Writing a piece on George Best is both a rite of passage and a baptism of fire. On the one hand, the iconic star provides plenty of fodder on and off the field. From his spectacular goals to pop-star status to losing battle with alcoholism, the facts jump off the screen. On the other hand, anybody who is not nobody knows something cooler about George Best than you and will make sure to flaunt it.

But I love this topic, this character, this legend, so please, if you know any cool quotes or facts, pretty please comment. Flaunt to your heart’s content. George Best is a treasure trove for all futfanaticos, a chest unfortunately kept under lock and key in comparison with other greats.

George Best was the “boy from Belfast,” the pop-star footballer before Posh Spice’s parents conceived of conceiving. George Best was the “fifth beatle,” the man with the thousand legs and a thousand and one moves. But above all, when sober, George Best was a charmer. In this interview where he announced his second (short-lived) retirement from football, his candor, dirt brown hair, and blueish-green eyes grab hold of you gaze and never let go.

A charmer off the field, Best also wove spells on it. He mesmerized female teenyboppers and defenders alike. He started his career with Manchester United under the tutelage of Matt Busby, where he led the Premiership in scoring for six straight seasons. Along the way, he picked up a handful of EPL championships and a European cup.

Matt Busby said of his star player – “He was able to use either foot. Sometimes it seemed he had six.” In Northern Ireland, the popular refrain goes “Maradonna good, Pele better, George Best.” The most important title of his club career came in the 1968 European Cup final against Benfica, in which United dominated the Lisbon-side. Here is a neat little goal…

The goal epitomizes all of Best’s best qualities as a player – two footed, excellent timing, and an uncanny awareness of the goalkeeper. My favorite aspect of George’s game was his shiftiness in the box, using a stutter step or shoulder-fake to send a keeper to his knees. And all at breakneck speed.

Here is my favorite compilation of Best goals. Pour a cup of coffee, turn down the volume on the video, and enjoy. And keep track of how many times he bamboozles the keeper with a shoulder or hip fake. Priceless.

For all the success Best had on the field, he jumped head-first into celebritydom. Yet a tension existed between Best the soccer player and Best the model. He once said, very tongue and cheek, “If I’d been born ugly, you’d never heard of Pele.” For a wonderful collection of magazine pics of Best the playboy, visit this OriginalWinger article.

After Busby’s retirement, Best’s attitude and playboy lifestyle created a carousel of managers. Nobody could focus his talents, and the unscheduled absences grated on the coaches and teammates alike. Eventually, he left the Red Devils for a short spell at Fulham. He then announced his premature retirement from the game.

Best did not stay retired for long, eventually moving to the North American Soccer League. Contrary to popular opinion, he did have a few productive season in the United States. He also scored a spectacular goal for the San Jose Earthquakes.

The Spanish word for a sharp cut is “enganchar.” And in that sequence, Best crowned himself king of the cut or “enganchon.” Granted, the Yank defending was poor, but he had done similar feats across the Atlantic. Despite continued professional success, his increasingly turbulent personal life soon eclipsed his sporting career. He eventually retired, but never fully left the public eye.

Rumors swirled about problems with substance abuse, and a series of drunken public appearances confirmed the obvious – Best had a drinking problem.

In 2001, he would undergo a life-saving liver transplant. Sadly, he would not seek treatment for his addiction and soon fell victim to the same vice. Three years later,  Best would ultimately succumb to liver failure.

The public outrage over the transplants reflect a gross oversimplification of alcoholism as autonomous choice. This Psychology Today article concisely sums up the scientific understanding – alcoholism is a disease like depression or ptsd, although Best must accept some responsibility for not seeking professional treatment. Sadly, the bottle also took a toll on his immediate family.

I will now stepdown from my pulpit. For all his vices and devices, Best provided moments of sheer footballing brilliance. He captivated and inspired the public eye, setting the stage for today’s generation of pop-star soccer players. He said of David Beckham “He (Beckham) 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.”

Best did have kinder words for Cristiano Ronaldo. “There have been a few players described as the new George Best over the years, but this is the first time it’s been a compliment to me.” And sure enough, Ronaldo would be the one to break Best’s winger scoring record.

But what Best had which neither Beckham nor Ronaldo can offer was an uncanny wit and sarcasm. When asked to reflect on his career, Best remarked “I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.”

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