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George Best

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Template:Football player infobox2

For the 1987 album by The Wedding Present, see George Best (album).

George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) was a football player from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was one of the first celebrity footballers and his extravagant lifestyle led to problems with alcoholism which curtailed his playing career and eventually led to his death in 2005 at the age of 59 from a kidney infection; a side-effect of the immuno-suppressive drugs he was required to take after a liver transplant.

As a footballer, he is mainly remembered for his days with Manchester United, with whom he won the European Cup, and was himself named the European Footballer of the Year, in 1968, his annus mirabilis; after that began a steady decline. In 1999, Best was voted 11th, behind Marco van Basten at the IFFHS European Player of the Century election and 16th, behind Lothar Matthäus, in the World Player of the Century election.[1] Pelé named him as one of the 125 best living footballers in his 2004 FIFA 100 list and Best was named 19th, behind Gerd Müller, at the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll.

He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders. When fit, he was an automatic choice for the Northern Ireland team, but he was never able to lead them to the World Cup and display his talent on the world stage. Even so, his ability was known internationally and he was the boyhood idol of Diego Maradona.[2] In his native Northern Ireland he is usually considered the finest player to ever take the field, summed up by the local saying: "Pelé good; Maradona better; George Best."[3]

Best's lovable, cheeky image won him many fans, during his career and after, but public drunkenness on TV, his convictions for drunk driving and assaulting a policeman, allegations of domestic violence, and his inability to give up drinking even after the transplant, meant that not everyone was so well disposed towards him. Nonetheless, 100,000 people turned out on a rainy day for his funeral in East Belfast.

Manchester United

File:BestCregaghEstateMural.jpg
The Cregagh Estate honoured George Best by unveiling a mural on what would have been his 60th birthday.

At the age of 15, 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."[4] His local club Glentoran had previously rejected him for being "too small and light".[5] Best was subsequently given a trial and signed up by chief scout Joe Armstrong.

Best made his Manchester United debut, aged 17, on 14 September 1963 against West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford in a 1-0 victory. Two weeks later Best scored his first goal against Burnley. By the close of the season Best had 6 goals, and Manchester United finished second, behind champions Leeds United.

In his second season, 1964-65, Best and Manchester United claimed the league title.

Best hit the headlines the age of twenty when he scored two goals in a European Cup quarter-final match against Benfica in 1966, and was dubbed "El Beatle" in the press.

Best's talent and showmanship made him a crowd and media favourite. He was dubbed "the fifth Beatle" for his long hair, good looks and extravagant celebrity lifestyle, and even appeared on Top of the Pops in 1965.[6]

The 1966-67 season was again successful as Manchester United claimed the league title by four points. The following season Best became a European Cup winner after scoring in the final against Benefica. United won 4-1 and Best was later crowned European Footballer of the Year and Football Writers' Association Player of the Year.

He opened two nightclubs in Manchester, in the late 1960s, Oscar's and the other called Slack Alice's (which later became 42nd Street Nightclub). He also owned fashion boutiques, in partnership with Mike Summerbee of Manchester City. However, he developed problems with gambling, womanising and alcoholism.

In 1974, aged 27, Best was sacked by United for excessive drinking and persistent failure to attend training sessions and matches. His last competitive game for the club was on 1 January 1974 against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

In total Best made 466 appearances for Manchester United in all competitions from 1963 to 1974, and scored 178 goals (including six in one game against fourth division Northampton Town). He was the clubs top scorer for six consecutive seasons, and was the First Division's top scorer in the 1967-68 season.

Over the next decade he went into an increasingly rapid decline, drifting between several clubs, including spells in America, Scotland, and Australia.

In 1988 a testimonial match was held for Best at Windsor Park. Among the crowd were Sir Matt Busby and Bob Bishop, the scout who discovered Best, while those playing included Ossie Ardiles, Pat Jennings and Liam Brady. Best scored twice, one goal from outside the box, the other from the penalty spot.

Fulham

Best had a brief resurgence in form with Fulham F.C. in 1976-77, showing that, although he had lost some of his pace, he retained his skills. He time with the Cottagers is particularly remembered for an FA Cup game against Hereford United in which he tackled his teammate, and old drinking mate, Rodney Marsh. Best stated later in life that he enjoyed his time most while at Fulham, despite not winning any honours.

America

Best played for three clubs in America: Los Angeles Aztecs, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and San Jose Earthquakes; he also played for the Detroit Express on an European tour. Best revelled in the anonymity America afforded him after England and was a success on the field, too, scoring 15 goals in 24 games in his first season with the Aztecs and was named as the NASL's best midfielder in his second.[7] He opened "Bestie's Beach Club" (now called "The Underground" after the London subway system) in Hermosa Beach, California, in the city through the 70s, 80s and 90s.

In his third season in the States Best scored only once in 12 appearances. His moves to Fort Lauderdale and San Jose were also unhappy, as his off-field demons began to take control of his life again.

In 1983 Best finally retired from the game at the age of 37. His last games as a professional were with third division A.F.C. Bournemouth.

Northern Ireland

He was capped 37 times for Northern Ireland , scoring nine goals. On 15 May 1971, Best scored the cheekiest and arguably the most famous "goal" of his career at Windsor Park in Belfast against England. As Gordon Banks, the English goalkeeper, attempted to kick the ball downfield, Best kicked the ball out of his hands over his head, and outpaced him to head it into the empty net. Despite the home crowd's delight, the goal was disallowed for dangerous play.

Career honours

With Manchester United:

Personal:

Later careers

In 1998, Best became a football pundit on Sky Sports.

In November 2004 Best agreed to join FA Premier League club Portsmouth F.C. as a youth coach, citing his desire to get involved in football again.

Alcoholism

In 1984, Best received a three-month prison sentence for drunk driving, assaulting a police officer and failing to answer bail. He spent Christmas of 1984 behind bars and turned out as a player for Ford Open Prison.

On 2 February 2004, Best was convicted of another drunk driving offence and banned from driving for 20 months.

In September 1990, Best appeared on an edition of primetime BBC chat show Wogan in which he was clearly drunk and swore, at one point saying to the host, "Terry, I like screwing".[8] He later apologized and said this was one of the worst episodes of his alcoholism.

In 2002, he had a liver transplant at King's College Hospital in London. In 2003 he was the focus of much criticism when, despite his transplant, he openly drank white wine spritzers and was accused of being selfish and having no regard for other people's feelings. Also in 2004, his second wife Alex Best appeared as a contestant on the reality television programme I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! and alleged that Best physically abused her during their relationship.

Illness and death

Gates of Belfast City Hall soon after Best's death, Another view.
Graffiti honouring Best like this one in the New Lodge area appeared all over Belfast after his death.

Best continued to drink, and was sometimes seen at his local pub in Petersfield, Hampshire. On 3 October 2005 Best was admitted to intensive care at the private Cromwell Hospital in London, suffering from kidney problems caused by the side-effects of immuno-suppressive drugs used to prevent his body from rejecting his transplanted liver. On 27 October, newspapers stated that Best was close to death and had sent farewell messages to his loved ones. Best's condition improved at first, but deteriorated again in November. On 20 November the British tabloid News of the World published a picture of Best at his own request, showing him in his hospital bed, along with what was reported to be his final message: "Don't die like me".

In the early hours of 25 November 2005 Best's treatment was stopped; he eventually died, after a battle that lasted longer than doctors had expected, at 13:06 GMT from a lung infection and multiple organ failure.[9]

The FA Premier League announced that a minute's silence would be observed before all Premiership games to be held over the weekend of his death, however, this tradition was ignored at many grounds, in favour of a minute's applause in his honour. 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 debut for Manchester United in 1963. The match was preceded by tributes from former team-mate Sir Bobby Charlton, and Best's son Callum and former team-mates, surviving members from the West Bromwich Albion team which he played against in his debut, all joined the current United squad on the pitch for a minute's silence, during which fans held aloft pictures of Best, which were given out to all fans before the match for free.

Funeral

His body left the family home at Cregagh Road, East Belfast, shortly after 10 a.m. UTC on Saturday, December 3, 2005. The cortège then travelled the short distance to Stormont. The route was lined with around 100,000 mourners. There was an 11 a.m. service in the Grand Hall relayed to around 25,000 mourners inside the grounds of Stormont, and live on BBC One, UTV, RTÉ, ITV News, BBC News 24, Sky News, Sky Sports News, EuroNews and MUTV. Afterward, Best was buried beside his mother Annie Elizabeth Kelly in a private ceremony at the hill-top Roselawn Cemetery, overlooking east Belfast.

Memorials

The new airport signage

Belfast City Airport was renamed George Best Belfast City Airport as a tribute to Best.[10] The official new name and signage was unveiled to a gathering of the Best family and friends at the airport on 22 May 2006 which would have been his 60th birthday.

Some in Northern Ireland considered the renaming of the airport to be appropriate, with one poll showing only 52% in favour and 48% against.[11][12] DUP deputy leader and East Belfast MP Peter Robinson stated that his preference was a sports stadium be named after Best.[13] The move generated negative comments beyond Northern Ireland [14]

In March 2006, airline Flybe, named a Dash 8 (Q400) plane The George Best. The aircraft was later used to carry Best's family across to the Manchester memorial service for Best.[15]

File:Bestfiver.jpg
The Best Five Pound Note

For the first anniversary of his death, Ulster Bank issued one million commemorative five pound notes.[16] The notes sold out in five days.[17] The notes sold on the online auction site eBay for up to £30.[18]

Family

George was the first child of Dickie and Anne. He had three sisters, Barbara, Julie and Grace, and a brother, Ian.

Best was married twice, first to Angela MacDonald-James (1978-1986), by whom he had a son, Calum, and second to Alex Pursey (1995-2004). He is reported to have had two daughters by other women.[19]

George Best on the cover of The Wedding Present's 1987 album he lent his name to.

Best has been the subject of many books and wrote numerous himself, including four major autobiographies, starting with Bestie, which was co-written with Joe Lovejoy. The Good, The Bad and The Bubbly, with Ross Benson, was the first to touch on his alcoholism. His two latest were Blessed: The Autobiography, co-written with Roy Collins, and Scoring at Half Time, co-written with Martin Knight shortly before his death.

British group The Fall mentioned Best in their 1983 football-themed single, Kicker Conspiracy, with the line: "In the Blues Club/ George Best does rule," in reference to Best's popularity even amongst Manchester City (the "Blues") fans.[20] Lead-singer Mark E. Smith has said that even though he is a City fan, he often went with mates to watch United just so he could see Best play.[citation needed]

In 1984, Best made a fitness video with Mary Stavin called "Shape Up And Dance".

The song Belfast Boy by Don Fardon honours Best with its chorus of "Georgie, Georgie, they call you the Belfast Boy." It was re-released as a single to commemorate Best's death.[21]

Indie group The Wedding Present's 1987 debut album was titled George Best and featured him on the cover (pictured, right).

The Belfast Oi Punk band Runnin' Riot have a song titled "Alcoholic Heroes" written about George Best.[citation needed]

A picture of Best can be seen on the front cover of the 1994 album Definitely Maybe by Oasis. This is mainly due to the fact that then rhythm guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs is a Manchester United fan.

See also

Wikiquote has quotations related to George Best.

Notes

  1. ^ IFFHS' Century Elections
  2. ^ Mark Brealey, "My night with Diego", the Observer, 2 July 2000
  3. ^ "A city mourns for the Belfast boy", BBC News Northern Ireland, 3 December 2005
  4. ^ Scotsman
  5. ^ Anne Cadwallader, "Best too small and light for local club as teen", Tiscali News, 25 November 2005
  6. ^ The Rolling Stones - The Last Time (video clip)
  7. ^ Sean O'Conor, "Best's American Years", Yanks Abroad, 26 November 2005
  8. ^ Video clip on YouTube
  9. ^ "George Best very close to death", "Football legend George Best dies", BBC News, 25 November 2005
  10. ^ "Belfast City Airport to be renamed in honour of George Best", 21 March 2006, Belfast City Airport website; "Best family proud of airport name", 22 May 2006, BBC News
  11. ^ The Scotsman
  12. ^ belfast-airport.info
  13. ^ uk-airport-news.info
  14. ^ Guardian
  15. ^ "Flybe pays tribute to George Best!", 15 March 2006, Flybe website
  16. ^ "Bank note honour for George Best". BBC Online. 26 October 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ BBC News
  18. ^ BBC News
  19. ^ "Best's two secret kids", Daily Mirror
  20. ^ Lyrics to "Kicker Conspiracy" on the Unoffical Fall Website
  21. ^ "Belfast Boy [Single] - Don Fardon". Product page on Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
Preceded by European Footballer of the Year
1968 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year
1968 		Succeeded by
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