41 matches was held by the Kiev Dynamo in the national team of the former USSR, winning the fourth place in the 1966 World Cup in England. Also in his asset "

Yozhef Sabo was born on February 29 of the Loskoskoy 1940 in Uzhgorod. His friends sometimes joke: "

From childhood, he became carried away, like many Uzhgorod boys, football. Seriously took up at the age of 14, attending training in his free time. And he worked as a bakery in the confectionery workshop of the city bakery.

At the age of 15, a capable guy was invited to the youth team of the region. His first team was the Chemist (Kalush), which played in the championship of Ukraine. In 1957-1958, Sabo played in the Uzhgorod "

A successful debut at the height of the 1959 season of three Transcarpathian players - goalkeeper Andrei Gavashi, defender Vasily Turjanchik and midfielder Yozhef Sabo - was invited to Kiev Dynamo. The 19-year-old Sabo debuted in the team of Oleg Obsenkov on June 1, 1959 in a match, which attracted attention with only the brand of the Soperian team. The famous London " The debutant from the Dynamo ensemble did not fall out, the fans liked his game.

In 1961, Yozhef Sabo, along with his teammates - Makarov, Voynov, Turyanchik, Lobanovsky, Biba, Kanevsky, Serebryanikov, Schegolkov, Trojanovsky - became the champion of the USSR. This was the first " And then the Kyivians issued a championship hat-trick in the period from 1966 to 1968.

He played a match with a fracture of the leg, clenching his teeth The most memorable episode of the brilliant career of the midfielder - this is the semifinal match of the 19 USSR and Germany CHM -1966 in England and Germany. Already in the 8th minute, Sabo went on a decisive tackle against 20-year-old Franz Beckenbauer and received a severe injury-a fracture of the ankle. There was no guilt in that Kaiser Franz. And replacements in the matches of the World Cup in those years were not allowed. Sabo remained on the field, and, clutching his teeth, finished the match to the final whistle.

On the Sabo field was unyielding, reliable, effective. As for a midfielder, more than a defensive plan, scored a lot of goals. It was especially dangerous for the goalkeepers of the rivals when fulfilling the standards - he was a regular penalist of the team. And with Viktor Serebryanikov, they shared the execution of penalties.

Yozhef had its own theory of the advantage of a distant blow - it should always be very strong so that the speed of the ball is running out. Goalkeepers usually do not expect a blow from a long distance, so they often late with a jump. And if they manage to react, then they are not able to pick up the ball tightly, and you can play more on finishing. There are always a lot of football players between the beater and the goalkeeper, he does not see the ball well, and his delay is quite likely. It often seems to the goalkeeper that the striker or midfielder does not dare to break through from a distance of 30-35 meters, and with his strong and well-aimed blows, Sabo often spoiled the mood of the goalkeepers. And Yozhef was also distinguished by a rigid game in the selection, skillful interception of the ball, excellent equipment, connecting to attacks. He was always in the game in sporting evil, he did not regret himself. Very gambling, he gave himself to the end to the end in all 246 matches of the championship of the country, which he spent in 10 years in Dynamo.

It was a shame to lose for many years I am familiar with Yozhef Sabo. He often visited him, more than once did an interview with him, working in newspapers, on radio and television. My interlocutor never selected a word, frankly answered all, sometimes uncomfortable questions for him.

By the way, at one time, Yozhef graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Kyiv University, so we are colleagues with him.

I remembered the words said by Sabo in one of my interviews: " It seemed that the fans, but in Pechersk there were enough of them, looked at me with reproach.

At the age of 32, Yozhef Sabo completed his brilliant career as a player, eventually switched to coaching work, became a well -deserved coach of Ukraine. But I will talk about the coaching work of the famous midfielder next time.