MTK's succesful English coach finally gets a fitting memorial

Jimmy Hogan did not get the plaudits he deserved in his native country, perhaps because his ideas about playing style and training routines were different from the English concept of the game at that time: he was the believer of the so-called Scottish style based on short passes, and he also put great emphasis on training exercises with the ball. Hogan has managed Fulham and Aston Villa, but has achieved success on the continent.

Besides Hungary, he had a great influence on football in several other countries, as well as on such later renowned trainers like Helmut Schön, who later led West Germany to the World Cup title. Hogan moved back to Burnley at the end of his life and died there in 1974 at the age of ninety-one. For a long time, however, he lay in a nameless grave.

Nevertheless, the members of the Turf Moor Memorial Garden committee, in cooperation with the city council, have recently located Hogan's grave. A fundraiser was also organized which MTK and the Hungarian Sports Journalists' Association also contributed, so that the former head coach could have the grave he deserves. The new headstone and a plaque by the stadium of Premier League side Burnley's stadium will be officially unveiled on Friday, October 8.

"Too many people still haven't heard of Jimmy Hogan and what he did for football – said Peter Briggs, organizer of the event on Turf Memorial Garden's website. – "This small token may go some way to bring his story to more people and thank him for his efforts."

Nemzeti Sport will be present and report from the unveiling on Friday.

Translated by Vanda Orosz