Best is gone

[Golden AWe]

Football legend George Best dies

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4380332.stm

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40622000/jpg/_40622830_police_pa_203.jpg

Football legend George Best has died in hospital at the age of 59.

Best died in intensive care on Friday afternoon following "a long and very valiant fight", said a statement from west London's Cromwell Hospital.

The ex-Manchester United and Northern Ireland star had multiple organ failure after developing a lung infection last week that led to internal bleeding.

He had been in hospital since entering with flu-like symptoms on 1 October, later suffering a kidney infection.

The statement continued: "The thoughts of all staff at Cromwell Hospital are with Mr Best's family at this time."

Best, a recovering alcoholic, needed drugs after a 2002 liver transplant that made him susceptible to infection.

The Belfast-born former footballer and television pundit had been prescribed medication to suppress the immune system and prevent his body rejecting the new liver.

At the time of his hospital admission in October, Best's agent Phil Hughes said his client had been "off the drink" before being admitted to the hospital.

Best is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to have graced the British and world game.

His heyday occurred during the 1960s, and he brought a pop star image to the game for the first time.

But the accompanying champagne and playboy lifestyle degenerated into alcoholism, bankruptcy, a prison sentence for drink-driving and, eventually, his controversial liver transplant.

He helped Manchester United win the First Division title in 1965 and 1967 and the European Cup in 1968. His role in the team's success was recognised by his becoming the European Footballer of the Year in 1968.

Best made 466 appearances for the Old Trafford club, scoring a total of 178 goals.

He also won 37 caps - scoring nine goals - for Northern Ireland.

[Golden AWe]

Best: Decline of the golden boy

When overseas journalists are picking the best players of all time, George Best is often the only player from Britain and Ireland to get a look in.

He was arguably second only to Pele in his footballing skill but his career was cut short by his lifestyle and addiction to alcohol.

In 2002, his years of drinking took their toll and he had a liver transplant.

After the life-saving operation, the star, now 59, pledged to give up alcohol but started to drink again.

His transplant had prompted questions about whether alcoholics should get donor livers, and Best's doctor warned that continued drinking would be catastrophic.

In February 2004, Best was banned from driving for 20 months after pleading guilty to a drink-driving charge.

He claimed he had been trying to drive himself to a health farm to tackle his problems.

His marriage to his former air hostess wife Alex ended in a "quickie" divorce in April 2004.

Couple's fights

In October 2003, Best sold his European Footballer of the Year award but failed to get reserve price for his 1967-8 Football Writers' Footballer of the Year prize, as he tried to raise money to buy a house in Corfu.

Best, who worked as a pundit on Sky's Soccer Saturday show, has even caused controversy with his views on the game, particularly when dismissing the abilities of David Beckham in 2000.

In June this year he was arrested over allegations that he had indecently assaulted a teenage girl and hit a woman - the charges were later dropped.

The boy from Belfast would want to be remembered for his amazing feats as a player.

Best combined dishevelled good looks and supreme talent with a rock 'n' roll lifestyle that made him the first in what has since become a long line of players whose antics have become not just tabloid entertainment, but big news.

The growth of television - Best made his debut as a 17-year-old the year before the BBC began its weekly Match of the Day show - meant he was rocketed to stardom in a way never experienced by those before him.

Arguably the most naturally gifted footballer of his generation, Best is famous for squandering his skill and failing to achieve his full potential.

He revelled in the limelight but, as the first of the new superstars, found himself unable to cope with the temptations littered across his path.

"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered," he famously said of his lifestyle.

Lost promise

Best walked out of top class football in 1972 aged just 26.

Many of his fans will forever rue his lost promise, the promise which led a scout to telephone Manchester United manager Sir Matt Busby with the message - "I think I've found a genius" after seeing him play as a 15-year-old.

Busby promptly signed Best, who had learnt his craft dribbling tennis balls through the terraced streets of Belfast.

He was 17 when he made his First Division debut for United against West Bromwich Albion in September 1963.

Two years later, he helped United win their first championship for eight years - and it was followed by another in 1967.

A year later, Best helped United become the first English team to win the European Cup.

The world seemed at his feet, but only four years after his famous night at Wembley he shocked the football world by announcing his retirement.

He made a brief but unsuccessful comeback with United then followed spells with Stockport, Fulham, Hibernian, Los Angeles Aztecs and San Jose Earthquakes before finally retiring in 1983 after a stint with Bournemouth.

[Golden AWe]

BEST'S FEATS

1946: Born May 22 in Belfast
1963: Makes debut for Man Utd
1964: Northern Ireland debut
1965: United win the league championship
1968: Voted English and European footballer of the year
1970: Sent off for Northern Ireland for throwing mud at ref
1972: Quits United aged 26


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39273000/jpg/_39273889_b3.jpg

[Golden AWe]

This is what made football so GRATE...not the bloody Beckhams...:(

[Mr Badguy]

You forgot to mention that he also got to shag umpteen MISS WORLDs.

A legend even just for that.

RIP.

[Golden AWe]

Oh yeah...

As I said, people and personalities such as Best, Maradona, Gascoigne, Matthaus, Beckenbauer make football so grate...not the fucking Beckham or Fransesco Totti.

[Millermoos]

Yes GA.George Best was great I met him once.
Millermoos

[jero]

This dude was a true legend! Like Dave!
We will miss him!!!!!

[flappo]

he did it his way !

[FORD]

And he was just as good of a drummer as Ringo, despite what McCartney said :(

[Soul Reaper]

Ironic surname.....he was one of the best.....

RIP you drunken mister....

[WARF]

Never heard of him. LOL

[DavidLeeNatra]

he was "simply the best"...

and that "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered," - quote makes me laugh whenever I read it...

R.I.P.

[Classic]

He was one of the legends for sure. I found this tribute video (ooh how touching Duran Duran soundtrack by the way)

http://www2.uploadsend.com/d.php?file=true&filepath=3490 (http://www2.uploadsend.com/d.php?file=true&filepath=3490 )

[Soul Reaper]

Pele even said that George Best was 'the greatest footballer ever'....

[Don Corleone]

Originally posted by Soul Reaper
Pele even said that George Best was 'the greatest footballer ever'....

Years ago I saw a pic of George with Pele, the caption written under it by George said "Me with the 2nd greatest player in the world"

[Golden AWe]

Originally posted by Mr Badguy
You forgot to mention that he also got to shag umpteen MISS WORLDs.

A legend even just for that.

RIP.

On another discussion board someone mentioned that according to BEST's own talks, he shagged SEVEN Miss Worlds...uhuhhuhuhuhhu

[Soul Reaper]

Originally posted by Don Corleone
Years ago I saw a pic of George with Pele, the caption written under it by George said "Me with the 2nd greatest player in the world"

fuckin' lol!

:D

[Dave's Bitch]

Originally posted by Golden AWe
BEST'S FEATS


1970: Sent off for Northern Ireland for throwing mud at ref



http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39273000/jpg/_39273889_b3.jpg


LOL