George Best

Northern Irish footballer (1946–2005)

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Lived 1946–2005, aged 59United Kingdom

United Kingdom FootballersFootball / Soccer Player

Wikipedia
66 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1946–2005
Aged 59
Known for
Dance with Me
1996

Summary

Updated 2026-08-26

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

said14 Jun 2005

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

said1974

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).

via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA

Gallery

Photos

8 images · refresh overdue

Deep cuts

Teams

Low confidence

Tobermore United F.C.
1984–1984
Nuneaton Town F.C.
1983–1983
AFC Bournemouth
1983–1983
Queensland Lions FC
1983–1983
Hong Kong Rangers FC
1982–1982
Sea Bee
1982–1982
San Jose Earthquakes
1980–1981
Hibernian F.C.
1979–1980
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
1979–1979
San Jose Earthquakes
1979–1980
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
1978–1979
Los Angeles Aztecs
1977–1978
Los Angeles Aztecs
1976–1976
Fulham F.C.
1976–1977
Cork Celtic F.C.
1975–1976
Stockport County F.C.
1975–1975
Dunstable Town F.C.
1974–1974
Jewish Guild
1974–1974
Northern Ireland men's national association football team
1964–1977
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