Ferenc BENE

Ferenc Bene was a successful striker for Újpesti Dózsa (303 goals in 418 matches) and the Hungarian national team (36 goals in 76 matches). Starting for Dózsa at the highest level in 1961, he quickly established himself as a frequent scorer; he would become top scorer of the Hungarian league five times. He continued to score with the national and Olympic team. When Hungary won the Olympic gold in 1964, he had a big share in the success, scoring twelve goals in five matches, including all six in the 6-0 thrashing of Morocco. Bene had also scored twice at the European Championships earlier that year (where Hungary came third), and would net four times at the 1966 World Cup, where Hungary was eliminated in the quarter-finals. With Dózsa, he would win eight league titles (1969-1975, 1978) and three domestic cups (1969, 1971, 1975). He was twice named Hungarian player of the year (1964, 1969). Leaving the club after the 1978 season, he continued to play for smaller Hungarian teams and enjoyed a brief spell in Finland at Seinäjoki. He then returned to Újpesti to become coach of the second team, and briefly the first team (1991-92).