George Best - Wikipedia

Northern Irish association football player
This article is about the Northern Irish football player. For other people named George Best or places and things named after him, see George Best ( disambiguation )
George Best ( 22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005 ), besides known as Georgie Best, was a Northern Irish professional football player who played as a winger, spending most of his club career at Manchester United. A highly adept dribbler, Best is regarded as one of the best players in the history of the sport. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] He was named european Footballer of the year in 1968 and came sixth in the FIFA Player of the Century vote. [ 4 ] Best received plaudits for his acting style, which combined pace, skill, balance, feints, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to get past defenders. [ 5 ] [ 6 ]

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Born and brought up in Belfast, Best began his club career in England with Manchester United, with the lookout who had spotted his talent at the long time of 15 sending a telegram to coach Matt Busby which read : “ I think I ‘ve found you a brilliance. ” [ 7 ] After making his debut aged 17, he scored 179 goals from 470 appearances over 11 years, and was the club ‘s exceed goalscorer in the league for five consecutive seasons. [ 8 ] He won two League titles and the european Cup with the cabaret. His expressive style of play on the field captured the public ‘s imagination, and in 1999 he was on the six-man short-list for the BBC ‘s Sports Personality of the Century. He was besides an inaugural inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002. In international football, Best was capped 37 times for Northern Ireland between 1964 and 1977. A combination of the team ‘s operation and his miss of fitness in 1982 mean that he never played in the finals of a major tournament. He considered his international career as being “ amateur football ”, with the expectations placed on a smaller nation in Northern Ireland being much less than with his club. [ 9 ] He is regarded as one of the greatest players never to have played at a World Cup. [ 9 ] The Irish Football Association described him as the “ greatest player to ever pull on the green shirt of Northern Ireland ”. [ 10 ] With his good looks, benighted Beatle mop-top hair, and playboy life style, Best became one of the first base media fame footballers, earning the nickname “ El Beatle “ by portuguese press reporters after a stand-out performance for Manchester United in Lisbon in March 1966, [ 11 ] [ 12 ] but his excessive life style led to versatile personal problems, most notably dipsomania, which he suffered from for the rest of his life. These issues affected him on and off the field, frequently causing controversy. [ 13 ] Although conscious of his problems, he was publicly not contrite about them ; he said of his career : “ I spent a batch of money on liquor, birds [ women ] and fast cars – the respite I fair squandered ”. [ 14 ] After football, he spent some time as a football analyst, but his fiscal and health problems continued into his retirement. [ 13 ] He died in 2005, aged 59, due to complications from the immunosuppressant drugs he needed to take after a liver-colored transplant in 2002 .

early years and family [edit ]

[15] Best grew up on the Cregagh estate, east Belfast. The play fields in the estate where he played football as a boy, Cregagh Green, is protected for community diversion in perpetuity as a Fields in Trust Active Space. George Best was the first child of Richard “ Dickie ” Best ( 1919–2008 ) and Anne Withers ( 1922–1978 ). He was born on 22 May 1946 and grew up in Cregagh, east Belfast. Best was brought up in the Free Presbyterian faith. [ 16 ] His founder was a member of the Orange Order and as a son George carried the strings of the banner in his local Cregagh lodge. In his autobiography, Best mentioned how important the order was to his family. [ 17 ] Best had four sisters, Carol, Barbara, Julie and Grace, and one brother, Ian ( Ian Busby Best ). [ 18 ] Best ‘s church father died on 16 April 2008, at the age of 88, in the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, Northern Ireland. [ 19 ] Best ‘s mother Anne died from alcoholism-related cardiovascular disease in 1978, at the age of 55. [ 20 ] In 1957, the academically gifted Best passed the eleven-plus and went to Grosvenor High School, but he soon played truant as the school specialised in rugby union. Best then moved to Lisnasharragh Secondary School, reuniting him with friends from chief school and allowing him to focus on football. He played for Cregagh Boys Club. [ 21 ] He grew up supporting Glentoran and Wolverhampton Wanderers. [ 22 ]

Club career [edit ]

manchester United [edit ]

At the long time of 15, Best was discovered in Belfast by Manchester United lookout Bob Bishop, whose telegram to United coach Matt Busby read : “ I think I ‘ve found you a genius. ” [ 7 ] [ 23 ] His local baseball club Glentoran had previously rejected him for being “ excessively little and light ”. [ 24 ] Best was subsequently given a test and signed up by United ‘s foreman scout Joe Armstrong. His inaugural time moving to the golf club, Best quickly became homesick and stayed for merely two days before going back home to Northern Ireland. [ 25 ] He returned to Manchester and spent two years as an amateur, as english clubs were not allowed to take Northern Irish players on as apprentices. He was given a job as an errand boy on the Manchester Ship Canal, allowing him to train with the club twice a workweek. [ 26 ] Best made his first Division debut, aged 17, on 14 September 1963 against West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford in a 1–0 victory. [ 27 ] He then dropped back into the reserves, before scoring his first finish for the first gear team in his second appearance in a 5–1 acquire over Burnley on 28 December. [ 27 ] Manager Matt Busby then kept Best in the team, and by the end of the 1963–64 temper, he had made 26 appearances, scoring six goals. Manchester United finished second, four points behind Liverpool. They besides reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, where a frustration to West Ham United cost Best the find to break a record ; in the final Preston North End ‘s Howard Kendall became the youngest ever player in a FA Cup Final – he shared the lapp birth date as Best. [ 28 ] That lapp temper, Best captained the Manchester United side that won the 1964 FA Youth Cup, the sixth FA Youth Cup won under the management of Jimmy Murphy, and the first since the 1958 Munich tune catastrophe. [ 29 ]
Though opponents would often use rough fun to try to stifle his technical ability, Busby ensured that “ boisterous, sometimes barbarous ” education sessions left Best well used to coping with sturdy challenges. [ 30 ] In the 1964–65 season, his foremost full season as a first team regular, Best helped Manchester United to claim the league title. [ 31 ] A 1–0 victory at Elland Road proved decisive as the title race came down to goal average between the “ Red Devils ” and acrimonious rivals Leeds United ; Leeds did manage to gain some measure of retaliation though by knocking Manchester United out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage. [ 31 ] Over the naturally of the political campaign Best contributed 14 goals in 59 competitive games. [ 31 ] He scored the open goal of the 1965 FA Charity Shield at Old Trafford, which ended in a 2–2 drawing card with Liverpool. [ 32 ] The rising star of English football, Best was catapulted to superstar condition at the old age of 19 when he scored two goals in a european Cup quarter-final pit against Benfica at the Estádio district attorney Luz on 9 March 1966. [ 12 ] His stand out display allied with his dark Beatle mop-top hair, the portuguese media dubbed him “ O Quinto Beatle ” ( “ the fifth Beatle “ ), and on the team ‘s hark back to England, Best was photographed on the airport tarmacadam in his new sombrero with the headline, “ El Beatle ”. [ 11 ] [ 12 ] His talent and showmanship made him a crowd and media darling, and he went from being headline news program in the back pages to the front pages. [ 12 ]

Before the bet on, director Matt Busby had told his wingers, Best and Connelly, to stay thick for the first 20 minutes. Keep it tight and quieten the crowd. But George Best was entirely 19, excessively young for such circumspection. All he heard was ‘blah, bombast, bombast ‘. When the game started, he grabbed it by the nape. ‘Watch this, Eusebio. And Coluna, Simoes, Torres, Germano, Jose Augusto. I ‘m George Best, and this is how it ‘s done. ”El Beatle’ arrives, Jon Carter for ESPN.[11]

other nicknames included the “ Belfast Boy ”, and he was frequently referred to as Georgie, or Geordie in his native Belfast. [ 33 ] however United failed to win any major honours in the 1965–66 season, and Best was injured from 26 March onwards with a wind stifle following a badly undertake from a Preston North End actor. [ 34 ] however United staff claimed it was unaccented ligament damage indeed as to keep Best on the field for the stay of the campaign. [ 34 ] He had little religion in the United checkup staff, and therefore he secretly saw Glentoran ‘s physical therapist, who readjusted his ligaments in a afflictive operation. [ 35 ] His last bet on of the season, his knee strapped-up, came on 13 April, and ended in a 2–0 frustration to Partizan Belgrade at Partizan Stadium. [ 36 ] The 1966–67 season was again successful, as Manchester United claimed the league title by four points. Best stated that “ if the backing was decided on home games we would win it every season. This time our away games made the dispute. We got into the mighty inning of mind. ” [ 37 ] An ever-present all temper retentive, he scored 10 goals in 45 games. He then helped the “ Red Devils ” to share the Charity Shield with a 3–3 attract with FA Cup winners Tottenham Hotspur ; it was the first game to be broadcast in color on british television. [ 38 ] Best scored doubly against rivals Liverpool in a 2–0 succeed at Anfield, and besides claimed a hat-trick over Newcastle United in a 6–0 home acquire on the penultimate league game of the season. however a home defeat to hated local anesthetic rivals Manchester City proved dearly-won, as City claimed the league style with a two-point lead over United. Yet the 1967–68 season would be remembered by United fans for the european Cup win. After disposing of Maltese Hibernians, United advanced past yugoslav Sarajevo with a 2–1 dwelling win – Best assisted John Aston for the first and scored the second himself, and was described by Geoffrey Green of The Times as “ the centerpiece of the chessboard … a actor broad of illusion ; a actor who lent magic to what might have been notion ”. [ 39 ] In the quarter-finals United advanced past polish club Górnik Zabrze 2–1 on aggregate, having held on to their aggregate lead in freezing temperatures in front of 105,000 at Silesian Stadium ; despite losing the away tie 1–0, Best described the kill as “ one of our best-ever performances, given all the unwelcome circumstances ”. [ 40 ] Facing six times champions real Madrid in the semi-finals, Best scored the only goal of the home repair with a 15-yard strike that Alex Stepney described as one of Best ‘s finest goals. [ 41 ] In the draw at the Bernabéu, Best was marked efficaciously by Manuel Sanchís Martínez, but on the one meter Best got the better of him he made a state cross to Bill Foulkes, who sedately found the net to level the game at 3–3 and to win the aggregate bind 4–3. [ 42 ] Days after returning to England, as the First Division ‘s joint top-scorer ( level on 28 goals with Southampton ‘s Ron Davies ) Best was presented with the FWA Footballer of the Year award, becoming the youngest ever recipient role of the prize. [ 43 ] Facing United in the european Cup Final at Wembley were Benfica ; whilst his teammates rested, Best found “ a novel way to relax ” before the big game by sleeping with “ a especial young lady called Sue ”. [ 44 ] The bet on went into extra-time, and just three minutes into extra-time Best went on a labyrinthine run and beat goalkeeper José Henrique with a dummy, before rolling the musket ball into the net ; two foster goals from Brian Kidd and Bobby Charlton settled the tie at 4–1. [ 45 ] The victory was not lone the pinnacle of Best ‘s career, but arguably Manchester United ‘s greatest accomplishment, considering the Munich air catastrophe had wiped out most of the Busby Babes just ten years previously. [ 46 ] Best besides won the Ballon d’Or in 1968 after receiving more votes than Bobby Charlton, Dragan Džajić and Franz Beckenbauer. This think of that he had won the three major honours in club football at the old age of merely 22 ( the league deed, european Cup, and European Player of the Year prize ). After this, his steady decline began .

“ It seems impossible to hurt him. All manner of men have tried to intimidate him. Best merely glides along, riding tackles and brushing giants aside like leaves. ”

— Joe Mercer, Manchester City director, 1969. [ 47 ]
however, the ‘ holy place trio ‘ of Best, Law and Charlton were still ampere effective as ever in the 1968–69 campaign. Although, it became obvious that the cabaret ‘s new recruits were not up to scratch as United dropped to 11th in the league before Busby announced his retirement. Best late said that “ I increasingly had the spirit that I was carrying the team at times on the pitch. ” [ 48 ] He scored 22 goals in 55 games, though only he and Denis Law scored more than six league goals. In the Intercontinental Cup, fans and players alike looked ahead to seeing United consume on Argentine opposition Estudiantes de La Plata over the course of two legs. however Best said “ no matchless tackled harder or dirtier than this argentinian team ” as a 1–0 defeat at the Estadio Camilo Cichero was followed by a 1–1 draw at Old Trafford. [ 49 ] In the base tie, Best was kicked and spat on by José Hugo Medina, and both players were sent off after Best reacted with a punch. [ 50 ] Despite their poor league form, United managed to reach the semi-finals of the european Cup ( they had a relatively easy tend in getting past the Republic of Ireland ‘s Waterford United, Belgium ‘s Anderlecht, and Austria ‘s Rapid Wien ) where they were knocked out 2–1 on aggregate by A.C. Milan following a 2–0 get the better of at the San Siro ; Milan goalkeeper Fabio Cudicini was the hero after keeping United to only one finish at Old Trafford. [ 51 ]

“ It ‘s been a joke on the circuit always since. You know, I ‘m on one side of the street, George Best is on the early. He nods to me and I dive under a bus. ”

— Northampton goalkeeper Kim Book on the jibe he has faced since being fooled by Best ‘s feint in a 1970 FA Cup game against Manchester United. [ 52 ] Best ’ sulfur six goal performance in the game was voted # 26 on Channel 4 ’ mho number of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments. [ 53 ]
United improved slenderly under new foreman Wilf McGuinness, but hush only managed an eighth-place finish in the 1969–70 season. Best hit 23 goals, including an FA Cup criminal record six goals in an 8–2 winnings over Northampton Town in a mud-bath at the County Ground on 7 February 1970. [ 54 ] Best ‘s one-sixth goal saw him go one on one with Northampton goalkeeper Kim Book. Best made a feint to go right which put Book on his rear, before he went leave and walked the ball into the net. [ 55 ] Book states :

“ I remember thinking George was going to go one way, but he dropped his shoulder and went the other, and by then I was already on the pack of cards. He was barely besides good for me. ” [ 55 ]

Best ‘s six goal performance earned him an invitation to No 10 Downing Street from UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson, who had besides regularly written fan letters to him. [ 52 ] In 2002 the british public voted Best ‘s read interrupt performance # 26 in the list of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments. [ 53 ] Busby returned as director in December 1970, though the 1970–71 season besides ended without a trophy. Best began to get into trouble with his discipline : he was fined by the Football Association for receiving three bookings for misconduct, and he was suspended by United for two weeks after missing his train to Stamford Bridge so as to spend a weekend with actress Sinéad Cusack. [ 56 ] New coach Frank O’Farrell led United to an eighth-place finish in 1971–72. Highlights for Best included hat-tricks against West Ham United and Southampton, vitamin a well as a finish against Sheffield United that came after he beat four defenders in a labyrinthine streak. [ 57 ] however, he was besides sent off against Chelsea, was the discipline of death threats, and failed to turn up for train for a whole week in January as he alternatively spent his fourth dimension with Miss Great Britain 1971, Carolyn Moore. [ 57 ] On 17 November, he was the national of Eamonn Andrews ‘s biographic television receiver express This Is Your Life when he was surprised at a cardinal London restaurant. [ 57 ] He would be the national for a second time in 2003 when Michael Aspel surprised him at Teddington Studios. [ 58 ] With 27 goals in 54 appearances, Best finished as the club ‘s top-scorer for the sixth – and final – consecutive season. Best then announced his retirement from football, but however turned up for pre-season training, and continued to play. [ 59 ]
United ‘s decline continued in the 1972–73 season, as Best was depart of the ‘old guard duty clique ‘ that barely talked to the new, less talented players. [ 60 ] Frustrated with the club ‘s decay, Best went missing in December to party at the London cabaret. [ 61 ] He was suspended, and transfer-listed at a value of £300,000. [ 62 ] After O’Farrell was replaced as coach by Tommy Docherty, Best announced his retirement for a second clock time. [ 63 ] He resumed training on 27 April. [ 64 ] Best ‘s last competitive plot for the club was on 1 January 1974 against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road, which United lost 3–0. [ 65 ] He failed to turn up for training three days former and was dropped by Docherty, though he claimed Docherty was ambidextrous with him. [ 66 ] Best was arrested and charged with stealing a fur coating, passport, and cheque book from Marjorie Wallace, but was late cleared of all charges. [ 67 ] United went on to suffer delegating into the second base Division in 1973–74. [ 68 ] Best play at United when shirt numbers were assigned to positions, and not the player. When Best played at right wing, as he excellently did during the late stages of the 1966 and 1968 european Cups, he donned the number 7. As a leave winger, where he played entirely in his debut season and about all of the 1971–72 campaign, he wore the issue 11. Best wore the total 8 shirt at inside correct on juncture throughout the 1960s, but for more than half of his matches during 1970–71. He was playing at inside exit ( wearing the count 10 ) in 1972 when he famously walked out on United the first time but was back in the number 11 for the fall of 1973 before leaving for commodity. Best even wore the number 9 jersey once for United, with Bobby Charlton injured, on 22 March 1969 at Old Trafford, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 winnings over Sheffield Wednesday. [ 69 ] In sum Best made 470 appearances for Manchester United in all competitions from 1963 to 1974, and scored 179 goals. Over the following ten he went into an increasingly rapid decline, drifting between several clubs, including spells in South Africa, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, Scotland, and Australia. [ 70 ]

late years [edit ]

Best ( center ) in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, October 1976 Playing alone five competitive matches for jewish Guild in South Africa, Best endured criticism for missing respective education sessions. During his light clock there, he was the main draw attracting thousands of spectators to the matches. [ 71 ] In 1975, Best played three matches for Stockport County in the Fourth Division. [ 72 ] He had a brief spell at Cork Celtic from December 1975 to January 1976. He made his League of Ireland debut against Drogheda United at Flower Lodge on 28 December. He played only three league games, the others against Bohemians and Shelbourne, but despite attracting big push he failed to score or impress. Being on a rolling compress with Cork his failure to show for a bet on saw him being dropped and subsequently leaving the club. [ 73 ] He had a brief revival in form with Second Division club Fulham in 1976–77, showing that, although he had lost some of his pace, he retained his skills. His time with the “ Cottagers ” is particularly remembered for a match against Hereford United on 25 September 1976 in which he jokingly tackled his own teammate, and old drink mate, Rodney Marsh. [ 74 ] Best and Marsh were drawn to the club by the bearing of England World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore, and they were involved in exuberant finish celebrations. [ 75 ] Best play for three clubs in the United States : Los Angeles Aztecs, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and later San Jose Earthquakes ; he besides played for the Detroit Express on a european go. Best was a success on the field, scoring 15 goals in 24 games in his beginning season with the Aztecs and named as the NASL ‘s best midfielder in his second base. [ 76 ] He and director Ken Adam opened “ Bestie ‘s Beach Club ” ( now called “ The Underground ” after the London metro system ) in Hermosa Beach, California in the 1970s, and continued to operate it until the 1990s .
Best caused a stir when he returned to the UK to play for the scots baseball club Hibernian. [ 77 ] The club was suffering a refuse in fortunes and was heading for relegation from the Premier Division, [ 77 ] before Best was signed on a “ wage per play ” basis after the club chair, Tom Hart, received a tip-off from an Edinburgh Evening News reporter that he was available. [ 77 ] [ 78 ] even though Best failed to save Hibs from relegation, gates increased dramatically, and the attendance quadrupled for his foremost match at Easter Road. [ 77 ] One ill-famed incident saw Best initially sacked by Hibs after he went on a massive drinking session with the french rugby team, who were in Edinburgh to play Scotland. [ 78 ] He was brought back a week late. In August 1982, he played 20 minutes for Scone Thistle against Scone Amateurs ; the appearance tip he received helped to pay off an income tax bill. [ 79 ] He returned to the US to play for the San Jose Earthquakes in what was officially described as a “ lend ”, though he only managed a handful of appearances for Hibs in the First Division in the trace temper. [ 78 ] He returned one last time to Easter Road in 1984, for Jackie McNamara ‘s testimony match against Newcastle United. [ 77 ] In his third season in the States, Best scored once in 12 appearances. His moves to Fort Lauderdale and San Jose were besides unhappy, as his off-field demons began to take control condition of his life again. After failing to agree terms with Bolton Wanderers in 1981, he was invited as a node player and played three matches for two Hong Kong First Division teams ( Sea Bee and Rangers ) in 1982. At HK Rangers he played alongside his former Northern Ireland teammate Derek Spence. While in Hong Kong, Best besides played darts for a team called Presstuds, made up of a combination of professional footballers and sports journalists. [ 80 ] In belated 1982, AFC Bournemouth coach Don Megson signed the 36-year-old Best for the Third Division side, and he remained there until the end of the 1982–83 season, when he retired from football at the historic period of 37. Best played in a friendly for Newry Town against Shamrock Rovers in August 1983, [ 81 ] before ending his professional career precisely 20 years after joining Manchester United with a brief four-match stint playing for the Brisbane Lions in the australian National Soccer League during the 1983 season. [ 82 ] He besides was a guest musician for an exhibition match between Dee Why Football Club and Manly Warringah held on 27 July 1983 ; Dee Why won the match 2–1, with Best having scored the winning goal. [ 83 ] [ 84 ] On 29 October 1984, Best played as a limited guest for Reading against the New Zealand national team in a friendly game, aboard 1966 World Cup achiever Martin Peters. Reading were defeated 2–1. [ 85 ] On 8 August 1988, a testimonial match was held for Best at Windsor Park. Among the crowd were Sir Matt Busby, Jimmy Murphy, and Bob Bishop, the scout who discovered Best, while those playing included Osvaldo Ardiles, Johan Neeskens, Pat Jennings and Liam Brady. [ 86 ] Best scored doubly, one goal from outside the box, the other from the penalty blemish. [ 86 ]

International career [edit ]

“ George Best was one of the most talented players of all time and credibly the best football player who never made it to a major global final. ”

— 1974 World Cup winning West Germany captain Franz Beckenbauer on Best not playing at a World Cup. [ 47 ]
Best was capped 37 times for Northern Ireland, scoring nine goals. [ 2 ] Of his nine external goals, four were scored against Cyprus and one each against Albania, England, Scotland, Switzerland and Turkey. largely surrounded by teammates of lesser ability with Northern Ireland than with his clubhouse and lower expectations as a leave, Best considered his international career as being “ recreational football ”. [ 9 ] He is regarded as one of the greatest players never to have played at a World Cup, and like his namesake, Liberia star George Weah, he was “ hamstring in World Cup terms by hailing from a global minnow ”. [ 9 ] On 15 May 1971, Best scored possibly the most celebrated “ goal ” of his career at Windsor Park in Belfast against England. [ 87 ] As Gordon Banks, the English goalkeeper, released the musket ball in the air travel in orderliness to kick the ball downfield, Best managed to kick the ball foremost, which sent the testis high over their heads and heading towards the outdoors goal. [ 87 ] Best outpaced Banks and headed the ball into the empty goal, but the goal was disallowed by referee Alistair Mackenzie. [ 87 ] Best continued to be selected for Northern Ireland throughout the 1970s, despite his fluctuating form and off pitch problems. Dutch captain Johan Cruyff commented : “ What he [ Best ] had was alone, you ca n’t coach it ”. [ 88 ] Best was considered concisely by director Billy Bingham for the 1982 World Cup, but at the senesce of 35, with his football skills dulled by age and drink in ( and five years having passed since his last cap ), he was not selected for the Northern Ireland police squad. [ 9 ] A advocate of a United Ireland football team, in 2005 Best stated : “ I ‘ve constantly thought that at any given time both the Republic and Northern Ireland have had some great first players. I hush hope that in my life it happens. ” [ 89 ]

style of play [edit ]

Mural of George Best in Belfast in his dribble pose.

personal life [edit ]

During his early years at Old Trafford, Best was a shy adolescent who passed his rid fourth dimension in snooker halls. [ 94 ] however, he late became known for his long haircloth, effective looks and extravagant celebrity life style, and appeared on Top of the Pops in 1965. [ 95 ] He opened a cabaret called Slack Alice on Bootle Street in Manchester in 1973 and owned restaurants in the city including Oscars, on the web site of the old Waldorf Hotel. [ 96 ] [ 97 ] He besides owned fashion boutiques, in partnership with Manchester City player Mike Summerbee. Best ‘s cousin Gary Reid, a member of the Ulster Defence Association, was killed in 1974 during an episode of serious carouse in east Belfast. [ 98 ]

“ In 1969 I gave up women and alcohol—it was the worst 20 minutes of my life. ”

— Best quips on his life style. [ 99 ]
Best married Angela MacDonald-Janes on 24 January 1978 at Candlelight Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, having met in the United States when Best was playing for the Los Angeles Aztecs in 1976. Their son, Calum, was born in 1981, but they separated in 1982 and divorced in 1986. [ 100 ]

“ If I had to choose between dribbling by five players and scoring from 40 yards at Anfield or shagging Miss World, it ‘d be a hard choice. thankfully, I ‘ve done both. ”

— Best on life on and off the field. [ 101 ]
He married Alex Pursey in 1995 in Kensington and Chelsea, London. [ 102 ] They divorced in 2004 [ 103 ] with no children. In 2004, she alleged that Best was violent towards her at times during their marriage, an issue that was covered in Best ‘s authoritative 1998 biography “ Bestie “ in which Alex claimed that Best punched her in the confront on more than one juncture. [ 104 ] Earlier in the book it is revealed that he struck another of his girlfriends at least once and was arrested and charged with rape on a waitress, Stevie Sloniecka, in November 1972, when he fractured her nose in Reuben ‘s cabaret, Manchester. [ 105 ] He was successfully defended when the case reached court in January 1973 by barrister George Carman QC, a close toast companion of Best, as acknowledged in his bible, Scoring at Half Time .

Although the football pitch was his arena, Best was basically a pop music star—young, stylish, strikingly beautiful, possessed of a creative confidence that bordered on arrogance, and worshipped by young men and women alike. Like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, he epitomised the first, sudden, moral force emergence of a postwar youth culture that, for better or worse, would help define the rest of the hundred. Long before Beckham, he was Britain ‘s first football player as popular icon .Sean O’Hagan in The Guardian on Best’s celebrity status in the 1960s.[106]

At the flower of his career in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Best advertised Cookstown sausages on television with the phrase “ the Best family sausages ”. [ 107 ] In 2007 a memorial brass was placed outside the pork factory in the County Tyrone town. [ 107 ] In the early 1970s, Best besides advertised eggs, under the campaign “ E for B and Georgie Best, ” both in print and on television receiver, where “ E for B ” was short for “ Eggs for Breakfast. ” [ 108 ] Best had a cameo as himself in the 1971 british drollery film Percy. In 1984, he made a fitness album with Mary Stävin called Shape Up and Dance. The farm ‘s video for their 1992 cover version of The Human League ‘s “ Do n’t You Want Me “ featured Best mouthing the refrain. [ 109 ] A biographic film entitled Best was released in May 2000, with John Lynch portraying George Best. Indie rock ring The Wedding Present named their first album George Best, and featured Best on the blanket wearing his bolshevik Manchester United kit. After his death, Brian Kennedy and Peter Corry released a single entitled George Best – A Tribute. Best features in EA Sports ‘ FIFA video game series ; he was included as an icon in the FIFA 19 Ultimate Team Legends. [ 110 ] In 2007, GQ magazine named him as one of the 50 most stylish men of the past 50 years. [ 111 ] When Best played football, salaries were a fraction of what top players earn today, but, with his toss off star picture and fame status, Best still earned a luck. He lost about all of it. When asked what happened to the money he had earned, Best quipped : “ I spent a draw of money on drink, birds ( women ) and firm cars. The rest I fair squandered. ” [ 112 ] In 2012, Best was featured in the list of The New Elizabethans to mark the diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. A jury of seven academics, journalists and historians named Best among the group of people in the UK “ whose actions during the reign of Elizabeth II have had a significant affect on lives in these islands and given the age its fictional character ”. [ 93 ]

alcoholism [edit ]

“ I was born with a big giving, and sometimes with that comes a destructive streak. Just as I wanted to outdo everyone when I played, I had to outdo everyone when we were out on the town. ”

— Best on his excesses off the field. [ 113 ]
Best suffered from dipsomania for most of his adult life, leading to numerous controversies and, finally, his death. [ 114 ] In 1981, while playing in the United States, Best stole money from the bag of a woman he did not know in club to fund a drink seance. “ We were sitting in a barroom on the beach, and when she got up to go to the gutter I leaned over and took all the money she had in her bag. ” [ 115 ] In 1984, Best received a three-month prison sentence for toast drive, assaulting a patrol policeman and failing to answer bail. He spent Christmas of 1984 behind bars at Ford Open Prison. Contrary to democratic impression and urban caption, 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 drunkard and affirm, at one point saying to the host, “ Terry, I like screwing ”. [ 116 ] In 2002 he told The Guardian : “ I was ill and everyone could see it but me. ” [ 106 ]

Liver transplant and controversy [edit ]

Best was diagnosed with dangerous liver damage in March 2000. [ 117 ] His liver was said to be functioning at alone 20 %. [ 118 ] [ 119 ] In 2001, he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia. [ 120 ] At the end of July and begin of August 2002, he had a successful liver transplant at the private Cromwell Hospital in London. [ 117 ] He haemorrhaged then ill during the process that he about died. [ 121 ] The graft was performed at public expense on the NHS, a decision which was controversial due to Best ‘s alcoholism. [ 122 ] The controversy was reignited in 2003 when he was spotted openly drinking ashen wine spritzers. [ 114 ] On 2 February 2004, Best was convicted of another drink-driving discourtesy and banned from driving for 20 months. [ 123 ]

death [edit ]

Best continued to drink, and was sometimes seen at his local public house in Surbiton, London. On 3 October 2005, he was admitted to intensive care at the individual Cromwell Hospital in London, suffering from a kidney infection caused by the side effects of immuno-suppressive drugs used to prevent his body from rejecting his transplanted liver. [ 117 ] On 27 October, newspapers stated that Best was close to end and had sent a farewell message to his love ones. close friends in the game visited his bedside to make their farewells, including Rodney Marsh, and the two other members of the “ United Trinity ”, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law. [ 124 ] On 20 November, the british tabloid News of the World published a photograph of Best ( at his own request ) showing him in his hospital bed with jaundice, along with a warn about the dangers of alcohol with his message : “ Do n’t die like me ”. [ 124 ] In the early hours of 25 November 2005, treatment was stopped ; later that sidereal day he died, aged 59, as a consequence of a lung infection and multiple harmonium failure. [ 117 ] [ 125 ] Tributes were paid to Best from around the world, including from arguably three of the greatest football players ever, Pelé, Diego Maradona ( who died on the same go steady 15 years by and by ) and Johan Cruyff. [ 88 ] Maradona commented : “ George inspired me when I was young. He was flamboyant and stimulate and able to inspire his teammates. I actually think we were very similar players – dribblers who were able to create moments of magic trick. ” [ 88 ] Fellow Manchester United legend Eric Cantona gave a eulogy to Best : “ I would love him to save me a locate in his team, George Best that is, not God. ” [ 126 ] The Premier League announced that a minute ‘s silence would be observed before all Premier League games to be held over the weekend of his death ; however at many grounds a minute ‘s applause broke out in his honor. [ 127 ] The first match at Old Trafford after Best ‘s death was a League Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion, the club against which he made his introduction for Manchester United in 1963. [ 128 ] The equal, which United won, was preceded by tributes from former teammate Sir Bobby Charlton. Best ‘s son Calum and former teammates, surviving members from the West Brom team which he played against in his debut, all joined the stream United police squad on the pitch for a minute ‘s muteness, during which fans in every seat held aloft pictures of Best, which were given out before the equal. [ 128 ]

funeral [edit ]

Best ‘s grave at Roselawn Cemetery, overlooking east Belfast His torso left the class home at Cregagh Road, East Belfast, curtly after 10:00 UTC on Saturday, 3 December 2005. The cortege then travelled the short distance to Stormont. The route was lined with around 100,000 mourners. [ 129 ] Former Northern Ireland director Billy Bingham, international teammates Derek Dougan, Peter McParland, Harry Gregg, Gerry Armstrong and Denis Law were the first gear to carry the coffin to the floor of the Stormont steps. [ 129 ] There was an 11 am servicing in the Grand Hall attended by 300 tempt guests relayed to around 25,000 mourners inside the grounds of Stormont. Best ‘s buddy Ian, agent Phil Hughes, Dr Akeel Alisa, who treated Best, and his brother-in-law Norman McNarry and Alan McPherson, were besides pallbearers. As the cortege left Stormont, the Gilnahirk pipe band played. The funeral was live on respective television stations including BBC One. Afterwards, Best was interred beside his mother Annie Mary Best in a individual ceremony at the hill-top Roselawn Cemetery, overlooking east Belfast. [ 129 ]

Memorials [edit ]

Following his death, the George Best Belfast City Airport was named after him George Best bittersweet in Malahide, Dublin Belfast City Airport was renamed George Best Belfast City Airport as a protection to Best. [ 130 ] The official new name and signage was unveiled to a gather of the Best family and friends at the airport on 22 May 2006, which would have been his sixtieth birthday. populace opinion in Northern Ireland about the rename of the airport was divided, with one poll showing 52 % in favor and 48 % against. [ 131 ] Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP ) deputy leader and East Belfast Member of Parliament Peter Robinson, in whose constituency Belfast City airport is situated, stated that his preference was a sports stadium be named after Best. [ 132 ]

“ With feet ampere sensible as a pickpocket ‘s hands, his control of the musket ball under the most fierce coerce was astonishing. The bewildering repertory of feints and swerves … and libra that would have made Isaac Newton decide he might angstrom good have eaten the apple. ”

— Sports writer Hugh McIlvanney. [ 6 ]
In March 2006, the airline Flybe named a Dash 8 ( Q400 ) plane The George Best. The aircraft was belated used to carry Best ‘s family across to the Manchester memorial service for Best. [ 133 ] In June 2006, Sarah Fabergé, great-granddaughter of russian Imperial Jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé, was commissioned to create the George Best Egg, in tribute. A limited edition of 68 eggs were produced, with all profits from the sale of the eggs going to the George Best Foundation, which promotes health through sport and supports people with alcohol and drug problems. [ 134 ] The first egg is on display at the George Best Airport. For the inaugural anniversary of his death, Ulster Bank issued 1 million commemorative £5 notes. [ 135 ] The notes sold out in five days. [ 136 ] The notes sold on the on-line auction web site eBay for up to £30. [ 137 ] In December 2006, the George Best Memorial Trust launched a fund-raise drive to raise £200,000 in subscriptions to pay for a life-size bronze sculpt of George Best. By 2008 the money had still not been raised until a local developer, Doug Elliott, announced on 29 January 2008, that he would put up the remainder of the money and would manage rescue of the visualize. [ 138 ]

career statistics [edit ]

club [edit ]

International [edit ]

Appearances and goals by national team and year[146][147]
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Northern Ireland	1964	6	2
	1965	6	1
	1966	1	0
	1967	1	0
	1968	1	1
	1969	4	0
	1970	4	1
	1971	6	4
	1972	2	0
	1973	1	0
	1974	0	0
	1975	0	0
	1976	2	0
	1977	3	0
Total		37	9

Scores and results list Northern Ireland’s goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Best goal.

Honours [edit ]

Manchester United
Individual

Biographies [edit ]

Bestie (co-written with Joe Lovejoy),
The Good, The Bad and The Bubbly (with Ross Benson)
Blessed: The Autobiography (with Roy Collins)
George Best: A Celebration (Bernie Smith and Maureen Hunt)
Scoring at Half Time (with Martin Knight).
Hard Tackles and Dirty Baths (with Harry Harris)

George Best: The Movie [edit ]

In 2015, it was announced that a new movie about the biography of George Best was being worked on, directed by John-Paul Davidson. [ 158 ] The movie focuses on the breeding of George Best vitamin a good as his rise to a footballing star. The producers besides announced that the film would be partially crowdfunded in an undertake to make £500,000 towards its production. The film was slated for release in 2019 with the premier taking place in London. [ 159 ] In 2016, the objective George Best: All By Himself was released. [ 160 ]

Notes [edit ]

References [edit ]

General

Best, George (2005). Hard Tackles and Dirty Baths: The Inside Story of Football’s Golden Era. ISBN 0-09-190608-3.