Biography:
| Full Name: | George Best |
| Date of Birth: | 22nd May 1946 |
| Place of Birth: | Belfast |
| Position: | Winger / Forward |
| Height: | 5ft 8ins |
| Professional Debut: | 14th September 1963 for Manchester United Vs WBA |
Pele once called him the greatest footballer in the world, a compliment which few can disagree with. George Best is perhaps the most naturally talented footballer to ever play the game – he was the complete player. Pele, Cruyff and Maradona were all exceptional players, but Best had a bit of each of them in his game.
From the age of 16, it was obvious that the skinny lad from Belfast was something extra-special. Manchester United’s Northern Ireland scout Bob Bishop famously sent a telegram to Sir Matt Busby that read: “I believe I’ve found you a genius.”
After five years of playing sensational football for United, his place in history was secured in 1968. United become the first English team to win the European Cup and Best scored a superb solo goal in the final against Benfica. He later claimed that having gone round the Benfica keeper, we wanted to take the ball up to the goal line, stop it dead, lie down on the ground and head it over the line. Only a truly special sort of player would even have considered such an outrageous act in a game of such importance.
By 1968, superstar status had been achieved when he deservedly won the English and European Footballer Of The Year Awards. He was also United’s top scorer that year with 28 goals and remained so for the following four seasons. In 1970 he scored six goals in an 8-2 win over Northampton in the FA Cup, the most goals ever scored in a single match by any United player.
Genius, magician, legend, George Best is perhaps the most naturally talented footballer ever to walk on the face of the planet. He could beat opponents with skill and dazzling tricks, swerving through defences like a skier on a slathom course, or go past them with a burst of devastating speed. For him, gravity was something that affected other people, Bestie seemed to zip across the pitch with the ball tied to his foot.
He could shoot brilliantly with either foot and out-jump much taller opponents to win the ball in the air. Imbued with the confidence and arrogance to try absolutely anything, Best would often make a fool of some of the games greatest players.
Despite his slight frame, he had tremendous physical strength and resilience, along with an almost unnatural elasticity of limb and torso. George was strong enough to take the knocks and abuse from the less talented players who would try to hack him out of the game. In an age where players did not receive protection from referees and the so called "hard-men" played the game, Best took it all on the chin and triumphed regardless. When he tried one trick too many and lost the ball he would fight twice as hard to get it back.
He was capped 37 times for Northern Ireland, scoring nine goals. He played mainly as a winger and was known for his dribbling skills and passing. On 15 May 1971, Best scored the cheekiest and arguably the most famous 'goal' of his career at Windsor Park in Belfast against Gordon Banks. The English goalkeeper was about to kick the ball downfield and dropped the ball towards his left foot. However, Best had anticipated the move and, with his right boot, knocked the ball up in the air behind Banks. The famous duo both scrambled towards the net but Best outpaced Banks and headed the ball into the empty goal, to the delight of the home supporters. His effort was disallowed for un-gentlemanly conduct by a referee whose back had been turned away from the incident, but even this untimely and incorrect intervention did not spare Banks the embarrassment of having been outwitted.
His greatest match for Northern Ireland came against Scotland, at Windsor Park, Belfast, in the 1967 Home International Championship. Home Internationals, with the exception of England/Scotland matches were usually just a chance for England to show their ‘mastery.’ This one was different, right from the whistle! Best was in complete control. The ball seemed to be tied to his feet, except when he fired his many shots at Ronnie Simpson in Scotland’s goal. Right wing, left wing, midfield, it didn’t matter. Scotland wasn’t a bad team either. It had Law & Jim Baxter and was the first team to beat World Champions England at Wembley that year.
Playing as a winger and sometimes striker, he would inspire his team and bring a crowd, home or away, to its feet. The man from Belfast was born with a wonderful gift, however with this gift came the penalty of a wild destructive streak that would always cast a shadow on his career.
Nicknamed "the fifth Beatle", he was one of the most famous stars in Britain during the 1960s. Best was the first pop-star footballer, a personification of youth culture and the swinging sixties.
He had the good looks, the style and the girls went mad for him with Best getting 10,000 fan letters a week. This had never happened to a footballer before. Sadly it was this pop star image that proved his eventual downfall, for he began to live the lifestyle of a pop star, and not a footballer.
Best himself once said, "If I'd been ugly, you'd never have heard of Pele". The alcohol, women and wild nights spent partying would ultimately shorten his career and lead to severe health problems later on.
As he became a casualty of intense media attention, George could not concentrate on football without being hounded everywhere by paparazzi. He opened a night club and a number of fashion boutiques which were not a success, while a string of famous actress/model girlfriend's meant he was under incredible media scrutiny.
Once Sir Matt retired in 1969 it was downhill for the Ulsterman as he became increasingly rebellious and erratic. Busby's successors, Frank O'Farrell and Tommy Docherty lacked his fatherly influence on Best. The United team was in decline and Best found it hard to take.
Seeing United beaten by teams they used to hammer a few years ago was painful and his love for football slowly diminished. He took solace in the bottle with drinking and partying taking over his entire life. He was now frequently missing training and failing to turn up for games.
In 1972 he announced his retirement at only 26 but was persuaded back by Docherty. The comeback was not a success and George left United for good on New Years Day 1974, his final game against QPR.
He then played for numerous other clubs, most notably Fulham (76-77) with the outlandish ex Manchester City star, Rodney Marsh. Then there was Stockport County, Hibernian and USA soccer teams L.A. Aztecs (1976-78) Fort Lauderdale Strikers (78-79) and San Jose Earthquakes (80-81). Even though not as fit as in his prime, the incredible skills were still apparent, no one could ever take that away from him.
George finally ended his football career with Bournemouth in 1983, although went on to play in many charity and friendly matches. In the 1990's he established himself as a successful sports commentator with Sky Sports and after dinner speaker. Though playing for many clubs, it was still clear that Manchester United were the only team that truly remained close to Best's heart - he was a red through and through.
In 2000 Best's health reached rock bottom due to liver damage caused by his years of alcoholism. However, in July 2002 he had a successful liver transplant operation and made a full recovery. Personal problems continued to hound him as he divorced for a second time and was unable to beat the bottle.
On 1st October, 2005, George entered the Cromwell hospital with flu-like symptoms, later suffering a kidney infection. He was susceptible to infection because of medicines needed after the liver transplant and his condition deteriorated sharply in the next month when it spread to his lungs.
Ironcially his death was played out much the same way as his life, in a blaze of media coverage. Though he fought on for far longer than doctors ever expected, on 25th November, George Best lost his battle for life. In Belfast, Manchester and around the world, the whole of football was in mourning at the death of a legend.
A week later on 3rd December, the Belfast Boy came home to his native city for the final time. 100,000 people lined the streets and grounds of Stormont for the funeral of Northern Ireland's greatest sporting hero.
There are many regrets for Best, such as ending his career early and never displaying his phenomenal skills in the World Cup Finals. However, when you look at the positive things he brought to British football, the moments of sheer breath-taking excitement, the glory of 1968, the lifestyle he led, George Best has lived more than most of us ever will.
Let us also not forget he played for ten seasons at United - Eric Cantona spent only five and few modern day players will have a career as long in the red shirt. George Best's life on the surface is the classic story of the wayward genius who had it all and supposedly threw it all away.
However, pundits tend to overlook that it was this wild self-destructive streak that made him the player he was. Genius often goes hand in hand with some sort of eccentric quality, a quality that gives that creative spark others do not possess.
Just a month before his death he said "People will remember me for my football" and that is ultimately what will last the test of time. George Best will live on as a football icon forever. Blessed with unbelievable skill, he was a genius the like of which may never come again. A player that took the game to a different level, a level which mere foot balling mortals can only gaze up at, in wonder, awe and sheer exhilaration.
George Best - Genius. Magician. Legend.
Honours:
·Football League Championship winners medal, 1965 & 1967
·UEFA European Cup winners medal, 1968
·European Footballer of the Year, 1968
·Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, 1968
· Holds the record for the most goals by a Manchester United player in a single
match, six against Northampton Town, FA Cup fifth round on February 8, 1970.
United won the match 8-2.
·Freeman of Castlereagh, 2002
·Inaugural Inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame, 2002
·Honorary Doctorate from the Queen's University of Belfast, 2001
·PFA Special Merit Award, for his services to football, 2006
