George Best

 George Best was probably one of the most gifted footballers of his day, enthralling fans with his incredible skill, agility, and flair. He has had an unwavering passion for football since he was a child. His raw talent drew the notice of 'Manchester United' scout Bob Bishop at the juvenile age of 15, who was convinced of George's potential. George Best joined 'Manchester United' soon after and immediately endeared himself to the club's supporters with his fast and entertaining style of play. The team went on to win a slew of titles during the next four seasons for both Best and his club. Best formed a lethal alliance with Denis Law and Bobby Charlton, two other 'Manchester United' legends, and reached the pinnacle of his career when he captained his side to a European Cup victory. Best was seen to be the most talented of the three. He was undoubtedly the most flamboyant, but his hedonistic mentality, along with his enormous success, did not help him as he entered a downhill spiral into dissipation and depravity, effectively ending his playing career. Throughout his antics, he maintained a casual demeanor and unflinching honesty. He continued to live a similar lifestyle until his death, and the greatest disappointment for his supporters was that he could have accomplished so much more on the field.

Childhood and Adolescence:

Dickie and Anne Best raised George Best in Cregagh, Belfast, Northern Ireland. His father was a member of the Belfast-based Orange Order, a Protestant fraternal organization.

He has always liked football and used to play for a local boys club in Cregagh.

He received a scholarship to 'Grosvenor High School,' where Rugby was the only sport practiced when he was 11 years old. He lost interest in his academics without football and began skipping school, after which he was sent back to his previous school, 'Lisnasharragh Secondary,' where he could resume playing football.

He was recognized by the local team Glentoran, but due to his diminutive stature, he was not selected. George, on the other hand, pleased Bob Bishop, a scout for the English team 'Manchester United,' who promptly flew him to Manchester.

Career

Joe Armstrong, the top scout at 'Manchester United,' signed George Best after a proper trial in 1961.

Within two days of arriving in Manchester, George got severely homesick and returned to Cregagh. His father, as well as Manchester United's then-coach, Matt Busby, encouraged him to return to Manchester within two weeks.

Because English clubs were not allowed to take Northern Irish players at the time, young George had to play as an amateur for two years. During this time, he worked at the 'Manchester Ship Canal' and trained with the club twice a week.

Best made his Manchester United debut against West Bromwich Albion at 'Old Trafford,' United's home stadium, in 1963. He performed admirably, and United won the game 1-0. He has appeared in 26 games and scored six goals before the end of the season.

He made his debut for Ireland in the under-18 youth squad in 1963. Soon after, he made his senior squad debut against England. He appeared in 37 games for Ireland, scoring nine goals.

United did not win the 'Debut Division League Title' or the 'FA Cup' in his first season, but they did win the 'FA Youth Cup,' in which he played.

On the following season, 1964-1965, he established himself as a regular in the team, appearing in the majority of games. United won the league and advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals that season. Best scored 14 goals in 59 games with the team.

In 1965, his effort against the Portuguese team 'Benfica' in a European Cup encounter propelled him to fame. He scored two goals again after scoring two goals in the previous encounter against Helsinki.

In the following season, 1965-1966, Best cemented his reputation as a great player. He forged a deadly relationship with two other players in the club, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, scoring 17 goals in 43 games.

He was instrumental in helping 'Manchester United win both the league title and the charity shield in the 1966-1967 season, scoring 10 goals in 45 games.

The 1967-1968 season was the most successful of his career. He was the league's top scorer, with 28 goals in 41 games to help United finish second, just two points behind winners 'Manchester City.' Two goals against Liverpool and a hat-trick against Newcastle are among his notable outings.

During the same season, he was a key player for United in the European Cup, which they won, becoming the first English side to accomplish so. Best put in enthralling performances against Sarajevo, Real Madrid, and the eventual winners, Benfica.

He continued his hot streak in the 1968-1969 season, scoring 22 goals in 55 games. However, due to the remainder of the team's poor performance and the inexperience of the newcomers, United concluded the season without a trophy.

Best continued to play well over the next three seasons, but he was unable to lead United back to their prior heights. His six goals in a match against Northampton Town, hat-tricks against Southampton and West Ham United, and a goal against Sheffield in which he got past four men on a solo run before scoring is among his best performances during this time.

From 1970 onwards, he was involved in a slew of disciplinary troubles, including being charged with misbehavior, missing a match to spend the weekend with actress Sin that Cusack, and missing a week of training to spend time with Miss Great Britain. He began to drink heavily and twice announced his retirement, but he returned to play each time.

Best's final season at United was 1973-1974 when he was already on the decline. In total, he scored 179 goals for United in 470 games.

Between 1975 and 1984, he played for numerous clubs in various leagues in South Africa, Ireland, the United States, Scotland, and Australia. He even returned to England for a two-year stint with Fulham. He had problems practically everywhere because of his infractions, and he never lasted more than two seasons anyplace.

Awards & Achievements:

 He earned the 'FWA Footballer of the Year' title in 1967-1968, which is granted to the greatest player in English football the previous season.

He earned the 'Ballon d'Or,' an accolade given to Europe's greatest player of the year, in 1968.

For his lifetime contributions to English football, he was posthumously inducted into the 'English Football Hall of Fame' in 2008.

George Best's personal life and legacy began in 1973 when he launched the nightclub 'Slack Alice' in Manchester. In addition to owning restaurants and stores in the city, he was also a business owner.

In Las Vegas, he married Angela MacDonald-Janes, an English model, in 1978. Calum, the couple's son, was born three years later. Eight years later, the marriage terminated in divorce.

In Chelsea, London, he married Alex Pursey for the second time in 1995. After nine years, this marriage, too, ended in divorce.

George Best struggled with drinking throughout his career, missing multiple games and practice sessions, and committing acts such as snatching money from a woman's handbag, driving inebriated, and appearing drunk on a talk show.

He was diagnosed with liver disease in the year 2000. He underwent a successful liver transplant in London two years later.

He died in 2005 from a renal infection and multiple organ failure brought on by the medication's negative effects. His ashes were interred in Belfast, where he grew up.