[51], United improved slightly under new boss Wilf McGuinness, but still only managed an eighth-place finish in the 1969–70 season. The cortege then travelled the short distance to Stormont. Among the crowd were Sir Matt Busby, Jimmy Murphy, and Bob Bishop, the scout who discovered Best, while those playing included Osvaldo Ardiles, Johan Neeskens, Pat Jennings and Liam Brady. [15], Best's father died on 16 April 2008, at the age of 88, in the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, Northern Ireland. [83], "George Best was one of the most talented players of all time and probably the best footballer who never made it to a major world final. There have not been many who have used a World Cup as a platform to enthral the world, and Maradona was one such man. "[87], A highly skilful winger, considered by several pundits to be one of the greatest dribblers in the history of the sport, Best received plaudits for his playing style, which combined pace, skill, balance, feints, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to get past defenders. 42 Jahre her, dass Holland und Nordirland, damals in der Qualifikation zur Weltmeisterschaft 1978 in Argentinien, die Klingen kreuzen. Found inside – Page 103British legend George Best and Dutchman Johan Cruyff, the man later credited with developing Barcelona's unique soccer style in the 1980s, joined the Los Angeles Aztecs. The Kicks benefited from the interest that these international ... And, quite simply, he was the best. 6. And a night where George Best and Johan Cruyff graced the same elevated stage. Manchester United finished second, four points behind Liverpool. He could do almost anything – technically, speed, complete mastery of not only the ball but his own body. [38] Facing six times champions Real Madrid in the semi-finals, Best scored the only goal of the home fixture with a 15-yard strike that Alex Stepney described as one of Best's finest goals. [79] He also was a guest player for an exhibition match between Dee Why Football Club and Manly Warringah held on 27 July 1983; Dee Why won the match 2–1, with Best having scored the winning goal. Found insidefriendly, half-hearted affairs, there were others within those second division ranks who, unable to match George for ... Unaware of the journalist's comments, George was asked for his opinion of the Dutch captain Johan Cruyff and if he ... Cruyff had the uncanny ability to identify the weak spots in the opposition’s defence. Best even wore the number 9 jersey once for United, with Bobby Charlton injured, on 22 March 1969 at Old Trafford, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday. We take a look back to Netherlands 2 Northern Ireland 2 on October 26, 1976, Stay on top of the headlines from Belfast and beyond by signing up for FREE email alerts. He was just too good for me. ", Best married Angela MacDonald-Janes on 24 January 1978 at Candlelight Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, having met in the United States when Best was playing for the Los Angeles Aztecs in 1976. Remember him at his best. Fußball-Popstars unter sich. Really this is a no contest question. Best was a maverick, a beautiful maverick but his wider impact on the game was negligible because he frittere... Best later said that "I increasingly had the feeling that I was carrying the team at times on the pitch. His first major decision was to recall George Best, then at Fulham. Found inside – Page 3We even played a few games at Rose Bowl Stadium and trained with international legends such as Johan Cruyff and George Best. At the time, Brazilian soccer star, Pelé, came out of retirement to play for our cross-country rival, ... [28] In the 1964–65 season, his first full season as a first team regular, Best helped Manchester United to claim the league title. [84], Although Best was mostly renowned for his dribbling skills, he also drew praise for his ability as a creator; in regard to this ability, Daily Telegraph reader Tony Dove commented: "I only had the opportunity to see George play once in person – Man U played a tour game in Auckland, New Zealand, late in the 60s. "[35] An ever-present all season long, he scored 10 goals in 45 games. "We were sitting in a bar on the beach, and when she got up to go to the toilet I leaned over and took all the money she had in her bag. [45], However, the 'holy trinity' of Best, Law and Charlton were still as effective as ever in the 1968–69 campaign. [126], There was an 11 am service in the Grand Hall attended by 300 invited guests relayed to around 25,000 mourners inside the grounds of Stormont. Best merely glides along, riding tackles and brushing giants aside like leaves. Best grinned and said Cruyff was an amazing player but, He was the better of the two. Introduces some of the greatest soccer players from around the world, including Pele, Zinedine Zidane, and David Beckham, who have participated in the World Cup championship. Thankfully, I've done both.". This is the most difficult question on football I am yet to see on Quora. The simple question requires a level of analysis and argumentation that c... An honorary award, under the name Super Ballon d'Or, was awarded to Alfredo Di Stéfano in 1989, after he surpassed Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini in France Football ' s voting.. A decade later, France Football elected Pelé the Football Player of the Century after consulting their former Ballon d'Or recipients. [108] When Best played football, salaries were a fraction of what top players earn today, but, with his pop star image and celebrity status, Best still earned a fortune. “We were all delighted when he showed up. There is a saying in Belfast that goes like, Pele good, Maradona better, George best. “George was supposedly on the way out at that time, but he was magnificent.”. When asked what happened to the money he had earned, Best quipped: "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds (women) and fast cars. Johan Cruyff was one of football’s greatest ever players and most influential coaches. Found insideacts, household names such as Eusebio, Franz Beckenbauer, George Best, Johan Cruyff and Gordon Banks. It had taken time, deep pockets and a major marketing push but, belatedly, American league football had arrived. 562 shares; Diarmuid O'Connor made Mayo believe with a moment that will go down in GAA history. Found inside – Page 110The Los Angeles Aztecs signed Irish superstar George Best (known for his off-repeated statement “Maradona good, Pelé better, George Best”) in 1976, and they added Johan Cruyff, the Dutch magician of total football, the following year. His brilliance was simply dazzling – player after player from the New Zealand national team queued up to try to tackle him and he gave them all dancing lessons. [74] The club was suffering a decline in fortunes and was heading for relegation from the Premier Division,[74] before Best was signed on a "pay per play" basis after the club chairman, Tom Hart, received a tip-off from an Edinburgh Evening News reporter that he was available. [33] His last game of the season, his knee strapped-up, came on 13 April, and ended in a 2–0 defeat to Partizan Belgrade at Partizan Stadium. The Argentine was part urchin, part prince. Former Manchester United defender Jimmy Nicholl, now on Michael O’Neill’s backroom staff, was a teenager winning his third cap at De Kuip Stadium. “You’re kidding, aren’t you,” said George who went on to suggest he would nutmeg Holland’s captain to prove a point. [74] One infamous incident saw Best initially sacked by Hibs after he went on a massive drinking session with the French rugby team, who were in Edinburgh to play Scotland. He was the complete package – he could score, create and outfox his opponent at his own will. Yet the 1967–68 season would be remembered by United fans for the European Cup win. [85] As Gordon Banks, the English goalkeeper, released the ball in the air in order to kick the ball downfield, Best managed to kick the ball first, which sent the ball high over their heads and heading towards the open goal. As a left winger, where he played exclusively in his debut season and nearly all of the 1971–72 campaign, he wore the number 11. Found insideWhen I argue Johan is the best player ever, I'm told it was George Best. I appreciate that but Johan Cruyff played for 18 years and, although George Best was unbelievable, he only played seven or eight years. There is a big difference. [39] In the tie at the Bernabéu, Best was marked effectively by Manuel Sanchís Martínez, but on the one time Best got the better of him he made a telling cross to Bill Foulkes, who calmly found the net to level the game at 3–3 and to win the aggregate tie 4–3.[40]. Found insideManchester United's George Best, Ajax Amsterdam's Johan Cruyff; FC Bayern München's Franz Beckenbauer, marquee attractions one and all, players whose very name on a team sheet, it was widely believed, would add thousands to the ... Found inside – Page 179Jonathan Wilson, George Osborn, Rob Smyth, Rupert Fryer, James Young ... The one that got away George Best on Johan Cruyff: Netherlands 2-2 Northern Ireland, World Cup qualifying, De Kuip, Rotterdam, 13 October 1976 ... 6. But your walls are better. He nods to me and I dive under a bus. [49], "It's been a joke on the circuit ever since. Even though he was born with an otherworldly athletic gift, Cristiano Ronaldo s early life was anything but easy. Best then announced his retirement from football, but nevertheless turned up for pre-season training, and continued to play. [114] On 27 October, newspapers stated that Best was close to death and had sent a farewell message to his loved ones. You're obviously a Best fan. [37] In the quarter-finals United advanced past Polish club Górnik Zabrze 2–1 on aggregate, having held on to their aggregate lead in freezing temperatures in front of 105,000 at Silesian Stadium; despite losing the away tie 1–0, Best described the defeat as "one of our best-ever performances, given all the unwelcome circumstances". ", — Northampton goalkeeper Kim Book on the jibes he has faced since being fooled by Best's feint in a 1970 FA Cup game against Manchester United. [114][122], Tributes were paid to Best from around the world, including from arguably three of the greatest football players ever, Pelé, Diego Maradona (who died on the same date 15 years later) and Johan Cruyff. [57], United's decline continued in the 1972–73 season, as Best was part of the 'old guard clique' that barely talked to the newer, less talented players. I actually think we were very similar players – dribblers who were able to create moments of magic. For the first anniversary of his death, Ulster Bank issued 1 million commemorative £5 notes. Best played at United when shirt numbers were assigned to positions, and not the player. Indie rock band The Wedding Present named their first album George Best, and featured Best on the cover wearing his red Manchester United kit. Long before Beckham, he was Britain's first footballer as popular icon. [9] His talent and showmanship made him a crowd and media favourite, and he went from being headline news in the back pages to the front pages. Best's cousin Gary Reid, a member of the Ulster Defence Association, was killed in 1974 during an episode of serious rioting in east Belfast. [45], Best was capped 37 times for Northern Ireland, scoring nine goals. In the mid-to-late-seventies, well before the time of Robbie Keane, David Beckham, or Steven Gerrard, there was a star-studded revolution culminating in Los Angeles. - Johan Cruyff. Like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, he epitomised the first, sudden, dynamic emergence of a postwar youth culture that, for better or worse, would help define the rest of the century. Contrary to popular belief and urban legend, he never played football for the prison team. Unique Johan Cruyff Posters designed and sold by artists. Diego Maradona’s career was one which was built on brilliance, blurred boundaries and, of course, spectacular over-indulgence. That was even ahead of George Best or Johan Cruyff. I have watched a lot of videos and documentaries of Best playing. I truly believe he probably is one of the best players to have ever played the ga... [59] He was suspended, and transfer-listed at a value of £300,000. The beautiful weather and lure of Hollywood, along with the club winning the NASL title in their inaugural … Download it now and get involved. The bewildering repertoire of feints and swerves... and balance that would have made Isaac Newton decide he might as well have eaten the apple. If you're a lover of photos, then check out our Instagram. ", World Soccer: The 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time, "The other two Ballon d'Or Dream Team XIs: Zidane, Cruyff, Iniesta, Di Stefano... but no Casillas", "Hunt for actor to play United legend George Best in new film", "New George Best film is a Shakespearean tragedy", George Best's appearance on This Is Your Life, 1976–77 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year, Faceted Application of Subject Terminology, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Best&oldid=1042555201, People educated at Grosvenor Grammar School, Association footballers from Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland international footballers, Expatriate association footballers from Northern Ireland, Expatriate soccer players in South Africa, Expatriate association footballers in the Republic of Ireland, Expatriate soccer players in the United States, Expatriate sportspeople from Northern Ireland in the United States, Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1977–1983) players, Expatriate sportspeople from Northern Ireland in Hong Kong, North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players, North American Soccer League (1968–1984) indoor players, National Soccer League (Australia) players, First Division/Premier League top scorers, British association football commentators, People from Northern Ireland convicted of assault, Expatriate sportspeople from Northern Ireland in Australia, BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, Articles with dead external links from January 2017, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only, This page was last edited on 5 September 2021, at 15:50. 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