Lets look at some legends-George ("The belfast boy") Best

Born: 22 May, 1946
Country: Northern Ireland

Played For

-Manchester United (1963-74)
-Stockport County (1975)
-Cork Celtic (1975-76)
-Los Angeles Aztecs (1976+1977+1978)
-Fulham FC (1976-77)
-Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1979+1980)
-Hibernian FC (1979-80)
-San Jose Earthquakes (1979-80+1981)
-A.F.C. Bournemouth (1983)
-Brisbane Lions (1983)


George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) is widely acknowledged to have been one of the greatest football players of all time, remembered for his halcyon days with Manchester United F.C.. He played for the Northern Ireland football team, but their failure to reach the final rounds of the World Cup denied him the ultimate global stage.

At the age of 15, Best was discovered in Belfast by Manchester United scout Bob Bishop, whose telegram to United manager Sir Matt Busby read: "I have found a genius". His local club Glentoran had previously rejected him for being "too small and light". Best was subsequently given a trial and signed up by chief scout Joe Armstrong in 1961. He turned professional and made his debut for Manchester United in 1963 against West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford. He became world-famous at the age of eighteen when he scored three goals in a European Cup match against Benfica in 1966, and scored in United's European Cup final win against the same club in 1968.

He made 466 appearances for Manchester United in all competitions, scoring 178 goals (including six in one game against Northampton Town). Best was United's top scorer for six consecutive seasons. During this run he also topped the first division scoring charts in 1967-68 with 28 goals, remarkable for a player who was not an out-and-out striker. In 1974, the 27-year-old 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.

Over the next decade, Best drifted between several football clubs including spells in America, Scotland and Australia. He 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. At San Jose Earthquakes, the club was owned by Milan Mandaric with whom George developed a close relationship over the years. Throughout 2004 George was often seen with Milan at the club he runs, Portsmouth FC. In 1983 George finally retired from the game, at the age of 37. His last games as a professional were with third division A.F.C. Bournemouth.

He was capped 37 times for Northern Ireland, scoring nine goals. He played mainly as a winger and was known for his dribbling skills and passing. Many say it was a shame that Best never got to perform on the world stage due to Northern Ireland's lack of success. Best called for a United Ireland soccer team on more than one occasion. On 15 May 1971, Best scored the cheekiest and arguably the most famous 'goal' of his career at Windsor Park in Belfast against Gordon Banks. The English goalkeeper was about to kick the ball downfield and dropped the ball towards his left foot. However, Best had anticipated the move and, with his right boot, knocked the ball up in the air behind Banks. The famous duo both scrambled towards the net but Best outpaced Banks and headed the ball into the empty goal, to the delight of the home supporters. His effort was disallowed for ungentlemanly conduct by a referee whose back had been turned away from the incident, but even this untimely and incorrect intervention did not spare Banks the embarrassment of having been outwitted.

Diego Maradona has frequently named Best as his all-time favourite player, and Pelé once stated that Best was the best player he ever saw play. He also named him as one of the 125 best living footballers in his 2004 FIFA 100 list.

In 1988, a testimonial match was held for Best at Windsor Park, Belfast. Amongst 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.