One hundred years ago, in 1925, a boy was born in Kispest who would become not only one of the brightest stars of Hungarian football, but of world sporting history as a whole: József Bozsik, or “Cucu” as the world came to know him. The “brain” of the Golden Team, born among the “city houses” of Kispest, he grew up on the Lipták field next to the KAC ground. He linked his entire life and career to his beloved Kispest. Alongside Ferenc Puskás, he was the greatest figure in the club’s history, a footballer who never signed for another club.
Kispesti AC signed him in 1936. Because of his older brother, goalkeeper István Bozsik, he played for the red-and-blacks under the name Bozsik II and soon became a favourite of the team and the supporters. After the war he reached the summit of Hungarian football. During a career rich in success, he won five Hungarian league titles with Honvéd and also lifted the Central European Cup in 1959. In 1952 he was named Footballer of the Year, while in 1956 he finished sixth in the Ballon d’Or voting.
He made his national-team debut against Bulgaria on August 17, 1947. Between 1947 and 1962 he wore the national shirt a then-record 101 times (currently third on the all-time list) and scored 11 goals. Bozsik provided the intelligence and the binding force of the Golden Team. He and Öcsi Puskás understood each other without words; together they were pillars of the world-beating side.
Olympic champion in Helsinki (1952), European Cup winner (1953), and World Cup silver medallist in Bern (1954). He was part of the team that beat England 6–3 at Wembley in 1953 and then 7–1 at the Népstadion in 1954.
On April 18, 1962, he said farewell to international football by scoring in a match against Uruguay. After his playing career he continued to serve Hungarian football as a coach, sports official and national-team manager.
The name József Bozsik remains an institution to this day. His memory is eternal. On the 100th anniversary of his birth, we remember with respect and gratitude the footballer, the man, the brain of the Golden Team.
