Ernest Erbstein

Ernest Erbstein, Hungarian: Erbstein Ernő, (13 May 1898 - 4 May 1949) commonly known as Ernest Egri-Erbstein was a Jewish-Hungarian football player and later manager from Nagyvárad; now known as Oradea in Romania. He carried out his footballing activities in several countries, he was most noted for his association with Italian football.

Biography

Erbstein carried out the majority of his playing career with Budapesti Atlétikai Klub, with whom he spent almost a decade. After first getting a taste for Serie A football with U.S. Fiumana, he moved to Vicenza for a season. He then spent a brief spell in the United States playing for Brooklyn Wanderers before retiring for the playing field.^[1]

As a manager Bari gave him his first chance, he had short spells at Nocerina, Cagliari and Bari again before moving on to Lucchese where he would spend five years. Erbstein moved to Torino after that, but because of World War II and the fact that he was Jewish he returned to Hungary.

After the war Erbstein rejoined Torino, this time in the capacity of a trainer; this was one of the most noted spells in Italian football as the Torino side became known as Grande Torino. He along with Englishman Leslie Lievesley were co-managers during the 1948–49 season. Disaster struck on 4 May 1949 when Erbstein and the majority of the Torino team died in the Superga air disaster.

Honours

Managerial

• 1948–49 Serie A (Torino)

References