Another excellent piece of research by
@Enigma_87.
Kubala was voted the greatest Barcelona player of all time ahead of the likes of Cruyff, and Suarez
Man, Myth or a Legend - Ladislao Kubala
The man who built Camp Nou.
Messi, Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, etc - forwards who dazzle the world and attract fans regardless of club favorites. They are under the full media highlight and attention. Alas that is not the case with Ladislao Kubala - the man who created miracles that were never taped at the time.
Camp Nou in Barcelona is one of the most beautiful stadiums in Europe, carries a peculiar name: "The home that Kubala built". Kubala was a player, forward, whose art on the football pitch made building that grand stadium a required task. During the 50's just about everyone wanted to watch Kubala live.
During those times the game was not all about physical qualities but more elegance, more artistic. Alfredo Di Stefano, the blond arrow, at the time bold arrow would be more apt, carried and caressed the ball in such manner that everybody was lost for words expecting the next beautiful move and another spectacle at the Bernabeu.
Kubala - the biggest opponent of Di Stefano when it comes to expressing himself on the pitch was a player that did his trade in the rival Barcelona. His style was not always that intense like Di Stefano's and is probably one of the few artists left at that time - like the Brazillian Arthur Friedenreich, the world champion from 1930 - Jose Andrade and the "Paper man" Matthias Sindelaar.
During his early years Kubala plays for Budapest Ferencváros. Ever since then he's described as one of those offensive players that creates the chances for himself and his excellent finishing ability was well appreciated at the time. At the age of 17 he's called for international duty to play for Hungary. He had a little time tho showcase his talent at the time tho, as he deserts his military duty in Czechoslovakia and after tough few months he receives an offer to play for Bratislava - a team which becomes a champion at the tender age of 19-20 and immediately receives a call for the Czechoslovakia national team as well.
In 1948 he returns to Hungary to play for Vasas along with other greats at the time - Puskas and Hidegkuti. Just a year later however, he decides to ditch the communist regime at the time and flees to Austria then to Italy to play for Pro-patria, then a game for Torino. Whilst at Torino for his fortune he wasn't part of the team that flew over the Alps and unfortunately crashed as Hunary at the time accuses Kubala of being a traitor and not fulfuling his contract with Vasas at the time. He was later banned for a year and along with couple of friends he founds "Hungaria" - an amateur team that was touring around Europe playing some exhibition games.
There were all sorts of players in that team, but none close to the technical ability, vision and talent that Kubala possessed. He had a phenomenal shot and read the game like nobody else at the time. In the Summer of 1950 that amateur team nearly brought the Spanish national team at the time at the brink of defeat. That day was a day to remember for all Spanish and Barcelona supporters as Pepe Samitier - a club legend and director at the time approaches Kubala and offers to change his fortune.
When Kubala landed in the Spanish League he became a top-notch scorer, despite his favorite position being the right interior, in charge of assisting César or launching balls to the wingers. His love of tactics made him come up with an almost childish, but utterly effective, way of driving rival defenses dizzy: He alternates his position with César’s. With just a look of acknowledgement, one fell back to take the defender out of his position while the other moved into the center of the attack.
And indeed he does - his ban is lifted while in the meantime Real Madrid approaches Kubala as well trying to get him to Bernabeu. Kubala firmly denies and eventually becomes the highest buy for Barcelona at the time. On 2nd of April 1951 he plays his first game for Barcelona and immediately receives a call up for the Spanish national side. For Spain he plays
19 games scoring 11 goals. Unfortunately at the time he never gets the chance to play in WC tournament.
Una leyenda
Contrary to his international career his club one is something to brag about. Along with other Barca attackers - Basora, César, Manchón, Moreno he wins everything in sight in his first three seasons in Catalunia. In his 11 years at Barca he scores impressive
243 goals in 329 games. His exquisite vision, impeccable reading of the game, perfectly weighted and time passes along with his genius way of thinking dazzled a whole generation. A generation that he undoubtedly ruled on his own. As usually at the time he was often brutally fouled, upended and kicked about, but his physique and will on the pitch was really something special.
In his first season he led the club to victory in the Generalisimo’s Cup. The season after was even more successful –
with Kubala scoring 26 goals in 19 games, a record comparable with the phenomenal feats of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lio Messi in today’s game, and Barcelona won all 5 competitions it entered.
Kubala's success continued - another three league titles, four domestic cups and even two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups followed the five-trophy season, but there was one title that would remain conspicuous in its absence.
In 1961, having eliminated Real Madrid in the first round, Barca lost the European Cup final 3-2 to Benfica. Kubala, who was by then in his mid-30s, hit the post twice against the Portuguese club. That Kubala is remembered as one of Barcelona's greatest ever despite failing to win the European Cup perhaps says as much about his class as converting one of those two chances in the final would have.
Kubala was a revolutionary, and his story is proof of the fact that Barcelona, and by extension Spanish football, dismisses the lessons that can be derived from his evolution, ignores that historical memory from which so much might be extracted. Very few know and recognize in this day and age that Kubala deserves the role of a visionary capable of opening a new era, later shared with his friend Di Stefano, another genius who changed the personality and fate of his institution
With Kubala came modern times. He was Picasso in his area. He and Di Stefano were friends, both revolutionaries who are comparable philosophically. If Kubala is a pioneer of the current Barcelona model, Di Stéfano also deserves a highlighted place for inspiring that air of a team unable to give up in his Real Madrid, something that still prevails in last minute comebacks when fury is unleashed at the Bernabéu.
Kubala had everything, and watching the still-impressive footage of him in his pomp, it isn't difficult to believe that assessment. Incredibly robust thanks to his love of amateur boxing, he was also capable of pirouetting on the ball or using a drag-back to dumbfound defenders and goalkeepers. To top it off, he possessed a finishing touch.
Some nice videos of him:
https://www.footbie.com/video/ladislao-kubala-fc-barcelona-legend
The title of Frederic Porta's 2012 biography of Kubala is
"The Hero Who Changed Barca's History," and that phrase sums up his importance to the club. A before-and-after moment is marked by his arrival: Without him, Barcelona's trophy cabinet would be significantly less full, and without his ability to fill Les Corts to the rafters, the plans to build the Camp Nou may not have pressed ahead.
VS
