George Best was the most gifted footballer ever to come out of the British Isles.
He began his senior playing career at Manchester United in 1963 and won two league championships with the club and was a major factor in their 1968 European Cup triumph.
He was named European Footballer of the Year and Football Writers' Association Player of the Year in 1968.
He played 466 times for United, scoring 178 goals from the wing. He famously scored a double hat-trick against Northampton Town in an FA Cup match.
He also won 37 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring 9 times.
His playing career also included stints at Fulham (76-77), Stockport County, Hibernian and US soccer teams L.A. Aztecs (1976-78) Fort Lauderdale Strikers (78-79) and San Jose Earthquakes (80-81).
After his retirement from playing, he took to the after-dinner and talk show circuits with friends Rodney Marsh and Denis Law, where his ready Irish wit made him a popular and engaging guest, most of the time.
A chronic alcoholic, he eventually succumbed to the effects of alcohol in 2005. His son Callum and father Dickie were at his bedside.
No comments:
Post a Comment