Soccer in the 1970s: George Best and Bob McAlinden outside the Bestie's Bar & Restaurant they opened in Hermosa Beach, California, in 1977.
Football. 4th September 1976. Fulham 1 v Bristol Rovers 0. Legendary former Manchester United player GEORGE BEST scores on his debut for Fulham. NASL Memories: George Best had burned his bridges at Manchester United and played half-heartedly in South Africa and Ireland when he approached longtime pal Bob McAlinden in late 1975 with a plan. "Listen, I’m going to make a comeback," Best said. "I want to start playing again in America. Everyone thinks I’m going to New York but I’m not. I don’t want to go there. I’m going to LA, to California." Born on 22 May 1946, Best then embarked on the 2nd-most successful phase of storied career, which encompassed 139 games over 6 NASL seasons with the Los Angeles Aztecs, (1976-78), Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1978-79) and San Jose Earthquakes (1980-81). Best racked up 54 goals and 54 assists in North America, leading the league with a then-record 18 assists in 1977, earning 4 all-NASL honors, and finishing as the NASL's 23rd all-time leading scorer. Capped 37 times for Northern Ireland, Best is often referred to as the "greatest player never to play in the World Cup," and his playboy image and unchecked alcoholism took a heavy toll. A liver transplant failed and Best suffered kidney failure in 2005, sadly dying at the age of 59. Happy 77th birthday to Bob McAlinden (number eight), the 5-foot-7 English winger whose journeyman career switched gears once he signed with the Los Angeles Aztecs in 1976, notching 9 goals and 17 assists in 3 NASL seasons, then later played with the Memphis Rogues (1979) and indoors with the San Jose Earthquakes (1980-81), and enjoyed a long friendship with George Best that included co-ownership of Bestie's Bar and Restaurant in Hermosa Beach, CA.
Happy 77th Birthday to the greatest footballer I've ever seen live! George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005)
Soccer in the 1970s: Ray Hudson and George Best work out tactics during a Fort Lauderdale Strikers practice at Lockhart Stadium.
George and Angie Best in their jeep in San Jose. Angie was expecting the couples first and only child, Calum Best.
Football. Manchester United LEGEND footballer George Best poses, looking relaxed on Hermosa Beach, USA
NASL Dateline: On 26 June 1977, Pelé scored the 3rd and final hat trick of his NASL career and cancelled out goals by George Best and Steve David as the New York Cosmos downed the Los Angeles Aztecs, 5-2, before 57,191 at Giants Stadium.
NASL Action: Fort Lauderdale Strikers forward George Best dribbles away from Detroit Express forward Alan Brazil at the Pontiac Silverdome.
George Best.and Bobby McAlinden Elton John (5), George Best (11), Bob McAlinden (8) George Best (11), Brian Budd (9), Bob McAlinden (8) Vancouver Whitecaps at Los Angeles Aztecs Terry Mancini (14), Bob McAlinden (8), George Best (11), Franz Beckenbauer (6) Los Angeles Aztecs at New York Cosmos Bobby Sibbald, Terry Mancini, Phil Beal, Bernie Fagan, George Best, Charlie Cooke, Martin Cohen, Ron Davies, Steve David, Bob McAlinden
GEORGE BEST football player who was admired more than anyone else in the world. First person Diego Maradona wanted to meet when he came to England was, George Best.
How many Messi fan boys never even heard of George Best? Has to be in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions.
FRANZ BECKENBAUER AND GEORGE BEST TWO OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD ,IN A CHARITY EXHIBITION IN LONDON MATCH 1989.
Tony Donlic (16), Pele (10), George Best, Charlie Mitchell (19) New York Cosmos at Los Angeles Aztecs