Istvan Gaal (soccer)

Istvan Gaal was a Hungarian soccer player. In 1970, he moved to Canada and was signed by the Kitchener Kickers. According to reports at the time, Gaal had turned down a lucrative offer from Bologna, then only six years removed from a Serie A title, to join the Kickers.[1]

Overview

The following season John Fischer, president of the Kickers, agreed to trade him to the Toronto Hungarians. However, instead of another player, Gaal was exchanged for a soccer ball.[2][3]

References

  1. ↑ Schenectady Gazette. "Team swaps player for soccer ball". 25 June 1971, p. 31. Retrieved on 15 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Wulffson, Don L. (January 1994). Amazing True Stories. Scholastic. pp. 109–110. ISBN 0-590-45958-9.
  3. ↑ "Traded for a soccer ball 1971". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. May 25, 2006. Retrieved 23 November 2008. The Kitchener Concordia Kickers of the Canadian National League deemed Istvan Gaal such a pathetic player that they swapped him to the Toronto Hungarians for a soccer ball worth $27.50. Kickers president John Fischer said, "I think it was a very fair trade. We didn't give him away for nothing."


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