George Best (1946 – 2005)
"In 1969 I gave up women and alcohol...
...it was the worst 20 minutes of my life."
Photo: Nationaal Archief Fotocollectie Anefo • Licensed for reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 NL
George Best with Danny Blanchflower
“If I’d been born ugly, you’d never have heard of Pelé.” Many a true word is spoken in jest, and few would argue that George Best was the most naturally gifted footballer Britain has produced.
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Speed, balance, vision, superb close control, the ability to create chances and score from seemingly impossible situations tells half the story. The other half was an uncontainable zest for the game as it should be played, a ceaseless trickery and joy. Pelé, for his part, dubbed United’s no.7 "the greatest player in the world."
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A skinny teenager from Belfast's Cregagh Estate, Best was spotted by United scout Bob Bishop, who famously told Matt Busby:
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“Boss, I think I’ve found you a genius”
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Having fought off initial homesickness, Best turned professional on his 17th birthday in May 1963, made his debut in September – and scored on his second appearance. A first cap for Northern Ireland swiftly followed.
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In 1964/65, alongside Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and David Herd, Best was a key figure in the Reds’ first title triumph since the pre-Munich era.
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The following season he almost single handedly destroyed Benfica in the European Cup quarter final in their own back yard. After scoring twice in a 5-1 success to inflict the Lisbon giants’ first home defeat in Europe he was dubbed ‘El Beatle’.
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A second title followed in 1967, and Best proved the scourge of Benfica again a year later in the 1968 European Cup Final, giving the Reds a 2-1 extra-time lead en route to a 4-1 success. Best’s 28 goals that season – he was PFA and European Footballer of the Year – made him United's top scorer, a position he retained over the next four campaigns.
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As the Busby era ended and an ageing side was dismantled, Best struggled with the personal demons that would dog him until his death in November 2005.
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He famously ‘retired’ to Marbella in 1972, before coming back again and eventually leaving for good in January 1974 for a globe trotting series of destinations taking in, among others, the rather unlikely surrounds of Dunstable Town, Fulham, Los Angeles Aztecs, Brisbane Lions and the Jewish Guild of South Africa.
The United Trinity statue of Best (left), Denis Law (centre) and Bobby Charlton (right) outside Old Trafford
As he asked, he should be remembered for the back page headlines,
not the front. And what glorious memories they are.
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His 361 league appearances in Red brought 136 goals; he holds the post-War record for the most goals by a United player in a single match – six versus Northampton Town, in an 8-2 FA Cup fifth-round mauling in the 1970 FA Cup.
10 of the Best!
Best suffered from alcoholism for most of his adult life, leading to numerous controversies and, eventually, his death. In 1981, while playing in the United States, Best stole money from the handbag of a woman he did not know in order to fund a drinking session. "We were sitting in a bar on the beach, and when she got up to go to the toilet I leaned over and took all the money she had in her bag."
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In 1984, Best received a three month prison sentence for drink driving, assaulting a police officer and failing to answer bail. He spent Christmas of 1984 behind bars at Ford Open Prison. Contrary to popular belief and urban legend he never played football for the prison team. In September 1990, Best appeared on the primetime BBC chat show Wogan in which he was heavily drunk and swore. He later apologised and said this was one of the worst episodes of his alcoholism.
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Best was diagnosed with severe liver damage in March 2000, but despite a successful Liver Transplant died on 25th November 2005 at the age of 59.
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Best’s send-off included a riotous night of applause at West Ham, was followed by a game which Best would have been justly proud. Appropriately enough, fellow Irishman John O’Shea netted the winner.
George Best Quotes
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"I once said Gazza's IQ was less than his shirt number and
he asked me: "What's an IQ?"
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"I'd give all the Champagne I've ever drunk to be playing alongside
him in a big European match at Old Trafford." (about Eric Cantona)
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"They'll forget all the rubbish when I've gone and they'll remember the
football. If only one person thinks I'm the best player in the world, that's
good enough for me."
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"I used to go missing a lot... Miss Canada, Miss United Kingdom, Miss World."
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"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars.
The rest I just squandered."
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"If you'd given me the choice of going out and beating four men and smashing a goal in from thirty yards against Liverpool or going to bed with Miss World, it would have been a difficult choice. Luckily, I had both."
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"He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot
tackle and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that he's all right."
(on David Beckham)
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"Pele said he thought I was the greatest ever player. I have always thought
I was the best ever player – that's the way you have to look at it. I have
never looked at another player and felt inferior."
Source: sportsmole.com - manutd.com - wikipedia.org
Images: Believed to be in the Public Domain or used with permission
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