GEORGE BEST Born: 22 May 1946 in Belfast. Nickname: El Beatle. Position: Left wing, right wing. Caps: Northern Ireland 37 (1964-1977) / 9 goals League Games: England 361 (1963-1974) / 136 goals Ireland 3 (1975-76) / 0 goals USA (NASL) 150 (1976-1981) / 56 goals England II. Division 42 (1976-78) / 8 goals Scotland II. Division 17 (1980-81) / 3 goals Domestic Cup Games: English Cup 47 (1963-1974 & 1976-78) / 21 goals Scottish Cup 3 (1980-81) / 0 goals International Cup Games: Champions’ Cup 21 (1965-1969) / 9 goals Fairs Cup 11 (1964-65) / 1 goal Cup Winners’ Cup 2 (1963-64) / 0 goals Intercontinental Cup 2 (1969) / 0 goals European Footballer of the Year: 1967 (8th), 1968 (winner), 1969 (6th), 1971 (3rd) English Footballer of the Year: 1968 Trophies & Tournaments: World Cup participation: - European Championship: – British Champion: 1964 European Champions Cup: 1968 European Champions Cup beaten finalist: - European Cup Winners Cup: - European Cup Winners Cup beaten finalist: - UEFA/Fairs Cup: – UEFA/Fairs Cup beaten finalist: - Intercontinental Cup winner: - English Champion: 1965, 1967 English runner-up: 1964, 1968 English Cup winner: - English Cup beaten finalist: - Top League Goal Scorer: 1968 It is unlikely that any player in the history of the game has ever garnered as much attention, opprobrium and adulation as George Best. For the past 40 years he has enthralled the British public as much through his hell-raising off the pitch as his genius on it. However, despite the controversy that has often followed Best there are few that could deny he is among the most talented figures to ever kick a ball. Best was born on May 22nd 1946 in Belfast and it was not long before his prodigious footballing abilities began to surface. In 1961 he arrived in Manchester, a skinny teenager, seeking footballing fame with a Manchester United side still struggling to cope with the aftermath of the Munich air disaster which had ripped the heart out of the club and killed so many of its leading players. Despite his early homesickness Best stuck it out at United, and made his debut in a league match against West Bromwich Albion in 1963. The following year Best really started to make his mark and was called up to the Northern Ireland squad for whom he made his debut in a game against Wales at Swansea. In 1965 Manchester United were crowned English champions and the following season entered the European Cup with much expected of the young Best. He was not to disappoint. In the quarter final Manchester United faced Benfica, the side that had so far dominated the decade and still including such talents as Eusebio and Coluna. United annihilated Benfica 8-3 on aggregate, with Best in astonishing form at the Luz. Best had already been given the title of the “5th Beatle” as reference to his film star looks and crowd pleasing abilities. When he stepped off the plane returning from Lisbon that nickname changed to “El Beatle”, as he was christened by the Iberian media. Despite United being eliminated by Partizan Belgrade in the semis Best was truly starting to be noticed throughout Europe for his mesmeric dribbling skills and his superb touch with both feet. In 1967 United repeated their league success, and went into the 1968 European Cup hoping to match Celtic’s performances of the year before that had seen them become the first British European Champions. United’s trip to the final provided some superb matches, but none could equal a thrilling Wembley final. Who better for Best to face than Benfica, the team that he had destroyed almost single-handedly two years earlier? In a tight game Bobby Charlton put United ahead before Graca levelled with just 9 minutes remaining. With just seconds left the great Eusebio spurned a golden opportunity to win the game for Benfica and the game went to extra-time. It was to be a costly miss, as early in extra-time Best ghosted past two defenders to put United ahead before Kidd and Charlton added further goals against a demoralised Benfica side. It was a fitting end to a great season for Best, he had been top scorer in the league and was later crowned European Player of the Year following his team-mates Denis Law and Bobby Charlton. Later in the year though Best was to witness the other side of the “Beautiful Game” as United faced Estudiantes of Argentina in the World Club Cup. Although these games were supposed to be a showcase occasion for the sport, little was done to enrich the reputation of either team. The tone was set for the fist match in Buenos Aires by Nobby Stiles the combative United midfielder being described in the programme notes as “brutal, badly intentioned and a bad sportsman”. Given the ignominious exit of Argentina at the WC in England 2 years earlier it was no surprise that the game would be more than little heated. While many United players were kicked from pillar to post, most notably Stiles, Best was showered with missiles thrown by the home fans. United lost the game 1-0 but the score line was largely immaterial. In the return leg Best was dismissed for fighting in another bruising brutal encounter that eventually ended 1-1. The winning of the European Cup marked a major change at United in Best’s eyes. “For Matt (Busby) and Bobby Charlton, for Bill Foulkes, for Denis Law … they’d done it. And they sat back and you could almost hear the energy and ambition sighing out of the club. It was like being in at the winding up of a company”, Best later said. In 1969 Busby retired and returned but his presence haunted the club and only served to undermine future managers as the club desperately sought to maintain the hegemony of the English and European game. Best though while troubled by the off field antics could still turn on the style when needed. In 1970 United played Northampton Town in the FA Cup fifth round, and Best scored 6 as United won 8-2. In the 1971-2 season United started the well and at one point led the league by a massive 8 points, but their form fell away as they finished a disappointing 8th. The following years saw Best increasingly lose his passion for both United and football, and in 1973-4 he left the club aged just 27. He was subsequently banned by FIFA until he joined Stockport County and the ban was lifted in 1975. He later joined a succession of clubs including Fulham, for whom he scored after 71 seconds of his debut. The years after the European Cup victory saw Best increasingly live his life more like a rock star than a footballer and his game was the victim. Best’s career after football was no less eventful than his playing days, but it was somewhat less admirable. In 1984 Best was jailed for 12 weeks for drink driving, assaulting a policeman and failing to answer bail. Best’s cavalier attitude to the game and reputation as one of the 20th century’s greatest playboys has been cemented by a number of now infamous quotes. Choice among them were “They said I had 5 Miss Worlds but it was only 3” and “I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars, the rest I just squandered”. However, while these have endeared him to so many fans over the years, few would deny that they also represent the incredible talent Best, to some extent, squandered. When he won his European Cup Best was just 22 and had the whole world at his feet, he had the opportunity to prove that he was the game’s finest ever exponent as so many in Britain believe. Instead Best’s career had already fallen apart before he had even reached the age at which most players peak. While there is no denying the incredible performances that Best produced in his pomp, there will always be a sense of what might have been. Best’s renown guarantees that he is never short of work as a pundit and after-dinner speaker and he at present is part of Sky’s Gillette Soccer Saturday team. Domestic Club Games Season - Club - Games – Goals – [Caps / Goals] 1963/64 Manchester United............17 / 04 [ 2 / 0 ] 1964/65 Manchester United............41 / 10 [ 7 / 3 ] 1965/66 Manchester United............31 / 09 [ 3 / 0 ] 1966/67 Manchester United............42 / 10 [ 1 / 0 ] 1967/68 Manchester United............41 / 28 [ 1 / 0 ] 1968/69 Manchester United............41 / 18 [ 4 / 1 ] 1969/70 Manchester United............37 / 15 [ 4 / 1 ] 1970/71 Manchester United............40 / 18 [ 6 / 4 ] 1971/72 Manchester United............40 / 18 [ 2 / 0 ] 1972/73 Manchester United............19 / 04 [ 1 / 0 ] 1973/74 Manchester United............12 / 02 [ 1 / 0 ] 1974 ....Dunstable Town FC............Southern League 1975 ....Stockport County FC..........IV. Division 1975/76 Cork Celtic FC...................03 / 00 1976 ....Los Angeles Aztecs.............24 / 15 [ 3 / 0 ] 1976/77 Fulham FC........................II. Division 1977 ....Los Angeles Aztecs.............25 / 13 [ 3 / 0 ]2 1977/78 Fulham FC........................II. Division 1978 ....Fort Lauderdale Strikers......12 / 01 1979 ....Fort Lauderdale Strikers......19 / 02 1980 ....San José Earthquakers........26 / 08 1980-81 Hibernian FC Edinburgh.......II. Division 1981 ....San José Earthquakers........30 / 13 1982-83 Motherwell FC...................II. Division 1983 ....Arbroath Victoria................III. Division 1983 ....AFC Bournemouth...............III. Division 1984 ....Nuneaton Borough FC..........Conference League 1984 ....Tobermore FC....................B-Division International Club Games 1963/64 Manchester United...ECII.........02 / 00 1964/65 Manchester United...Fairs Cup..11 / 01 1965/66 Manchester United...ECI..........06 / 04 1967/68 Manchester United...ECI..........09 / 03 1968/69 Manchester United...ECI..........06 / 02
Here is a link to the master thread of profiles. https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232370
I remember walking into a London pub in 1993 one Saturday evening. The whole pub was singing to the tune of Yellow Submarine: And number one is Georgie Best And number two Is Georgie Best...... Chorus: We all live in a Georgie Best world a Georgie Best world a Georgie Best world We all........ It was like home from home Damn! I won't get that tune out of my head for the rest of the day now
In this months Champions Mag Bestie was named as one of 19 Footballers who changed the world.... Cantona was profiled as well..... Glory Glory Man United.......
Go to the following website and select the download (Left hand side) of Bestie's greatest goal while playing in the states! http://eteamz.active.com/naslearthquakes One of the best talents ever!
Yeah, it was even better when viewed live through a child's eyes. It wasn't until years later that I realized that Thomas Rongen and Ray Hudson were among the victims of that....
I cannot find the words to adequately describe just how great he was. I prefer to let the stats, clips and stories do the taking.
"E for B and Georgie Best" that was the cry in the 60's I have been on your board with some ascerbic comments in the past but I stand right with you on this one, George Best was a wonderful, wonderful, player. Certainly the finest player to never grace the World Cup, which was a tremendous shame. I am praying as hard as you folks for his recovery. He was one of the world's greats and I feel privileged to have seen him play at his finest.
Is there any place where I can get clips of him? So far the only ones I have are his goal for San Jose, and a short tribute for him done in England where he received an achievement award from Bobby Charlton.