Ferenc Puskás Statue Relocation Demanded
Ferenc Puskás' statue in Melbourne is in a state of disrepair, prompting fans to demand its relocation. On January 26, 2021, Twitter user kazzg uploaded a picture of the rusty statue, hidden away near AAMI Park.
The statue, installed in 2017, has been neglected, with sections of the base weathered and falling apart. Fans took to social media to express their outrage, with Ray Gatt tweeting, 'Disgraceful. Wouldn’t happen with an AFL legend’s statue.'
Ferenc Puskás is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, with a decorated CV including a stint at Real Madrid, where he scored 156 goals in 180 games. He also scored 84 goals in 85 matches for the Hungarian national team.
Fans are calling on Premier Daniel Andrews, Labor member Martin Pakula, and Albert Park MP Martin Foley to refurbish the statue and relocate it to Lakeside Stadium, the home of South Melbourne, the club Puskás coached between 1989-1992. Shayne Hope tweeted, 'Needs to be fixed (and moved to a better location than where it sits now, tucked away in the bushes).'
The current FIFA award for the best goal over a 12-month period is named the 'Puskas Award', with Australia's Riley McGree being nominated for the award in 2018. Puskás' coaching journey took him from Spain to Saudi Arabia to Chile and Australia, where he won an NSL title, an NSL cup, and two Dockerty cups with South Melbourne.
There are only four Puskas statues in the world, with tributes built for the superstar in Madrid, Budapest, Athens, and the neglected version in Melbourne. The Melbourne sporting precinct is home to statues from legends of all sports, including cricket superstars Don Bradman and Shane Warne.
On February 4, 2017, Les Murray tweeted a picture of the newly unveiled Puskas statue, which has since fallen into disrepair. Melbourne and Olympic Parks have been contacted for comment about the condition of Puskás' statue.
The relocation of the statue would be a fitting tribute to Ferenc Puskás' legacy, and fans are eager to see it happen. With the support of the community, it is hoped that the statue will be restored to its former glory and relocated to a more prominent location, where it can be appreciated by fans of all ages.