George Best

George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) was a Northern Irish footballer. He played as a winger. Best played most of his club career at Manchester United.  Best is said to be one of the best players in the history of the sport. He was named European Footballer of the Year in 1968 and came fifth in the FIFA Player of the Century vote. Best received praise for his playing style. It combined pace, skill, balance, feints, goalscoring and the ability to get past defenders. In Belfast, where Best was born, they named the airport after him.

Both of Best's marriages ended in divorce. He was married to Angie Best from 1978-1986; the couple had a son, Calum Best. George Best was married to Alex Best from 1995-2004.

Best was an alcoholic. He had a liver transplant in 2003. He died of a lung infection and multiple organ failure in London.

 Career statistics 
 Club 
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other TotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsManchester United1963–64First Division17472—20002661964–65First Division411072—1120059141965–66First Division31953—641143171966–67First Division42102010—0045101967–68First Division412821—931053321968–69First Division411961—622055221969–70First Division37158682—0053231970–71First Division40182162—3151221971–72First Division40187563—1154271972–73First Division1940042—002361973–74First Division1220000—00122Total3611374621259341183474181Dunstable Town1974–75Southern League Division One North000000——00Stockport County1975–76Fourth Division320000——32Cork Celtic1975–76League of Ireland300000——30Los Angeles Aztecs1976North American Soccer League2315———102415Fulham1976–77Second Division3262032——3781977–78Second Division1020000——102Total4282032——4710Los Angeles Aztecs1977North American Soccer League2011———5225131978North American Soccer League121————121Total3212———523714Fort Lauderdale Strikers1978North American Soccer League94———511451979North American Soccer League192————192Total286———51337Hibernian1979–80Scottish Premier Division1333000——1631980–81Scottish First Division400020——60Total1733020——223San Jose Earthquakes1980North American Soccer League268————2681981North American Soccer League3013————3013Total5621————5621AFC Bournemouth1982–83Third Division500000——50Brisbane Lions1983National Soccer League4000———40Career total574204522130113411196705251

 International 
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsNorthern Ireland196462196561196610196710196811196940197041197164197220197310197400197500197620197730Total379

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Best goal.

+ List of international goals scored by George BestNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition114 November 1964Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland1–01–21966 FIFA World Cup qualification225 November 1964Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland1–02–31964–65 British Home Championship37 May 1965Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland4–14–11966 FIFA World Cup qualification 423 October 1968Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland1–14–11970 FIFA World Cup qualification521 April 1970Wembley Stadium, London, England1–11–31969–70 British Home Championship63 February 1971GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus3–03–0UEFA Euro 1972 qualification721 April 1971Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland2–05–0UEFA Euro 1972 qualification83–094–0

 References 

 Other websites 
 English Football Hall of Fame Profile 
 The George Best Foundation 

Category:1946 births
Category:2005 deaths
Category:AFC Bournemouth players
Category:Fulham F.C. players
Category:Manchester United F.C. players
Category:Northern Irish footballers
Category:Organ transplant recipients
Category:Sportspeople from Belfast
Category:Ballon d'Or winners
Category:Infectious disease deaths in England