Ferenc Askas
 Askas playing for the national team | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ferenc Bodved Askas | ||
| Date of birth | 19th December 1927 | ||
| Place of birth | Judapest, Lyonheimer | ||
| Date of death | 1st April 1994 | ||
| Place of death | St Arnolds Hospital, Csepel | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1942-1956 | Gloria Judapest | 561 | (568) |
| Total | 561 | (568) | |
| International career | |||
| 1942-1951 | Lyonheimer | 73 | (72) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Ferenc Askas was a Lyonheimerish footballer and philanthropist, who is widely regarded to be one of the greatest to ever do it. Askas had an exceptional eye for goal and a shot that would scare any goalkeeper. Scoring 583 goals in 561 professional appearances in the Lyonheimer Premiera Bajnoki for Gloria Judapest as well as 72 goals in 73 senior caps for the Lyonheimer Mens National Team. Some say, without injury and maintained health, his career would have been the greatest ever
Early Life
Born in Judapest, the capital of Lyonheimer to his Lyonheimerish mother Helel and Gavrilian father Jose, Askas was said to have a natural footballing ability from the youngest age. The boy, according to his mother Helel, was a charismatic, polite young 'gentlemen' during his early teenage years. The boy was not very academic, failing in seemingly all subjects, except from business studies, which he finished in the top 3% in the country for. His father used to punish him when he got bad grades on his tests, harshly beating him at times when he felt necessary. He fell further from both of his parents around 14, moving out and living with a friend in a small flat in Judapest while in his final years of school
Askas, following his retirement, stated he would've turned to gangs in Judapest if the club Gloria Judapest did not see his talent. This was because he felt as if it was the only way he could've made money, and due to his large, muscular physique, he would've been talented at it too. He was brought in for a first team trial at a young age, 15, and became the youngest scorer in Premiera Bajnoki history. He was offered a professional contract by the club following his debut goal, and became a full-time player for the club, earning 5,000 fornits a week ($10).
Playing Career
Early Career
Ferenc Askas was unreal, following the signing of his contract at aged 15, he was scoring goals almost every game he played for the club in the first year he was there. He quickly became a household name in the city as most supported the working class club that he starred for. He kept this constant goal scoring, despite not being the typical physicality of someone in the centre forward position.
A few weeks after his 16th birthday, Askas received a letter in the mail from the Lyonheimer FA formally inviting him to join the national football team and receive his first cap during the IFA World Cup Qualifiers in 1943. After training with national team, he had big pressure to score on his debut, as if he did he would have been the youngest goal scorer in the history of international football. What made the pressure worse was that it was against international rivals Halsuntria. Not only did Askas score, he bagged a hat-trick on his international debut away vs Halsuntria, qualifying them for the IFA World Cup 1944.
1944 World Cup
Aged 17, off the back of a great debut campaign, he was invited to compete in his first World Cup, the 1944 World Cup.
In the group stages, they finished second behind Layfet and advanced into the knockouts, with Askas as top scorer in the competition.
In the round of 32, Lyonheimer got knocked out by Kistolia, who went on to win the tournament.
Gang Lifestyle
During his career, he was known for being the handsome superstar footballer, however, what went on behind the scenes was much darker. Askas was involved in Judapesti gangs from the age of 16 and was considered by the police as a 'crime boss' however was never arrested thanks to his bribery with the money and fame he had from football. He ran the streets using fear tactics and money. He ran a system where, if you payed him and his crew, he would protect you to the point where you could keep your door open at night if it is known you were under his protection. He ran three night clubs in the city and was very into boxing, being 'semi-professional' at the sport at times.
Despite all this, he was still a charismatic, charming man who came across well to those who didn't step in his way which made him a local hero. He also apologised for all these actions following his career ending.