, 14.9.2010