George Best and Manchester United
Image source: Flickr
Introduction: George Best and Manchester United
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1946, the skinny teenager was spotted by the local Belfast and Manchester United scout, Bob Bishop, whilst knocking around a football on the Cregagh housing estate. He immediately contacted the then manager of Manchester United, Matt Busby, saying “Boss, I think I’ve found you a genius”. Bishop noted the boy’s abilities, namely his superb ball control, speed, balance, and vision. He saw that Best was able to create space and find chances to score from almost impossible situations. later he was to demonstrate these and a huge zest for football. So much so, that Pele, christened the number seven player as he did.
George Best Joins Manchester United
Best was offered a schoolboy “contract” and at the age of 15 years old, found himself on the hallowed turf of Old Trafford. Two years later, he turned professional in May 1963, on his birthday. He made his debut match in the first division later in September and he scored his first goal in his second match. Best was immediately seen as a sensational player, scoring a number of difficult and acrobatic goals to help Manchester United secure the league title in his second season. A few months later he received his first cap for Northern Ireland.
The Fifth Beatle
Playing alongside, Booby Charlton, Denis Law, and David Hearst, Best quickly established himself as a key player in the front row of Manchester United’s offense. He was instrumental in the Red’s first title since the dark days of the Munich incident. In the next season, he pretty much single-handedly destroyed Benfica during the European Cup Quarterfinals and at the Portuguese teams home ground, Estadio da Luz stadium. He scored twice to help defeat the Lisbon giants, their first home defeat in Europe. Best was called the “Fifth Beatle”.
A Huge Celebrity
George Best was an undeniably handsome man. It is said that all women wanted him, and all men wanted to be him. He was an iconic figure throughout the swinging sixties and was a regular in the British tabloid newspapers. Living the life of a world-famous playboy, he was a huge celebrity and so it was of no surprise that he was compared to the most famous pop group of that era. He dated a string of fashion models and Miss World’s and was living life to the full. His career at Manchester United gave him the world wide platform to demonstrate his considerable skills and cement his place as the world’s greatest player.
Footballer of the Year
In 1967, Manchester United gained a second league championship title, and one year later he led the Reds, also against Benfica, to another European Cup Final. Manchester United went on to win 4:1, with Best contributing a fantastic goal which was to be the first of the Red’s three goals which were all scored within seven minutes of extra time. This made them the first English team to win the European Cup. His season tally was 28 goals. George Best was the PFA and European Footballer of The Year. He was Manchester United’s top goal scorer and was to be for the next for campaigns.
After United
But, as Bob Dylan sang, “the times they were a changing”. The Busby era came to a close for Manchester United. A caretaker manager took over. Best was to stay on until a bitter falling out with the then manager, Tommy Docherty. George felt that the team was not up to standard. He found that he was struggling to control the game with lesser players. In the end, he tired of waiting and simply quit by going to live in Marbella in 1972. He did return very briefly in 1974. Best later played for various teams around the world including the Los Angeles Aztecs, the Brisbane Lions and Fulham FC. Though some were very vocal in their criticism of him leaving, you have to remember what he gave United. All in all, he scored a total of 178 goals in his 466 games with United.
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George Best: The Greatest
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hails Best as “unquestionably the greatest. There was nobody to compare with him.” In his 361 league appearances for the club, he scored 136 goals. In fact, he still holds the post War record for most goals in a single match. His six goals against Northampton Town in an FA Cup fifth-round mauling still hurts. But probably the best George Best story comes from the former West Brom defender Graham Williams. In the middle of a game in which Best was running rings around him, Williams asked Best: “Will you stand still for a minute so I can look at your face?” “Why?” asked Best replied.”Because all I’ve ever seen of you,” explained Williams, “is your backside disappearing down the touchline.”
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