George Best

George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) was a Northern Irish footballer. He played as a winger. Best played most of his club career at Manchester United. Best is said to be one of the best players in the history of the sport.[2] He was named European Footballer of the Year in 1968 and came fifth in the FIFA Player of the Century vote. Best received praise for his playing style. It combined pace, skill, balance, feints, goalscoring and the ability to get past defenders. In Belfast, where Best was born, they named the airport after him.

George Best
Best with Northern Ireland in 1976
Personal information
Full name George Best[1]
Date of birth (1946-05-22)22 May 1946
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Date of death 25 November 2005(2005-11-25) (aged 59)
Place of death South Kensington, London, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Winger, attacking midfielder
Youth career
Cregagh Boys Club
1961–1963 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1974 Manchester United 361 (137)
1974 Jewish Guild 5 (0)
1975 Stockport County 3 (2)
1975–1976 Cork Celtic 3 (0)
1976 Los Angeles Aztecs 23 (15)
1976–1977 Fulham 42 (8)
1977–1978 Los Angeles Aztecs 32 (12)
1978–1979 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 28 (6)
1979–1980 Hibernian 17 (3)
1980–1981 San Jose Earthquakes 56 (21)
1982–1983 AFC Bournemouth 5 (0)
1983 Brisbane Lions 4 (0)
Total 688 (246)
National team
1964–1977 Northern Ireland 37 (9)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Both of Best's marriages ended in divorce. He was married to Angie Best from 1978-1986; the couple had a son, Calum Best. George Best was married to Alex Best from 1995-2004.

Best was an alcoholic. He had a liver transplant in 2003. He died of a lung infection and multiple organ failure in London.

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United 1963–64 First Division 17472—2000266
1964–65 First Division 411072—112005914
1965–66 First Division 31953—641[lower-alpha 1]14317
1966–67 First Division 42102010—004510
1967–68 First Division 412821—931[lower-alpha 2]05332
1968–69 First Division 411961—622[lower-alpha 3]05522
1969–70 First Division 37158682—005323
1970–71 First Division 40182162—[lower-alpha 4]315122
1971–72 First Division 40187563—1[lower-alpha 5]15427
1972–73 First Division 1940042—00236
1973–74 First Division 1220000—00122
Total 3611374621259341183474181
Dunstable Town 1974–75 Southern League Division One North 000000——00
Stockport County 1975–76 Fourth Division 320000——32
Cork Celtic 1975–76 League of Ireland 300000——30
Los Angeles Aztecs 1976 North American Soccer League 2315———1[lower-alpha 6]02415
Fulham 1976–77 Second Division 3262032——378
1977–78 Second Division 1020000——102
Total 4282032——4710
Los Angeles Aztecs 1977 North American Soccer League 2011———5[lower-alpha 6]22513
1978 North American Soccer League 121————121
Total 3212———523714
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1978 North American Soccer League 94———5[lower-alpha 6]1145
1979 North American Soccer League 192————192
Total 286———51337
Hibernian 1979–80 Scottish Premier Division 1333000——163
1980–81 Scottish First Division 400020——60
Total 1733020——223
San Jose Earthquakes 1980 North American Soccer League 268————268
1981 North American Soccer League 3013————3013
Total 5621————5621
AFC Bournemouth 1982–83 Third Division 500000——50
Brisbane Lions 1983 National Soccer League 4000———40
Career total 574204522130113411196705251
  1. Appearance in 1965 FA Charity Shield
  2. Appearance in 1967 FA Charity Shield
  3. Appearances in 1968 Intercontinental Cup
  4. Appearances in Watney Cup
  5. Appearance in Watney Cup
  6. Appearance(s) in NASL play-offs

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[10][11]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Northern Ireland 196462
196561
196610
196710
196811
196940
197041
197164
197220
197310
197400
197500
197620
197730
Total379
Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Best goal.
List of international goals scored by George Best[12]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 November 1964 Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland  Switzerland 1–0 1–2 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 25 November 1964 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland  Scotland 1–0 2–3 1964–65 British Home Championship
3 7 May 1965 Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland  Albania 4–1 4–1 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 23 October 1968 Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland  Turkey 1–1 4–1 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 21 April 1970 Wembley Stadium, London, England  England 1–1 1–3 1969–70 British Home Championship
6 3 February 1971 GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus  Cyprus 3–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 1972 qualification
7 21 April 1971 Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland  Cyprus 2–0 5–0 UEFA Euro 1972 qualification
8 3–0
9 4–0

References
  1. "George Best". Barry Hugman's Footballers.
  2. "Was Georgie the Best?". BBC Sport. 25 November 2005. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  3. "George Best". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  4. "Top international stars in the NASL, 1967-1984; George Best". ASHA. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  5. "Best North American Soccer League stats". NASLJerseys.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  6. "George Best league stats". Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  7. "Hibernian stats". Ihibs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  8. "Complete game list 1973-76". Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  9. "Complete game list 1976-78". Archived from the original on 12 May 2006. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  10. "Northern Ireland – Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  11. "George Best". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman.
  12. "George Best Football Player Statistics". 11v11. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.

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