NORTHERN IRELAND | MANCHESTER UNITED
Throughout his career, George Best had the looks and personality to ensure his popularity went beyond football. He was part of the ‘Holy Trinity’ of United players, alongside Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton, that helped United win two league titles and a European Cup during the 1960’s.
1965 | 1967
1968
1968
Best grew up as one of six children in a working-class family in Belfast. His dad, Dickie, was an iron-turner and his mother, Anne, worked odd jobs to help bring in extra income and feed their growing family.
George Best is said to have walked before he was ten months old and always had a ball with him early. He even took a football to bed with him.
When Best was 15, he was spotted playing football by a Man United scout. Bob Bishop was the scout in question, and he sent a telegram to Matt Busby simply stating:
“I think I’ve found you a genius.”
He came to England for a trial but returned home after just two days, complaining he was homesick. Eventually, he returned to Manchester following a conversation between United manager Matt Busby and his parents.
On his return to Manchester Best was placed under the watchful eye of land-lady Mrs Fullaway. At this time, United had a rule for all young players to live in accommodation approved by the club. It turned out to be a happy time for George. Mrs Fullaway became a second mother to him; he was also sharing the accommodation with another United player – David Sadler.
Best made his debut for the first team in a league game against West Brom in 1963. United went onto win the match 1-0, and Best had a part in setting up his mate Sadler’s goal via Nobby Stiles. The club was impressed by Best on his debut, but his immaturity was highlighted. One newspaper article said: “Best showed that, with a little more experience, he has the footballing ability to challenge strongly for a permanent position in the United senior squad.”
Best enjoyed a successful first season in the senior team. He scored 5 goals in 22 appearances. His first goal came in a 5-1 victory over Burney in December 1963.
During Best’s first full season as a regular in the side, he helped United claim their first league title since 1957. He finished the 1964/1965 season with 12 goals in 53 appearances.
George combined elegance and strength with deadly finishing. He could make slalom runs through defences; turning defenders inside out, this tactic can be seen in many of his most iconic Manchester United goals.
In an era that didn’t have the bowling green style pitches of today, Best could do things with a ball that nobody else would even attempt. He was able to play on either wing, upfront or just behind the main forward. He was unplayable during his peak. For so many people, there has never been a more exciting player.
Pele described him as ‘the best player in the world’. Journalist Patrick Barclay also spoke with great passion about Best’s playing style and ability: “In terms of ability, he was the world’s best footballer of all time. He could do almost anything – technically, speed, complete mastery of not only the ball but his own body. “
All this style was highlighted during a match against Chelsea in 1970. Chelsea defender Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris who can be seen in hot pursuit of Best recalled: “He was running through on goal but he’s slightly overrun the ball. Here’s your chance, finally!” Harris tried to bring Best down, but he rode the challenge, skipped past the Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Bonetti, and went onto score.
United’s title win in 1965 meant they qualified for the European Cup for the first time since 1958 and it was in this competition where Best was elevated to superstar status.
In a Quarter Final away at Benfica, Best scored twice as his side won 5-1. It was one of his career-defining performances
The Portuguese media labelled him “O Quinto Beatle” (the fifth Beatle), and on the team’s return to England, Best was pictured on the airport tarmac in a sombrero with a headline “El Beatle.”
Unfortunately, Best and United finished trophyless that season. They reached the Semi-Finals of both the FA Cup and European Cup whilst finishing the league campaign in 4th. Best chalked up 13 goals in 36 appearances. He suffered an injury towards the end of the season which probably cost United a cup final place and valuable league points.
United regained the title in 1967, and Best played a considerable part in this success. He scored in the 6-1 thrashing of West Ham as United sealed the title in style. The Hammers had World Cup winners Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst and Bobby Moore in their ranks and the match was expected to be close. United had other ideas, and they went 4-0 up after 20 minutes.
One United fan commented: “That was my first full season following the Reds home and away and probably the hey-day of the Best, Law and Charlton triumvirate. And that game at Upton Park was the fitting climax.”
Winning the title in 1967 meant United qualified for the following season’s European Cup and a chance for this great United side to win the trophy they had become obsessed with since its inception in the 1950s.
United started the competition with a routine win over Hibernians of Malta and followed this up with a closely fought victory over FK Sarajevo. A win against Górnik Zabrze meant United were in the Semi-Finals against the giants of Real Madrid.
Best scored to give United a 1-0 win over Real in the first leg, and after a dramatic 3-3 draw in the second leg, United had finally reached the European Cup final.
The 1968 European Cup Final saw United face Benfica at Wembley Stadium on 29 May 1968. United took the lead at the start of the second half through Bobby Charlton, but the Portuguese side equalised with just over ten minutes to go, and the match went into extra time.
It was during extra time when the match turned into United’s favour. They scored three goals in the first period, including a crucial goal from Best, which regained United’s lead. Brian Kidd netted, and Charlton scored to give United a 4-1 lead, and that was how the match ended. United and Best were Champions of Europe at last.
Antonio Simoes, who played for Benfica in the final, told the BBC: “Manchester United were a very strong team anyway with two or three fantastic players but when George gets mad and dribbles past two or three players in a small space and scores a goal, what are you going to do?
“There are things you cannot stop. Look at Lionel Messi today. You know what he is going to do and he still does it.”
Best finished the season with 29 goals in 46 appearances. His contribution to the Club’s success saw him become the third United player, after Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, to win the Ballon d’Or award.
Despite being relatively young, that European Cup victory would prove to be the last major honour of his career.
Whilst Best’s goal-scoring remained consistent over the next two seasons; United were not the same team. They finished these campaigns in 11th and 8th place. Matt Busby retired at the end of the 1968/1969 season he was replaced by Wilf McGuiness.
McGuiness was sacked after a disappointing start to the 1969/1970 season, and Busby returned temporarily. During this period, despite scoring goals for the club, Best’s disciplinary problems became more apparent. During the 1970/1971 season, Best was fined by the FA for receiving three bookings for misconduct and was later suspended by United for two weeks after missing his train to Stamford Bridge to spend a weekend with a famous actress.
The 1971/1972 season was just as eventful for Best. He scored two hat-tricks during the season, against West Ham and Southampton, and a goal against Sheffield United that is considered one of his greatest. However, a red card in a match against Chelsea highlighted his ongoing problems with discipline.
Off the pitch, he was the subject of death threats and failed to turn up for a week of training so that he could spend time with a beauty Queen – Miss Great Britain.
This would ultimately be George Best’s last season where he played at anything like his potential. His last competitive game for United came in January 1974 against Queens Park Rangers.
United lost 3-0, and he was eventually dropped by Tommy Docherty, who had been tasked with restoring the club’s former glories when appointed in 1973.
In many ways, Best was a symbol of Manchester United’s development and eventual decline across the 1960s and 1970s. His development played a big part in the club’s recovery from the Munich air disaster, but his slow decline mirrored that of Manchester United’s in the 1970s.
As documented here, the last few years of George Best’s career were chaotic, and he bounced around numerous clubs worldwide.
After a short spell with Jewish Guild in South Africa, Best had brief spells with Stockport County and Cork Celtic. He went to America to play for the Los Angeles Aztecs, where he scored 15 goals in 24 appearances.
He then enjoyed a brief renaissance at Fulham in the Second Division between 1976 and 1977. He played alongside his friends Rodney Marsh and Bobby Moore, promising at the time to ‘make football fun again.’ A Fulham historian commented after his first game: “The crowd were treated to flashes of his old acceleration, the immaculate first-time control, teasing dribbles, accurate passes and a range of flicks and tricks.”
However, the later stages of his time in South London were plagued with more controversy. He was fined for missing training and ultimately left during the 1977/1978 season.
Again, Best was off to America where he had a second spell with the Aztecs before moving onto the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
He caused a stir when he returned to the UK to play for Hibernian. He failed to save the club from relegation, but gates increased dramatically during his time there. His time in Scotland was not without drama. After he had gone out on drinking binge in Edinburgh with the French rugby team, he was sacked by the club.
He was again returned to the US to play for the San Jose Earthquakes as part of a loan deal. His time in the States did bring out some vintage performances. This solo goal is often spoken out as one of the best scored in America.
During the halfway point of the 1982/1983 season, Best signed for Third Division Side AFC Bournemouth. It was at the end of this season when Best announced his retirement from football.
At the start of 1983/1984 season played in a friendly for Newry Town against Shamrock Rovers. He finally ended his professional career 20 years after joining Man United with a four-match stint for Brisbane Lions in the Australian National Soccer League.
Best is regarded as one of the greatest players never to have played at a World Cup. Throughout his international career, he was capped 37 times and scored 9 times.
One of his most famous moments for Northern Ireland was a disallowed goal against England in 1971. As Gordon Banks, released the ball in the air to kick the ball down the pitch, Best managed to kick the ball first, which sent the ball high over their heads and heading towards the open goal. He then managed to outpace Banks and headed the ball into the empty goal.
In the 1990′s he established himself as a successful football pundit with Sky Sports, most notably appearing on Soccer Saturday alongside former teammate Rodney Marsh.
George Best is seen as of the greatest players to have ever worn the shirt of Manchester United. In a poll for the Bleacher Report, he was ranked as the second-best United player ever.
Best sadly died in November 2005 after losing his long battle with illnesses linked to alcoholism. United’s players and fans paid tribute to him during the first game back at Old Trafford after his death.
A statue of Best, alongside Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton, was unveiled outside Old Trafford in 2010.
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