Among his many international destinations, Bela Guttman had visited countries like Hungary, Greece, Italy, United States, Switzerland, Portugal, Cyprus and Uruguay. These were the countries where he would perform as a player and later mainly as a coach. In Italy, Guttman would take part in teams like Trieste, Vicenza and Milan. He joined the Rossoneri a day after their fifth scudetto title in 1953 and then left two years later mid-season without winning anything. This all happened within a decade in which the Rossoneri won two league titles. He was released quite abruptly, but the Hungarian wouldn’t feel any remorse.
Guttman wasn’t one to stay in a club for more than 2 years anyway, as he believed the third year to be pointless. But many at Milan believed his departure to be a good thing, because 7 years later, after winning a European Cup with Benfica, he left a curse similar to what was done in 1908 when Inter broke away from Milan, perhaps worse. The story as it goes, stated that Guttmann, had requested a raise from Benfica’s management after winning 2 successive European Cups. But he was denied. It is said that the Hungarian walked away slamming the door and placing a curse that affected the entire Portuguese football league, primarily Benfica. The curse he placed had prophesied that Benfica would not win a championship for the next 100 years. Whether it was effective or not, his curse came at almost perfect timing, as in the following year (1963) the Portuguese team had lost their Champions Cup final against Milan. Since 1962 Benfica has not won any European Cups nor have they won any UEFA Cup finals, leaving them with seven finals that were lost in forty years, 5 European Cup finals 1963, 1965, 1968, 1988, and 1990), and 3 UEFA League/Cup finals (1983, 2013 and 2014). But fortunately for Milan it all went well!
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