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Witness History

The Hungarian footballer executed for love

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.41.6K Ratings

🗓️ 25 January 2024

⏱️ 10 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Magnificent Magyars were Hungary’s golden football team of the 1950s.

But behind their shine lay a dark secret.

In 1951, defender Sándor Szűcs was executed for trying to defect from the communist regime.

The married centre-back had wanted to leave Hungary with his lover, singer Erzsi Kovács, who was also married.

The pair had been told to end their illicit relationship or face imprisonment.

They were arrested near the border after being set up by a double agent.

This programme has been made by Vicky Farncombe, using an interview Erzsi gave in 2011 to Hungarian journalist Endre Kadarkai on the Arckép programme, on Zuglo TV.

(Photo: Sándor Szűcs. Credit: Arcanum/Nemzeti Sport)

Transcript

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0:00.0

You're about to listen to a BBC podcast and maybe it's when I had a hand in.

0:04.0

I'm Tammy Walker and I produce podcasts for the BBC.

0:07.3

My role is to give new and diverse creators a voice with the opportunity to build a career.

0:12.1

That's the thing I love about Podcast.

0:14.0

You start with just a good idea.

0:16.0

But then you have the space to see where it goes.

0:18.0

And doing that at the BBC means we can really run with the best stories

0:21.0

while developing the most unique audio talent.

0:24.0

So if you like what you hear, why not check out the huge range of

0:27.2

podcast we've got on BBC Sounds. Hello you're listening to the Witness History podcast from the BBC World Service with

0:38.7

me Vicky Vankham. I've unearthed some rare archive to bring you the story of Hungarian footballer Shandor

0:46.1

Suu Kyut who was executed in secret in 1951 for trying to defect from Communist

0:52.0

Hungary.

0:53.0

But this story starts with some very British arkah.

0:57.0

Then Hungarians kicked off, and at once the white-shirted English team were given a dazzling example of first-class football.

1:03.0

But the Olympic champions now started an absolute orgy of scoring.

1:07.0

Third was a real beauty.

1:09.0

Just watch the smart footwork by Pushker.

1:11.0

And they hadn't finished yet.

1:12.0

Their sixth goal was Hideicootis third.

1:15.0

That's the sound of the Hungary national football team, smashing England's unbeaten home record in 1953. The Hungary side of the 1950s is still regarded as one of the greatest

1:27.5

teams of all time and goes by many nicknames. The mighty Magyars, the magical magyars, the magnificent magyars, and the golden

...

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