The honorary manager of the Spanish delegation, Sándor Tóth, was born in Füzesabony, where he began his playing career. In 1956 he was forced to leave the country and play football abroad, representing such teams as Atletico Madrid and Red Star in Paris. Unfortunately due to injury he had to give up playing, instead becoming youth coach at Madrid, where he nurtured young talents such as the legendary striker of the 1980s, Emilio Butragueno. He knew Puskás for close on 50 years during the course of which they became dear friends. As Puskás’ interpreter he helped him in many ways during his long stay in Spain. Sándor Tóth now runs a translation office in Madrid, and has played a major role for the organisers of the PUSKÁS-SUZUKI CUP in initiating and maintaining contact with the teams.
The honorary head of the Panathinaikos delegation may not be Hungarian, but he has numerous ties to the country. As Ferenc Puskás’ Greek interpreter during his four-year stint as Panathinaikos coach between 1970 and 1974 he witnessed at close hand the success of the team. Sakoulis was born into a Greek family who immigrated to Hungary and, in 1956, having taken part in the Hungarian uprising, had to leave the country. He went to Greece where he worked (and still works to this day) as a physiotherapist and as an interpreter (as well as for Ferenc Puskás, with whom he forged a close friendship, he also interpreted for Márton Bukovi and Rudolf Illovszky). As physio he accompanied the team everywhere, including in 1971 when the team, practically unknown outside the borders of Greece, reached the European Cup final against all the odds. Just like Sándor Tóth he has worked tirelessly in order that we can hold this prestigious sporting event.
