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In January 1949, as Hungary was occupied by the Soviet Union and became a communist satellite state, Kubala fled the country in the back of a truck. Initially, he arrived in the United States zone of Allied-occupied Austria and then moved on to Italy, where he played briefly for Pro Patria.
Feb 2, 2017 · Fleeing persecution in Hungary, László Kubala went on to become Barcelona's greatest player, and narrowly escaped death along the way.
- Serenity in A Time of Chaos
- Escaping Military Service
- László Kubala Unrelenting Spirit
- Torino FC
- A Hillside Cataclysm
- Searching For A Peaceful Existence
- László Kubala Tipsy Trip
- A Charming Mastermind
- FC Barcelona Fans Adored Him
- Enter…‘Kubalamania’!
László Kubala Stecz was born to a Slovak-Polish-Hungarian mother and a Slovak father on the 10th of June 1927 in Budapest, Hungary. The young Kubala, or ‘Kuksi’, lived a happy childhood, sheltered from the tempestuous pre-war years. He had football in his blood, and his father who was a bricklayer by profession had also played in his day. His mothe...
In the summer of 1946, Kubala left for Czechoslovakia in a bid to escape military service and played for ŠK Slovan Bratislava. As Kubala continuously strived to perfect his game, he even asked the club permission to sleep at the ground so that he could increase his training time. A call-up to represent his now second national team, Czechoslovakia, ...
Although he had just signed with Vasas SC in 1948, the ink on his contract barely dry, Kubala fled from the communist regime which had gripped his country in 1949. In the back of a truck, his destination…Italy. Once there, László Kubala discovered the local side of Pro Patria, and upon his request to train with them, he received a thumbs-up. He exp...
Torino FC (known as ‘Il Grande Torino’), regarded as one of the finest in Europe, invited the Hungarian to partake in a testimonial match on the 1st May 1949, away to Portuguese side S.L. Benfica. On the brink of departure, his wife and son arrived from Hungary, his son was ill with a bout of travel sickness. László Kubala elected to relinquish his...
On the 4th of May 1949, as the Torino football team returned from Portugal on their way to Turin, their plane met with hazardous weather conditions. As the aircraft neared the airport, in the process of descending to gain better visibility, the plane crashed into the Superga Hillside. The aircraft erupted into flames that devoured the rain which be...
The Hungarian Football Federation had accused Kubala of breach of contract with Vasas FC; leaving Hungary without authorization, and failing to do military service. A one-year international ban was imposed on him by FIFA. In January 1950, Kubala moved to Cinecitta in Italy, where he and Daučík formed a team known as ‘Hungaria’, consisting of fellow...
Events surrounding Kubala’s signing are intriguing. It is believed that in 1950, while on a train with László Kubala, Samitier deceived the intoxicated player into believing that he was heading for the city of Madrid when instead, he was Barcelona-bound! By the time Kubala reached his destination, he was sober and ready to negotiate. Whilst flashin...
Kubala signed with FC Barcelona on June 15th, 1950, but could not play until his FIFA ban was lifted the following year. In the interim, though, he was able to partake in friendlies. László Kubala Stecz, in his role as a modern attacking midfield playmaker, introduced innovative football techniques, fuelled by his enthralling tricks, defense-rippin...
Above all this, “it was around Kubala’s charisma and footballing skills that Barça overcame its post-war loss of confidence and shattered organization, developing one of its strongest and most successful teams.” Kubala’s arrival at FC Barcelona saw the historic event of the so-called ‘Equipo de las Cinco Copas’ (‘Team of the Five Cups’), during whi...
Kubala was absent for most of the 1952-1953 season after falling prey to tuberculosis, which threatened his playing career. After an extraordinary recovery, he returned to the Blaugrana team, assisting with their continuous charge for silverware. During this period of immense success, the FC Barcelona grounds of Les Corts, which had an eventual cap...
Mar 27, 2019 · Kubala’s most recent defection had required him to leave behind not only his homeland, but also his wife, Anna, and their baby son, Branko, who were to meet him in Italy. Thanks to a miraculous trek by Anna across the Danube River, baby in tow, that’s exactly what they did – and not a moment too soon.
Aug 14, 2020 · With new stars alongside him such as Luis Suarez and a pair of Hungarians he helped to recruit in Sandor Kocsis and Zoltán Czibor, Kubala helped restore Barcelona to the pinnacle of Spanish football with a pair of titles in 1959 and 1960, and also put them on the European map.
Sep 19, 2020 · The Wanderer. In 1948, László Kubala returned to Hungary. He played three times for the country of his birth. But Hungary was falling under Communist rule. László escaped in the back of a truck as a political refugee, seeking to refuse drafting. He went to Austria, then to Italy.
Mar 9, 2017 · Kubala stayed for two seasons with Bratislava, during which period he got married and had a son named Branko.
