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Hungary salutes footballer Puskas Hungary salutes footballer Puskas
(about 6 hours later)
Hungary is observing a national day of mourning as it buries legendary footballer Ferenc Puskas at a state funeral in the capital, Budapest. Tens of thousands of people in Hungary have attended a memorial service in Budapest honouring legendary footballer Ferenc Puskas.
The man who captained the Hungarian national team in the 1950s died last month, aged 79, after a long illness. The service was held at the national stadium, renamed after Puskas, on the day of national mourning in Hungary.
He was a prolific goal-scorer with a fierce left foot and the team he led was nicknamed the "Magic Magyars" for playing an entertaining, skilful game. Puskas, who captained the Hungarian national team in the 1950s, died last month, aged 79, after a long illness.
Puskas moved to Spain after Hungary's failed 1956 revolt against Soviet rule. He was a prolific goal-scorer and the team he led was nicknamed the Magical Magyars for its entertaining football.
Puskas moved to Spain after Hungary's failed 1956 revolt against the Soviet rule.
He became a major goal-scorer for Spanish team, Real Madrid, in the 1960s and returned to Hungary in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.He became a major goal-scorer for Spanish team, Real Madrid, in the 1960s and returned to Hungary in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
'Entertaining people' 'Sea of candles'
Puskas' coffin has lain under the dome of the St Stephen's basilica in Budapest, draped in Hungary's red, white and green flag. Tens of thousands of mourners - including Hungarian leaders and famous footballers - gathered for the memorial service at the Puskas Stadium.
Puskas and his Magic Magyars epitomised entertaining football Puskas will be buried at St Stephen's basilica
President Laszlo Solyom and Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany have both laid wreaths at the coffin. The coffin of Puskas - draped in Hungary's red, white and green flag - was placed on a specially-erected black pyramid in the centre of the emerald-green pitch.
On Saturday, thousands of Hungarians are expected to attend a memorial ceremony for the sporting legend at the Budapest stadium that bears his name. Inside the stadium the stands were a sea of candles, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe at the ceremony.
The funeral procession will move to Hero's Square for a military salute and then to St Stephen's basilica where the coffin will be buried after a Roman Catholic Mass. In a ring around the pitch, footballers and sportsmen and women from all over Hungary stood to attention with the names of their teams.
Major names from the world of football are expected to attend, as well as delegations from some of the club teams Puskas coached after his playing career. Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon was among the speakers who came to pay their last respects to the football legend.
According to the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest, the Hungarian team Puskas led ignited a global revolution in the way football was played. The tributes began when the national flag was lowered to half mast outside parliament in Budapest at a ceremony watched by leading Hungarians.
Entertaining people
Puskas has been described as "the best-known Hungarian of the 20th century" by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.
Puskas' coffin had lain under the dome of the St Stephen's basilica in Budapest.
Puskas was a terrific goal-scorer with a fierce left foot
Later on Saturday, the funeral procession will move to Hero's Square for a military salute and then to St Stephen's basilica where the coffin will be buried after a Roman Catholic Mass.
Our correspondent says the Hungarian team Puskas led ignited a global revolution in the way football was played.
He says the short, stocky Puskas epitomised a new emphasis on individual skills and goal-scoring.He says the short, stocky Puskas epitomised a new emphasis on individual skills and goal-scoring.
Gyula Grosics, a former goalkeeper and one of two surviving members of the Magic Magyars team, told the Associated Press news agency earlier this week: "When we played, we were interested not just in the result but also in entertaining the people."Gyula Grosics, a former goalkeeper and one of two surviving members of the Magic Magyars team, told the Associated Press news agency earlier this week: "When we played, we were interested not just in the result but also in entertaining the people."