United Kingdom
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George Best
said
I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.
— Reported in "Best: Decline of the golden boy", BBC News (June 14 2005).
George Best
Northern Irish footballer (1946–2005)
- Fame66.3
- Momentum3.0
- United Kingdom rank#244
Source-basedStable
- Fame66.3
- Momentum3.0
- United Kingdom rank#244
- Footballers rank#245
- Wikipedia163.9K
Lived 1946–2005, aged 59United Kingdom
Network
In their orbit
People connected to George Best
Summary
Updated 2026-06-21
He could beat a defender with a feint and score from impossible angles, but the genius who never made it to a World Cup became as famous for the wreckage off the pitch as the brilliance on it.
Biography
About
A Belfast scout sent a telegram to Matt Busby in 1961: "I think I've found you a genius." Best made his Manchester United debut at 17 and spent 11 years turning that prediction into fact — 179 goals, two league titles, the European Cup, and the 1968 European Footballer of the Year award. His dark mop-top hair and playboy habits turned him into something new: the first media celebrity footballer, nicknamed "o Quinto Beatle" after tearing apart Benfica in Lisbon. But the same appetite that made him magnetic destroyed him. Alcoholism chased him through 37 caps for Northern Ireland, a team too sma…
Voice
In their own words
Sourced, dated quotes from George Best
George Best
said
I've stopped drinking, but only while I'm asleep.
— C. 1974; reported in Patrick West, Beating Them at Their Own Game: How the Irish Conquered English Soccer (2006), p. 188.
George Best
saidundated
I used to go missing a lot... Miss Canada, Miss United Kingdom, Miss World.
— Reported in "The things they say: George Best", FIFA.com (July 31, 2009).
George Best
saidundated
In 1969 I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.
— Reported in Ned Sherrin, Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations (2008), p. 153.
George Best
saidundated
He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that he's all right.
— On David Beckham; reported in "The things they say: George Best", FIFA.com (July 31, 2009).
Gallery
Photos
8 images · refresh overdue
Deep cuts
Teams
Low confidence
- Tobermore United F.C.1984–1984
- Nuneaton Town F.C.1983–1983
- AFC Bournemouth1983–1983
- Queensland Lions FC1983–1983
- Hong Kong Rangers FC1982–1982
- Sea Bee1982–1982
- San Jose Earthquakes1980–1981
- Hibernian F.C.1979–1980
- Fort Lauderdale Strikers1979–1979
- San Jose Earthquakes1979–1980
- Fort Lauderdale Strikers1978–1979
- Los Angeles Aztecs1977–1978
- Los Angeles Aztecs1976–1976
- Fulham F.C.1976–1977
- Cork Celtic F.C.1975–1976
- Stockport County F.C.1975–1975
- Dunstable Town F.C.1974–1974
- Jewish Guild1974–1974
- Northern Ireland men's national association football team1964–1977
- Manchester United F.C.1963–1974
19631984
Deep cuts
Season stats
Low confidence
| 1984–1984 | 4 | 6 |
| 1983–1983 | 3 | 1 |
| 1983–1983 | 5 | 0 |
| 1983–1983 | 4 | 0 |
| 1982–1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982–1982 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980–1981 | 56 | 21 |
| 1979–1980 | 17 | 3 |
| 1979–1979 | 33 | 7 |
| 1979–1980 | 86 | 34 |
| 1978–1979 | 28 | 6 |
| 1977–1978 | 32 | 12 |
| 1976–1976 | 23 | 15 |
| 1976–1977 | 42 | 8 |
| 1975–1976 | 3 | 0 |
| 1975–1975 | 3 | 2 |
| 1974–1974 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974–1974 | 5 | 1 |
| 1964–1977 | 37 | 9 |
| 1963–1974 | 361 | 137 |
Deep cuts
Awards
Low confidence
- English Football Hall of Fame
- Ballon d'Or
Where to find them
Platforms
By the numbers
Score breakdown
The six component signals behind the Fame score, and their ranks across the leaderboards.
Fame
Stable66.3
Composite of search demand, mentions, audience & graph footprint.
Score components
Momentum3.0
Historical29.9
Source confidence65.0
Completeness75.0
Receipts
Sources
- WikipediaHigh confidencewikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- WikidataHigh confidencewikidata · wikidata.org
- Pantheon 2.0High confidencedatabase · pantheon.world
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