'Galloping Major' Dies
Hungarian football legend Ferenc Puskas has died at the age of 79.
Dubbed the Galloping Major, he was regarded as one of the game's greatest ever players.
Puskas died in a Budapest hospital after a long illness.
During a glittering career, he won league titles in both Hungary and Spain and three European Cups with Real Madrid.
Puskas was the inspiration behind the "Magical Magyars", the Hungarian national side that sensationally beat England 6-3 in 1953, the first foreign side to win at Wembley.
His international goal scoring record of 83 goals in 84 games for Hungary was eclipsed recently, but remains among the most prolific in the world.
Former international team-mate Jeno Buzanszky said: "This is a real tragedy for Hungary and specifically for us, his friends.
"I am on the verge of tears - the biggest sportsman of the country is no longer."
As the last millennium drew to a close, Puskas was voted the 20th century's fourth best player by the International Federation for Football History and Statistics.
In late 2000, he was admitted to hospital with arteriosclerosis and was later diagnosed with Alzheimer's-like disease.
Hospital officials say Puskas - who leaves a wife Erzsebet - died of cardiovascular and respiratory failure triggered by pneumonia.
Sky
