Maradona Good...Pele Better....but George Best
For most kids of the 70s and 80s growing up watching football our heroes were the two Latino giants, Pele and Maradona and I was no different. It was only a few years back that I accidentally while changing channels on TV came across this program on a player named George Best. It was for about half an hour and the documentary was about the life what they described as probably the greatest footballer ever and that made me curious to start reading and watching videos about George Best and over a the next few weeks I was also of the same opinion that George was easily one of the best the football world ever saw.
Best was an Irish Born footballer who played professional football for Northern Ireland and made his debut for Manchester United at the age of 17. It is said that the a talent scout when he spotted George at the young age of 15 immediately sent a telegram to the Manchester United coach Matt Busby saying " I think I've found you a genius " and he was right. Pele called him the greatest player in the world. Maradona said that both of them were very much alike when it came to creating magic on the field. Much before the Ronaldos and the Beckhams , George was the first superstar in the world of football.
His remarkable ball control and dribbling skills left the opposition spell bound.When he turned up to play for Manchester United the entire stadium would be on their feet chanting the name of George. Best was also part of the United Trinity at Old Trafford comprising of George Best, Dennis Law and Bobby Charlton. The same United trinity who helped ManU win the first European cup in the year 1968. A statue of the three has been erected outside the Old Trafford to honour them.
George had everything going for him at such an young age he had fame , money and anything else that he wanted. Women and fast cars were now his constant companions of the field. Addicted to drinking almost everyday , the high life of work hard party hard had now started to take a toll on this phenomenally talented youngster from Belfast. George could neither give up football nor the late night drinking and partying.The long hair like the hippies, the side burns made women droll over him and at some stage George was as popular as any of the Rockstars of those days the Beatles or the Rolling Stone. His prime came at a time when youngsters were still hoping to play for their country or a club like ManU and his decline also came at time when other youngsters in the club were hitting their prime. Unable to manage all this and work with the new players who came into the team George quit ManU at a age of 27 , he did play for 10 more years after that but was never the Best again. Success had become his biggest enemy , the same success that he could not handle had let him down.
Alcoholism took over his life and eventually he died due to liver complications in the year 2005.His life was glorious and his end was tragic. His final words from his hospital bed were:"Don't die like me." George will not be remembered for how he walked into oblivion and died but will be remembered for the way he played this beautiful game , at a time when football players were treated like any other players George attained the status of Football's first Superstar.
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