Magical Maygars: The Rise and Fall of the World's Once Greatest Football Team

by David Bailey

Magical Magyars tells the remarkable story of the legendary Hungarian football team of the 50s, a side whose breathtaking technical skills and passing-and-movement style of play changed the very way the sport was played. Author David Bailey traces the team's origins and details how communist Hungary, a tiny nation impoverished and subjugated by one of the most brutal Stalinist regimes in the Soviet empire, was able to produce a football team that was the envy of the sporting world, and so very nearly world champions. Captained by the genius that was Ferenc Puskás, the Magical Magyars walked a tightrope between being the regime's darlings and providing the beleaguered Hungarian people with a sense of national pride during their darkest days. The team enthralled, dominated and revolutionised world football - until its own demise was brought about by a revolution of a different kind. Weaving in threads of friendship and betrayal, tactics and politics, the quest for glory and upheaval, here is a football story quite unlike any other.

Genres: Football

320 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

David Bailey is a British editor and author whose published output to date comprises a combination of short stories, audio dramas and magazine articles.

Both before and since being professionally published, Bailey contributed to a number of Doctor Who fanzines in writing and editorial capacities, including Matrix, Silver Carrier and Cottage Under Siege.

As an editor, he worked for the British magazine publisher Titan from 1997 to 2000 during which time he edited their Simpsons and Xena, Warrior Princess titles among others.

His first professionally published writing was a number of articles for the magazine Cult Times, starting in 1996. Since that time he has contributed articles to a wide range of factual publications, including consumer guides and television listing magazines.

Subsequently, he co-authored a number of guidebooks to television series such as Friends and Frasier. These were produced by Virgin Publishing.

The body of David Bailey's fiction writing, both audio and prose, has been produced for Big Finish Productions' range of Doctor Who and Doctor Who derived materials.

In 2011, he decided to start writing under the pen name of David Bryher as his real name meant that he was hard to find on Google.

Reviews

[Catalin Dumitrescu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like your story about football but i give you only two stars because of your subjectivism in the probelm of Trianon. You only tell us about drama of magyars, like other people doesen t exist! I must tell you that in the 2/3 of teritory who was lost by Hungary, only a third was magyars, and the aders 2/3 are not so happy to live in Hungary: romanian., serbs, slovac, croatian... But the drama of these people under Hungarian administration don t interes you!

[Jon Howells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Football book

Fantastic book about the Magical Magyars Hungarian football team, coaches and players. Terrifically researched and told. Highly recommended for lovers of football and\or history.

[Paul Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read that falls into the category of truth stranger than fiction. The modern era talks of GOATs when there was a team here that re-wrote the book on football. Lots of interesting personal players’ stories too.