George Best: 1946-2005 (Irish soccer legend, RIP)

Squarefootball.net ^ | 26/11/2005 | Sean Graham

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I would like to express my sadness at the death of my heroes that I had the good fortune to meet only a couple of years ago.

This man had defenders, grown men and women gasping in awe at his skill, talent and good looks as he dazzled defenders and others who watched him apply his trade down the years.

When I met him at Borders books during a signing of his book "Blessed" I told him that this was one of the happiest days of my life indeed it was only beaten by getting married and the birth of my daughter. He shook my hand and smiled and looked shy as he said, “God Bless You Son!" It was strange that I was born in 1968 the year that United won the European Cup And Catherine was born in 1999, United beat Bayern to lift the Champions League and clinch The treble.

I have never forgotten that day nor will many others forget just how good this man was on a football field! He may have had his off field problems but on the park he was a genius and was loved by many.

Scoring goals and playing attractive football seemed to come natural to a man who was indeed one of the very best players to grace the British Isles. Not very many people have a name that they can live up to, this man did.

Best by name Best by nature…George Best!

The followers of Manchester United have seen this Irishman take them to the very peak of European football scoring at Wembley as his beloved Manchester United beat Benfica 4-1 in the 1968 European Cup final to give the man who he looked up to as a father figure, Sir Matt Busby the trophy he so craved after.

George, you won medals and trophies galore with United, European player of the year in the Year that Manchester United won the European Cup, even after leaving .Old Trafford to apply Your trade in America, Stockport, Bournemouth, Fulham, and Hibernian and as a pundit on Sky Sports channel you will always have a special place in the hearts of many but today as you passed away, I feel that another part of Manchester United has died.

Sir Matt has his favourite son along side him but it was way too soon!

Pele said you were the best player in the world, some said you were the fifth Beatle but you where the one and only George Best!

God Bless you and may you now rest in peace!

Sean Graham 25 November 2005

[Irish_Thatcherite]

God rest his soul.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

A ping to an Irish football legend, may he rest in peace.

[Sociopathocracy]

It's a shame that he died so young. Yet, it is a wonder that he lived this long.
I've only seen him on film but I've seen enough to recognize that he was brilliant on the field, a football genius.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

It's a shame that he died so young. Yet, it is a wonder that he lived this long.

Yes, unfortunately he burnt himself out with alcohol.

I've only seen him on film but I've seen enough to recognize that he was brilliant on the field, a football genius.

He was before my time - but everyone I know regards him as a football genius.

[romanesq]

He graced our presence here in the NASL and we were the happy fans that got a glimpse of the genius from Northern Ireland.

I'm sure many felt a tinge of sadness in his passing. May the Lord embrace him and the genius he gave him that touched so many.

George Best lives in us all.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

An undoubted boost to American soccer!

[Sam's Army]

Rest in Peace, George.

[Katya]

very sad indeed....someone post some pics of him when he was young. Best was a real looker.

[Wil H]

I saw him play many times, he was one the greatest players ever.

It was a great shame he never got to grace the World Cup stage.

RIP

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I guess he couldn't handle success.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

It was a great shame he never got to grace the World Cup stage.

A bit like Roy Keane, I suppose - Keane walked out on the Irish soccer team just at the start of the 2002 World Cup.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

It seems the ladies liked him too - that's the prowess of Irishmen, they are underated in that department - think Richard Harris or Colin Farrell!!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

The man is gone - but his legacy remains!!

[dfwgator]

Saw him play for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, the guy had charisma, I'll give him that.

But I must admit after reading his bio, I can't help to be po'd at the guy. Here is a guy that could have been even better than Pele and Cruyff, and it was wasted. How many people did he let down? I think he had a facade that betrayed a very sad man. That is usually the case with playboy types.

[aculeus]

RIP

[blackbird149]

Incidentally, he was my dad's second cousin. My dad never likes me to mention this due to all the circus that surrounded George Best. The world will be a little less colourful for his passing as people have been talking about Best and his exploits with booze, women and football since the 1960s. He was the first soccer superstar. RIP George and the end of an era. An agonising end for a true sporting great.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Incidentally, he was my dad's second cousin.

WOW!! Small world! May he rest in peace.

[Wil H]

No , not a bit like Keane, Keane is a thug and a moron. Best never got to play because Ireland never qualified wduring his playing career.

Keane shot himself in the foot.

[Blue Jays]

Hi All-

George Best was a great player and retired from top-level play by the age of twenty-seven. He was so addicted to alcohol that his fitness started to suffer and he missed practice sessions with the Manchester United team. As stated earlier in the thread, Pele considered him to be the most-skilled player in the world.

He had a liver transplant in 2002 and was very sickly from then on as the effects of alcoholism continued to ravage his body.

It's a sad story about a player who could have achieved so much more if he could have been able to contend with the booze, women, and fast cars.

~ Blue Jays ~