John Lambie Hall of Fame - Bela Guttman

The latest feature on the Jagscast is the John Lambie Hall of Fame. The idea is that we take a look at some of the more eccentric legends to have graced the beautiful game, in the hope of finding a few that are worthy of mention in the same sentence as the great Lambini. If you have any nominations, please send them in to jagscast@gmail.com.

The inaugural member, Bela Guttman, was announced in Tuesday's Jagscast.

Name: Bela Guttman
Born: 1899 Hungary

Clubs Managed: 
SC Hakoah Wien, SC Enschede, SC Hakoah Wien, Újpest FC, Vasas SC, Ciocanul Bucharest, Újpest FC, Kispest A.C., Calcio Padova, U.S. Triestina Calcio, Quilmes, APOEL, Milan, Lanerossi Vicenza, Honvéd, São Paulo, Porto, Benfica, C.A. Peñarol, Austria, Benfica, Servette FC, Panathinaikos, Austria Wien, Porto

Managerial Achievements:
Újpest FC/Újpesti TE:

• Hungarian League (1938-39, 1946-47)
• Mitropa Cup (1939)

São Paulo:

• Sau Paulo State Champions (1957)

Porto:

• Portuguese Liga (1958-59)

Benfica

• European Champions (1960-61, 1961-62)
• Portuguese Liga (1959-60, 1960-61)
• Portuguese Cup (1962)

Why is he in the John Lambie Hall of Fame?
For being a bloody nutter. Guttman liked to have his own way. Once, when a club director questioned his team selection, he immediately resigned, saying: "Ok, you run the club.You seem to have the basics." While at Kispest (before they became Honved) he had an inevitable bust-up with Puskas. Puskas disagreed with Guttman about his decision to take off one of the Kispest players, and told the individual to stay on the park. The player sided with Puskas, so Guttman took the huff, sat up in the main stand and read a paper for the rest of the game. After the match, he took a tram home and never returned to the club.

Despite great success at AC Milan, they chose to dismiss him. In front of a stunned press, Guttman announced: "I have been sacked. Even though I am not a criminal, nor a homosexual." He was one of the pioneers of the 4-2-4 formation. It is widely thought that his tactical influence on Brazilian football was crucial in giving the world the gift of the 1970 Brazil World Cup team.

He tried to avoid staying at the same club for more than two years. "The third year is fatal". I wonder what he would have made of Ian McCall's 3 ye...eh...5 yea...em...10 year plan?