
Originally Posted by
HodgeyBoy
Can't believe you accuse me of that Renee - I probably knew about is sad demise before you did, what with the time difference!
I remember thinking how sad it was that he lived with Alzheimers - an affect on his mind when his body and his feet had been so lively.
Was also hugely pissed off when I heard that towards the very end of his life Real Madrid had agreed to visit to play a friendly match to raise money for the maestro's continuing care.
Reportedly the game raised thousands, maybe millions of euros but after Real Madrid had (according to the rumour) subtracted their appearance fee there wasn't all that much left.
Walking around that stadium next to Syma Centre was quiet and low-key but really special for me. Like Frank Skinner mentioned; going to a footie stadium is, for him, like going to a great cathedral - you can sense and feel and soak up all the shouts and fears and passions that have been shouted over all the games and years.
it's bizarre for me that Renee is related to him becaue I've admired Puskas for many years when much of the talk about the 'Greatest Ever' would always revolve around Pele-Maradona-Cruyff and Best. On different single individual areas of the game those three may have had an edge but none of them had the complete package like Ferenc Puskas. But football is such an amazing force that conversations like that can never be resolved, any ones opinion is just as good as anyone elses.
apart from Martyn's