Flórián Albert facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Flórián Albert

Albert in 1966
Personal information
Full name	Flórián Albert
Date of birth	(1941-09-15)15 September 1941
Place of birth	Hercegszántó, Hungary
Date of death	31 October 2011(2011-10-31) (aged 70)
Place of death	Budapest, Hungary
Height	1.81 m
Playing position	Forward
Youth career
1952–1958	Ferencváros
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1958–1974	Ferencváros	351	(256)
Total		351	(256)
National team
1959–1974	Hungary	75	(31)
Teams managed
1978–82	Al Ahly Benghazi
1985	Al Ahly Benghazi
Honours Representing  Hungary UEFA European Championship Bronze 1964 Spain Olympic Games Bronze 1960 Rome Team Competition
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Flórián Albert (born September 15, 1941 – died October 31, 2011) was a famous Hungarian football player. He was also a manager and sports official. In 1967, he was named the European Footballer of the Year.

People called him "The Emperor" because of his elegant playing style. He played as a forward. Albert spent his entire playing career with Ferencvárosi TC, a club he joined as a schoolboy. He was a true club legend.

He also played for the Hungarian national team, appearing in 75 games and scoring 31 goals. He was a top scorer at the 1962 World Cup. Albert also helped Hungary finish third in the 1964 European Championship.

After he stopped playing, he stayed loyal to Ferencváros. He worked in different roles for the club. In 2007, Ferencváros's stadium was named after him to honor his legacy. Albert passed away in 2011 at the age of 70 after heart surgery.

Early Life and Start in Football

Flórián Albert was born in a small town called Hercegszántó. This town is near the border with what used to be Yugoslavia. His father was a blacksmith.

Flórián first learned to play football with his two brothers. His mother was Hungarian Croat, from a group called Šokci. Sadly, she died when he was only two years old.

Later, his family moved to Budapest. There, Flórián tried out for Ferencvárosi TC, a big football club. He was only 11 years old, but he really impressed the coaches. They chose him to join the club.

A Legendary Football Career

Flórián Albert played his whole club career with Ferencvárosi TC. He was with them from 1952 to 1974. He quickly moved up through the youth teams.

He made his first team debut on November 2, 1958. In that game, he scored two goals! This showed everyone how talented he was.

Playing for Hungary

Soon, the manager of the Hungarian national team, Lajos Baróti, noticed Albert. Flórián got his first call-up to the national team. His first game was on June 28, 1959, against Sweden. Hungary won 3–2, and Albert helped with two assists.

He scored 31 goals in 75 games for Hungary. He won a bronze medal at the 1960 Olympic Games. He also got a bronze medal at the 1964 European Championship.

At the 1962 World Cup, Hungary reached the quarter-finals. Albert was one of the top scorers in the tournament. He won the Golden Boot Award with four goals.

Club Success and European Recognition

Albert's biggest success with Ferencváros came in 1965. His team won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. They beat strong teams like AS Roma and Manchester United F.C. to reach the final. In the final match, they defeated Juventus F.C. 1–0 to win the cup.

In 1966, Albert played in another World Cup in England. He had an amazing game against Brazil. Many people say it was one of the best matches in World Cup history. Hungary won 3–1, and Albert received a standing ovation.

The year 1967 was very special for Flórián Albert. He won the Hungarian Championship with Ferencváros. He was also named Hungarian Player of the Year. In December, he received the Ballon d'Or. This award recognized him as the best footballer in Europe. He won with 68 points, far ahead of Bobby Charlton.

In 1968, Ferencváros reached the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final again. But this time, they lost 1–0 to Leeds United.

Injury and Later Career

On June 15, 1969, Albert suffered a serious leg injury. This happened during a World Cup qualifier against Denmark. He was out of the game for almost a year. After the injury, he found it hard to get back to his best form.

He returned to play in April 1970. His last major tournament was the 1972 European Championship. Hungary finished fourth, and Albert played in two games. In the same year, he won the Hungarian Cup for the first time. This meant he had won all the major domestic trophies.

Albert played his final league match on March 17, 1974. He came on as a substitute and scored a goal in a 3–0 victory. It was the last goal of his career. After the game, he was carried off the field on his teammates' shoulders.

Life After Playing

After retiring from playing, Flórián Albert had two short jobs as a manager. He managed a team in Libya called Al-Ahly Benghazi. However, he did not have much success as a manager.

He then returned to Ferencváros. He worked in many different roles for the club. He was a technical director and later an honorary chairman. In 2007, Ferencváros's stadium was renamed Albert Stadium in his honor.

He also received honors from his hometown, Hercegszántó, in 2007. In 2010, the city of Budapest made him an honorary citizen. The district of Ferencváros also gave him this honor in 2011.

Personal Life

Flórián Albert married Irén Bársony, an actress, in 1963. They had two children, a daughter named Magdolna and a son named Flórián Albert Jr..

His son, Flórián Albert Jr., also became a football player. He played for Ferencváros, just like his father. He also played for the Hungarian national team. Albert's grandson, Flórián Patrik, also wants to become a professional footballer.

Death and Tributes

Farewell from Flórián Albert in front of the stadium named after him

On October 27, 2011, Flórián Albert had heart surgery. His former club, Ferencváros, said the operation was successful. However, he later had a heart attack. He passed away on October 31, 2011.

His funeral was held on November 6, 2011. Many people came to say goodbye. This included the Prime Minister and President of Hungary. Other important football figures and former teammates were also there. The event was shown live on Hungarian television.

On the same day, Ferencváros played a league match. Before the game, the stadium lights were turned off. Fans lit candles to honor Albert. The players wore special all-black uniforms. Fans held a banner that said "God shall be with you Emperor." Supporters of SK Rapid Wien, a club with close ties to Ferencváros, also honored him.

A friendly match between Hungary and Liechtenstein was held on November 11. It was declared a memorial game for Albert. The game was moved to a bigger stadium so more people could attend. Before the match, a video of Albert's best moments was shown.

Hungary won the game 5–0. The players dedicated the win to Flórián Albert. Balázs Dzsudzsák, who scored two goals, said he was sure Albert would have been happy to see the match.

Honours

Ferencváros

• Inter-Cities Fairs Cup: 1964–65
• Hungarian League 1963, 1964, 1967 and 1968
• Hungarian Cup 1972

Individual

• Ballon d'Or: 1967
• Best Young Player Award: FIFA World Cup 1962
• Top Scorer (Golden Boot): FIFA World Cup 1962 (shared with five other players at 4 goals)
• All-Star Team: FIFA World Cup 1966
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1964
• Top Scorer: European Cup 1966
• Top Scorer: Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1967
• Top Scorer: Hungarian Championship 1960, 1961, 1965
• Hungarian Footballer of the Year 1966, 1967
• Officier's Cross of Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary 1994
• Middle Cross of the Order Merit of the Republic of Hungary 2011
• Sportsperson of the Nation (A Nemzet Sportolója) 2004
• The stadium of Ferencvarosi TC was renamed to Albert-stadium in his honor in 2007
• Honorable Citizen of Hercegszántó 2007
• Honorable Citizen of Budapest 2010
• Honorable Citizen of Ferencváros 2011

See also

In Spanish: Flórián Albert para niños