| 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 accurate
passing.
Best has often been called the most naturally gifted player from
the British Isles, rivaled only by Pelé and Diego Maradona
on the world stage. Maradona himself has frequently named Best as
his all-time favourite player [1]. Pelé once stated that
George Best was the best player he ever saw play and named him as
one of the 125 best living footballers in his 2004 FIFA 100 list.
His talent might have been recognised more on the world stage had
his national team not been a relative "minnow" (Best often
said that he would like to see a United Ireland soccer team like
those in rugby and hockey).
Celebrity
While at Manchester United, Best's talent and showmanship made him
a crowd and media favourite. He was dubbed "the fifth Beatle"
for his long hair and good looks, but his extravagant celebrity
lifestyle led to problems with gambling, womanising and alcoholism.
Best often told the story of a bellboy who entered his hotel room
with breakfast in the early 1970s. Seeing Best in bed with the current
Miss World, a magnum of champagne and several thousand pounds of
cash won from a night's gambling, the youth exclaimed, "George,
where did it all go wrong?"
In 1984, Best made a keep fit video with former Miss World Mary
Stavin called Shape Up And Dance.
In 1988, a testimonial match was held for Best at Windsor Park,
Belfast. Amongst the crowd were Sir Matt Busby and players including
Ossie Ardiles and Pat Jennings.
In November 2004 Best agreed to join FA Premier League club Portsmouth
F.C. as youth coach, citing his desire to get involved in football
again.
June 9, 2005 Best was arrested for sexually assaulting a girl under
the age of 13. He was cleared of all charges on July 6, 2005.
George Best had a son, Calum Best, from his first marriage.
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 1984 behind bars and turned out as a player for Ford Open
Prison. In 1991, he appeared on an edition of prime time BBC chat
show Wogan in which he swore and was clearly drunk. He later apologised
and said this was one of the worst episodes of his alcoholism.
In 2002, he had a liver transplant. 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.
In 2003, his second wife Alex Best appeared as a contestant on
the reality television programme I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of
Here! and made allegations about their relationship. On 3 January
2004, Best was convicted of another drunk driving offence and banned
from driving for 20 months.
Illness and death
Best continued to drink, and was often 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 drugs used to prevent his body from rejecting
his transplanted liver. (The drugs specifically suppress the immune
system, reducing the chance of rejection, but increasing the risk
of other infections).
On 27 October 2005 there were early editions of the morning newspapers
which stated that Best was close to death and had sent farewell
messages to loved ones. Best's condition did seem to improve, but
in November 2005, his condition deteriorated.
On 20 November 2005 the British tabloid News of the World published
a picture portraying Best in the 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 valiant battle that lasted longer than
doctors had expected, at 12.55pm (GMT) of lung infection and organ
failure. [2] [3]. His father, four sisters, brother, son and agent
were all at his bedside, as was his ex-United team-mate Denis Law.
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.
Quotes
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars - the
rest I just squandered."
"I used to go missing a lot...Miss Canada, Miss United Kingdom,
Miss World..."
(On David Beckham) "He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot
head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn't score many goals. Apart
from that he's alright."
"If I had been born ugly, you would never have heard of Pelé"
"In 1969 I gave up women and alcohol. It was the worst 20 minutes
of my life."
"Pelé called me the greatest footballer in the world.
That is the ultimate salute to my life."
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