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Hungary salutes footballer Puskas Hungary salutes footballer Puskas
(about 6 hours later)
Tens of thousands of people in Hungary have attended a memorial service in Budapest honouring legendary footballer Ferenc Puskas. A funeral mass has been held in Budapest for Hungary's legendary footballer Ferenc Puskas who 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. The mass - in the capital's St Stephen's Basilica - ended a day of national mourning in the country.
Puskas, who captained the Hungarian national team in the 1950s, died last month, aged 79, after a long illness. Earlier, thousands attended a memorial service at the national stadium.
He was a prolific goal-scorer and the team he led was nicknamed the Magical Magyars for its entertaining football. Puskas captained Hungary's famed Magical Magyars national team in the 1950s and was a prolific goalscorer. He also played for Spain's Real Madrid.
From now on, there is one fewer star on earth, but one more star shines in the heavens Jeno BuzanszkyPuskas' team-mate
Puskas moved to Spain after Hungary's failed 1956 revolt against the Soviet rule.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 Real Madrid in the 1960s and returned to Hungary in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
'Sea of candles''Sea of candles'
Tens of thousands of mourners - including Hungarian leaders and famous footballers - gathered for the memorial service at the Puskas Stadium. Several thousand mourners gathered and lit candles outside St Stephen's Basilica where a Roman Catholic Mass was held for Puskas and where the legendary player was buried.
Puskas will be buried at St Stephen's basilica Puskas died after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease
Earlier on Saturday, thousands of people - including Hungarian leaders and famous footballers - gathered for the memorial service at the national stadium, renamed after Puskas.
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.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.
Inside the stadium the stands were a sea of candles, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe at the ceremony.Inside the stadium the stands were a sea of candles, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe at the ceremony.
In a ring around the pitch, footballers and sportsmen and women from all over Hungary stood to attention with the names of their teams.In a ring around the pitch, footballers and sportsmen and women from all over Hungary stood to attention with the names of their teams.
Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon was among the speakers who came to pay their last respects to the football legend. Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon and former Germany's football great Franz Beckenbauer were among those who came to pay their last respects Puskas.
The tributes began when the national flag was lowered to half mast outside parliament in Budapest at a ceremony watched by leading Hungarians. "He was a true friend and sportsperson, on the pitch as well as off," Jeno Buzanszky, one of the last two surviving members of the famous Hungarian national team in the 1950s.
"From now on, there is one fewer star on earth, but one more star shines in the heavens," he said.
Entertaining peopleEntertaining people
Puskas has been described as "the best-known Hungarian of the 20th century" by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany. After the memorial, Puskas' casket was placed on a horse-drawn carriage and taken to Heroes' Square for a brief military ceremony before the funeral service at St Stephen's Basilica.
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 footPuskas 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. Puskas has been described as "the best-known Hungarian of the 20th century" by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.
Our correspondent says the Hungarian team Puskas led ignited a global revolution in the way football was played.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 Magical 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."