Joszef 'Cziby' Braun
According to Andrew Handler in From the Ghetto to the Games, Braun was a tall, well-built player who possessed incredible skills. Textbook perfect in his control of the ball, both in the air and on the ground, he was also an imaginative and clever dribbler. Braun finished his international career with 27 caps (appearances) and 11 goals.
He died in World War II as a soldier in the Hungarian Army.
Birth and Death Dates:
b. 1901 - d. 1944
Career Highlights:
Braun, who played outside right for both the Hungarian National team and his club team, MTK Budapest, was one of his country's top players in the 1910s and 1920s. In 1918, at the age of only 17, he made his international debut for Hungary, and in his second game for the National team (in 1919), Braun scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Austria in front of 40,000 fans. The following year, he became a regular with MTK and helped the club win seven consecutive Hungarian Championships (1919-1925). During this impressive run, Braun and MTK also won the Hungarian Cup in 1923 and 1925.
In 1924, Braun was a member of the Hungarian Olympic team that finished in tenth place. In single elimination competition, they defeated Poland, 5-0, before losing to Egypt, 3-0. In the game against Egypt, Braun missed a penalty kick, which haunted him for the rest of his life. He left the sport two years later, after a series of injuries cut short his career. Braun retired with 27 caps and 11 goals.
After retiring from the Hungarian National team and MTK, Braun moved to the United States and played in the ASL (American Soccer League). In 1929, he appeared in 17 games and scored one goal for the Brooklyn Hakoah, a new team in the ASL. The following season, Braun played for the Brooklyn Wanderers (owned by Nathan Agar) and appeared in 11 games, scoring two goals. He returned to Hungary after the 1930 season.
Origin:
Hungary