George Best

At 59 years old, George Best has this physical status:

George Best (22 May 1946 – November 25, 2005) was a Northern Irish professional footballer who played as a winger, spending the majority of his club time at Manchester United.

He was named European Footballer of the Year in 1968, and is regarded as one of the best players of all time.

Best was praised by several commentators for his playing style, which combined speed, agility, balance, feints, two-footedness, goalscoring, and the ability to beat defenders in international football.

He never played in the finals of a major tournament due to a combination of the team's success and his inability in 1982.

He characterized his international work as "recreational football," with the hopes of a smaller country in Northern Ireland being much less than that of his club.

He is regarded as one of the best players to have ever played at a World Cup.

Best became one of Northern Ireland's first media celebrities, earning the nickname "El Beatle" in 1966, but his extravagant lifestyle resulted in various health issues, including alcoholism, which he suffered from for the remainder of his life.

These topics affected him both on and off the track, often causing controversies.

Despite being aware of his health problems, he was not concerned about them; instead, he said of his work: "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds [women] and fast cars [women] – the rest I just squandered."

He worked as a football analyst for a while, but his financial and health problems piled on into his retirement.

He died in 2005, at the age of 59, as a result of his immune system's autoimmune medications, which he needed to take following a liver transplant in 2002.

Early years and family

George Best was the first child of Richard "Dickie" Best (191919–2008) and Anne Withers (1922–1978). He was born on May 22, 1946, and grew up in Cregagh, east Belfast. Best was born in the Free Presbyterian faith. His father was a member of the Orange Order, and as a child George led the banner in his local Cregagh lodge. Best's autobiography illustrated how crucial the order was to his family. Carol, Barbara, Julie, and Grace, as well as one brother, Ian, were among the four sisters (Ian Busby Best).

Anne, the best's mother, died of alcoholism-related cardiovascular disease in 1978 at the age of 55. In the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, Northern Ireland, Best's father died on April 16, 2008, at the age of 88.

Best, a scholar at the university, left the 11-plus students at Grosvenor High School in 1957, but he quickly became a truant as the club specialized in rugby unions. Best then moved to Lisnasharragh Secondary School, reuniting him with his classmates from primary school and encouraging him to concentrate on football. He competed for Cregagh Boys Club. He grew up supporting Glentoran and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Personal life

Best was a shy teen who spent his free time in snooker halls during his time at Old Trafford. However, he came to fame in 1965 for his long hair, good looks, and lavish celebrity lifestyle, and rose to the top of the Pops.

He formed Slack Alice, a nightclub in Manchester, in 1973, and operated restaurants in the city, including Oscars, on the former Waldorf Hotel's site. In cooperation with Manchester City player Mike Summerbee, he also owned fashion boutiques. Gary Reid, the Best's cousin and a member of the Ulster Defence Association, was killed in 1974 during a period of widespread rioting in east Belfast.

Best Married Angela MacDonald-Janes married in Las Vegas on January 24, 1978, when she first arrived in the United States when Best was playing for the Los Angeles Aztecs in 1976. Calum's uncle was born in 1981, but they separated in 1982 and divorced in 1986.

In 1995, Alex Pursey married Alex Pursey in Kensington and Chelsea, London. They divorced in 2004 with no children. She alleged that Best was agressive to her at times during her marriage in 2004, one of the few things Alex addressed in Best's unauthorized 1998 biography "Bestie" in which Best punched her in the face on more than one occasion. Stevie Sloniecka, a waitress, was arrested and charged with assault on her mother, at least once, in November 1972, when she cracked her nose in Reuben's nightclub, Manchester. Barrister George Carman QC, a close drinking buddy of Best, was able to defend himself when the case reached court in January 1973, as mentioned in his book Scoring at Half Time.

Best advertised Cookstown sausages on television during his time in the late 1960s and early 1970s, coining the phrase "the Best family sausages" during his time in the late 1960s and early 1970s. A memorial plaque was unveiled outside the pork factory in the County Tyrone town in 2007. Best also sold eggs under the campaign "E for B and Georgie Best," both in print and on television, where "E for B" was short for "Eggs for Breakfast" in the early 1970s.

In the 1971 British comedy film Percy, the Best had a cameo as himself. Shape Up and Dance was his first studio album with Mary Stävin in 1984. The Farm's video for their 1992 cover version of The Human League's "Don't You Want Me" included Best mouthing the chorus. In May 2000, a biographical film called Best was released, with John Lynch portraying George Best. The Wedding Presenter, an Indie rock band, named George Best on their first album George Best, and Best was included on the front page wearing his red Manchester United kit. Following Brian Kennedy and Peter Corry's death, they released George Best – A Tribute. He was selected as an emblem in the FIFA 19 Ultimate Team Legends' best features; he was one of EA Sports' best features.

In 2007, GQ magazine named him one of the country's most fashionable men of the past 50 years. Best played football, salaries were just fractions of what top players earn today, but with his pop star fame and celebrity, Best still earned a fortune. He lost almost all of it. Best said: "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds (women) and fast cars when asking what happened to the money he had earned." "I just squandered."

Best was selected in the list of The New Elizabethans to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's diamond Jubilee in 2012. A jury of seven scholars, journalists, and historians named Best among the group of people in the United Kingdom "whose activities during Elizabeth II's reign have had a major effect on lives in these islands and have preserved their character."

Best suffered from alcoholism for the majority of his adult life, triggering a slew of scandals and, eventually, his death. Best stole money from the handbag of a woman he did not know in order to fund a drinking session in 1981 while playing in the United States. "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," he recalled.

Best received a three-month prison term for inebriated driving, assaulting a police officer, and refusing to answer bail. He spent Christmas of 1984 in Ford Open Prison. Contrary to common belief and urban legend, he never played football for the prison team. Best appeared on the primetime BBC chat show Wogan in which he was heavily inebriated and swore, at one point yelling the host, "I like screwing." In 2002, he told The Guardian, "I was ill and no one else could see it but me."

In March 2000, the best was diagnosed with serious liver disease. His liver was estimated to be at 20% only. He was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia in 2001. He had a fruitful liver transplant at the private Cromwell Hospital in London at the end of July and beginning of August 2002. He had so bad he died during the procedure that he almost died. The transplant was carried out at the NHS' expense, a decision that was controversial due to Best's alcoholism. The scandal was reignited in 2003 when he was caught openly drinking white wine spritzers. Best was found guilty of another drink-driving offence on February 2nd and barred from driving for 20 months.

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Club career

Best was discovered in Belfast by Manchester United scout Bob Bishop, whose telegram to United manager Matt Busby read: "I think I've found you a genius." Glentoran's hometown team had previously refused him for being "too small and light." United's chief scout Joe Armstrong subsequently gave the best a trial and signed up. Best became homesick and stayed for only two days before heading back to Northern Ireland for his first time. He returned to Manchester and spent two years as an amateur, because English clubs were not permitted to take Northern Irish players on as apprentices. On the Manchester Ship Canal, he was given a job as an errand boy, allowing him to train with the club twice a week.

Best won by 1–0 on his first appearance in the First Division at Old Trafford on September 14, 1963. In his second appearance in a 5–1 victory over Burnley on December 28, he was drafted back into the reserves before scoring his first goal for the first team. Matt Busby, the team's manager, made 26 appearances in the 1963–64 season, scoring six goals. Manchester United finished second, four points behind Liverpool. They also reached the FA Cup semi-finals, where Best's loss to West Ham United cost Best the chance 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 same birth date as Best. Best captained the Manchester United side that lifted the 1964 FA Youth Cup for the sixth FA Youth Cup under Jimmy Murphy's leadership, and the first since the 1958 Munich air disaster in 1958.

Despite the fact that opponents often use rough play to try to stifle his technical skills, Busby made sure that Best's "fierce, often brutal" training sessions had left him well prepared for dealing with challenging obstacles. Best helped Manchester United to win the league championship in 1964-65, his first full season as a first team regular. Leeds United's 1–0 victory at Elland Road brought the title race down to a game average between the "Red Devils" and bitter rivals Leeds United; Leeds did gain some measure of revenge by knocking Manchester United out of the FA Cup semi-finals; Manchester United's 1–0 win at Elland Road proved decisive. In 59 competitive games, Best scored 14 goals during the campaign. At Old Trafford, he scored the first goal of the 1965 FA Charity Shield, which resulted in a 2–2 draw with Liverpool.

Best, the rising star of English football, rose to superstar status at the age of 19 after scoring two goals in a European Cup quarter-final match against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz on March 9, 1966. Best was photographed on the airport tarmac in his new sombrero in his standout performance, allied with his dark Beatle mop-top hair, and the Portuguese media dubbed him "O Quinto Beatle" ("the fifth Beatle") on the team's return to England. His popularity and showmanship made him a fan and television favorite, and he went from being headline news in the back pages to the front pages.

In his native Belfast, there was also the "Belfast Boy" and he was often referred to as Georgie or Geordie. Nonetheless, United failed to win any major awards in the 1965–66 season, and Best was hurt from 26 March onwards with a twisted knee injury after a poor tackle by a Preston North End player. However, United staff argued that it was light ligament injury in order to keep Best on the field for the remainder of the season. He had no confidence in the United medical staff, and so he secretly saw Glentoran's physiotherapist, who reformed his ligaments in a painful procedure. He played in his last game of the season on April 13th, and Partizan Belgrade lost by 2–0 at Partizan Stadium.

Manchester United secured the league championship by four points again in 1966-67, as Manchester United defeated Manchester United to win the league championship by four points. "If the championship was decided on home games, we'd win it every season." Our away games made the difference this time. We're in the right mood of thinking about it. He played for ten years in 45 games, and he was an all-presenter. With FA Cup champion Tottenham Hotspur, he assisted the "Red Devils" in a 3–3 draw; it was the first game to be shown in colour on British television.

Best scored twice against Liverpool in a 2–0 win at Anfield and then threw a hat-trick over Newcastle United in a 6–0 home win in the penultimate league game of the season. However, Manchester City's home loss to hated local rivals Manchester City was costly, as City claimed the league title with a two-point advantage over United. However, United fans will remember the 1967–68 season as a European Cup champion. United beat Maltese Hibernians 2–1 home win, with John Aston assisting John Aston for the first and scoring the second himself, and Geoffrey Green of The Times characterized him as "the centrepiece of the chessboard" — a player full of imagination; a player lent magic to what should have been whimsy." United advanced past Polish club Górze 2–1 on aggregate, retaining their aggregate lead in freezing temperatures in front of 105,000 at Silesian Stadium, despite losing 1–0. Best scored the only goal of the home match against Real Madrid in the semi-finals, facing six times champions Real Madrid, according to Alex Stepney, who called the goal "one of Best's finest goals." Best was dominated by Manuel Sanch's Martnez's leadership, but it was only Best's atrocious play that got the best of him, when he yelled at Bill Foulkes, who calmly discovered the net to level the game at 3–3 and advance to win the aggregate tie 4–3.

Best was named as the youngest ever recipient of the award days after returning to England as the First Division's joint top-scoring champion (level with Southampton's Ron Davies). Benfica was the first team to play in the European Cup Final at Wembley Stadium; although his colleagues rested, Best found "a new way to relax" ahead of the big game by sleeping with "a particular young lady named Sue." Best went on a mad dash and beat goalkeeper José Henrique with a dummy before rolling the ball into the goal; two more goals from Brian Kidd and Bobby Charlton ended the match at 4–1. The victory was not only the pinnacle of Best's career, but it was also Manchester United's greatest achievement, considering that the Munich air tragedy took out the majority of the Busby Babes only ten years ago. After receiving more votes than Bobby Charlton, Dragan D'aji, and Franz Beckenbauer, the best also won the Ballon d'Or in 1968. He had won three major championships in club football at the age of 22 (the league championship, European Cup, and European Player of the Year award). He began slowly after this.

However, the 'holy trinity' of Best, Law, and Charlton was still as popular as ever in the 1968-1968 campaign. However, it became clear that the club's new recruits were not up to par when United dropped to 11th in the league before Busby announced his resignation. "I was getting the feeling that I was leading the team at times on the field," Best later said. In 55 games, he scored 22 goals in 55 games, but Denis Law scored more than six league goals. Fans and players alike looked forward to seeing United defeat Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata over the course of two legs in the Intercontinental Cup. As a 1–0 loss at the Estadio Cichero followed by a 1–1 draw at Old Trafford, Best said "no one attacked harder or grimier than this Argentinian team." Best was kicked and screamed over by José Hugo Medina, and both players were suspended after Best responded with a punch. Despite poor league form, United managed to progress to the European Cup semi-finals (they had a relatively straightforward road to defeating Waterford United, Belgium's Anderlecht, and Austria's Rapid Wien) in which they were eliminated 2–1 on aggregate by A.C. Milan, with Milan goalkeeper Fabio Cudicini being the hero after holding United States to just one goal at Old Trafford.

Book states:

Best's six-goal performance earned him an invitation from UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson, who had also written fan letters to him. The British people voted Best's record-breaking achievement No. 2 in 2002. On the list of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments, 26 are ranked 26. Busby returned as boss in December 1970, but the 1970-71 season ended without a trophy. Best was soon to be banned from three bookings for misconduct, and he was suspended by United after missing his train to Stamford Bridge in order to spend a weekend with actress Sinéad Cusack.

United was led by new boss Frank O'Farrell to an eighth-place finish in 1971–72. Best's matches against West Ham United and Southampton included hat-tricks as well as a goal against Sheffield United United's goal after he stunned four defenders in a mazy run. However, he was also sent off against Chelsea and did not turn up for training for a whole week in January after spending his time with Miss Great Britain 1971, Carolyn Moore. On November 17, he was the subject of Eamonn Andrews' biographical television show This Is Your Life when he was surprised at a central London restaurant. Michael Aspel surprised him at Teddington Studios for the second time in 2003. Best finished as the club's top-scoer for the sixth – and final – season with 27 goals in 54 appearances. Best then announced his retirement from football, but the team nevertheless turned up for pre-season training and continued to play.

United's demise in the 1972-73 season was apparent, as Best was part of the 'old guard clique' that barely talked to the younger, less talented players. Best went missing in December to party at the London nightclubs, frustrated with the club's demise. He was suspended and post-listed at £300,000. Best announced his resignation for the second time after O'Farrell was renamed as boss by Tommy Docherty. On the 27th of April, he returned to work.

Best's last competitive game for the club against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on January 1, 1974, when the club lost 3–0. He failed to turn up three days later for training and was suspended by Docherty, but Docherty denied him, though he said Docherty was deceitful with him. Best was arrested and charged with stealing a fur coat, passport, and cheque book from Marjorie Wallace Wallace, but she was cleared of all charges. In 1973-1974, United entered the Second Division, the first Division's relegation began.

When shirt numbers were assigned to positions, not the player, the best played at United. When Best played right wing, as he did during the 1966 and 1968 European Cups, he wore the number 7. He wore the number 11 as a left winger, where he appeared exclusively in his debut season and nearly all of the 1971-72 campaign. During the 1960s, the best wore the number 8 shirt at inside right on occasion, but not for more than half of his games during 1970–71. He was playing inside left (wearing the number 10) in 1972 as he walked out on United for the first time, but he was back in the number 11 for the fall of 1973 before leaving for good. With Bobby Charlton injured on March 22, 1969 at Old Trafford, the best wore the number 9 jersey in a 1–0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday. Best played in 470 games for Manchester United from 1963 to 1974, scoring 179 goals. He fell into a steady decline over the next decade, from stints in South Africa, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Australia.

Best of all competitive matches for the Jewish Guild in South Africa, Best was chastised for missing multiple training sessions. During his brief time there, he was the most popular draw attracted thousands of spectators to the matches.

Best played three games for Stockport County in the Fourth Division in 1975. He appeared on Cork Celtic from December 1975 to January 1976. On December 28, he made his League of Ireland debut against Drogheda United at Flower Lodge. He appeared in only three league games, the others against Bohemians and Shelbourne, but despite attracting huge audiences, he failed to score or impress. Cork's inability to turn up for a game resulted in him being suspended and eventually leaving the club.

He had a brief revival in form with Fulham in 1976-77, proving that although he'd lost some of his energy, he retained his skills. His time with the "Cottagers" is especially remembered for a match against Hereford United on September 25, 1976, in which he jokingly attacked his own teammate and old drinking buddy Rodney Marsh. Best and Marsh were attracted to the club by the presence of England World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore, and they were instrumental in exuberant goal celebrations.

Best played for three clubs in the United States: Los Angeles Aztecs, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, and later San Jose Earthquakes; he later appeared on the Detroit Express on a European tour. In his first season with the Aztecs and named as the NASL's best midfielder in his second season, he was a success on the track, scoring 15 goals in 24 games and being named as the country's best midfielder in his second season. In Hermosa Beach, California, Ken Adam and his crew opened "Bestie's Beach Club" (now known as "The Underground" after the London subway system) in the 1970s, and continued to operate it until the 1990s.

Best returned to the United Kingdom to play for the Scottish club Hibernian, sparking a stir. The club was suffering from a drop in sales and was headed for relegation from the Premier Division before Best was signed on a "pay per play" basis after the club chairman, Tom Hart, was alerted by an Edinburgh Evening News reporter that he was available. Despite Best's struggle to save Hibs from relegation, the gates increased dramatically for his first match at Easter Road, and the crowds grew strongly. Best was first fired by Hibs after he went on a massive drinking session with the French rugby team, who were in Edinburgh to play Scotland. A week later, he was recalled. He played 20 minutes for Scone Thistle against Scone Amateurs in August 1982; the appearance fee helped pay off an income tax bill.

He returned to the United States to compete for the San Jose Earthquakes in what was officially referred to as a "loan," but in the First Division, he made only a handful of appearances. Jackie McNamara's testimonial match against Newcastle United defeated Newcastle United in 1984. Best scored once in 12 appearances in his third season in the United States. His moves to Fort Lauderdale and San Jose were also traumatic as his off-field demons regained control of his life. He was invited as a guest player and appeared in three Hong Kong First Division matches (Sea Bee and Rangers), after struggling to find a mutual agreement with Bolton Wanderers in 1981. He played with his former Northern Ireland colleague Derek Spence while at HK Rangers. Best also played darts for a Hong Kong team called Presstuds, made up of a combination of professional footballers and sports journalists.

Don Megson, the former AFC Bournemouth manager, signed the 36-year-old Best for the Third Division in late 1982, and he continued his service until the 1982-83 season, when he retired from football at the age of 37. Best played in a friendly for Newry Town against Shamrock Rovers in August 1983, before deciding against the Brisbane Lions in the Australian National Soccer League for a brief four-match stint during the 1983 season. He was also a guest player for a demonstration match between Dee Why Football Club and Manly Warringah on July 27th, 1983; Dee Why won the match 2–1, with Best scoring the winning goal. In a friendly match against Reading on October 29, 1984, Best played as a special guest for Reading against the New Zealand national team. Martin Peters, a 1966 World Cup winner, was a special guest. Reading was defeated 2–1.

On August 8, 1988, a testimonial match for Best at Windsor Park took place. Sir Matt Busby, Jimmy Murphy, and Bob Bishop, the scout who discovered Best, were among the crowd, although Osvaldo Ardiles, Johan Nees, Pat Jennings, and Liam Brady were among those competing. One goal from outside the box, the other from the penalty spot, was enough.

International career

For Northern Ireland, the highest was scored nine goals. Of his nine international goals, four were scored against Cyprus and one each against Albania, England, Scotland, Switzerland, and Turkey. Best described his international career as being "recreational football" despite being surrounded by teammates with less experience with Northern Ireland than with his club and lower aspirations. He is regarded as one of the top players never to have played at a World Cup, and like his namesake, Liberia star George Weah, he was "hamstrung in World Cup terms by hailing from a global minnow."

Best scored possibly the most famous "goal" of his career against England on May 15, 1971 at Windsor Park in Belfast. Best managed to kick the ball downfield in order to kick the ball downfield, kicking the ball high over their heads and heading for the open goal as Gordon Banks, the English goalkeeper, announced the ball first. The best beat Banks and sailed the ball into the empty goal, but referee Alistair Mackenzie disallowed the goal.

Despite his inconsistent form and off pitch issues, the best continued to be selected for Northern Ireland in the 1970s. "What he [Best] had was unique, you can't teach it," Dutch captain Johan Cruyff said.

Best was considered briefly by manager Billy Bingham for the 1982 World Cup, but after his football abilities were hampered by age and alcohol (and five years since his last cap), he was not chosen for the Northern Ireland squad. In 2005, a proponent of a United Ireland football team said: "I've always believed that both the Republic and Northern Ireland have had some outstanding world-class players at any given moment." I still wish that this never happens in my lifetime.

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