One of the greatest footballers (soccer) of all time George Best died today aged 59. Being a Belfast man myself it's particularly poignant. Although George led quite a dissolute lifestyle off the pitch it's best to remember him with the ball at his feet.

I still smile at the oft repeated story about when his playing career was on the wane, he hooked up with a former Miss World at a top London Hotel, he won £10,000 at the casino and ahd ordered champagne to the bedroom. The room service guy came up with two bottles of champagne, looked at the £10,00 lying on the bed and saw a half dressed Miss World in the bathroom. "where did it all go wrong Goerge?" he is reputed to have said

George Best born Belfast, 22 May 1946, died London, 25 November 2005. May he rest in peace

Indeed
A sad,sad end to a great talent...on & off the pitch!
RIP George...

R.I.P. George Best 1946 - 2005
The greatest Northern Irish born player of all time.

I just saw some old footage . I knew Best was good but the things they showed blew me away. The same level as Johan Cruiyf!
Did he play left or right?

He played everywhere, not just left or right.

Journalist: "Is it true you slept with 7 Miss Worlds?
Best: "Bullshit. I only slept with 4 of them."

Fantastic guy, he was.

I think you can extend Northern Irish to British...

True, and I would most probably agree with you but one could make a case for Gordon Banks, David Beckham, Bobby Charlton, Kenny Dalglish, Ryan Giggs, Geoff Hurst, Jimmy Johnstone, Kevin Keegan, George Law, Gary Lineker, Bobby Moore, Michael Owen, Ian Rush, Alan Shearer or V.J. Woodward

I never saw most of them playing, and I know Charlton and Moore were very, very good. But, I mean, Pélé himself said that Best was better than he (Pélé) was.

And from those I've seen playing:
Beckham: Not a chance, too limited in some things.
Giggs: Just not good enough
Owen: He plays his technique, or he scores, but he can't do both.
Shearer: Goaling machine, but Best was so much more.

I think you can extend Northern Irish to British... [/b][/quote]I hate that English attitude towards athletes. When an athlete is Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish and he/she is successful, he/she is "British". When he/she isn't successful, he/she is Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish. Technically they are British, but I hate the English claiming credit in newspapers and on television for athletes they didn't produce.

Rest in peace, George Best.

As the famous quote goes, Kevin Keegan wasn't fit to lace George Best's boots...in fact he wasn't even fit to lace George Best's drinks!!

Best was on a level with Pele, Maradona, & Cruyff. Hard to say who was the best. These days only Zidane at his best and Ronaldinho come amywhere close and even then they're both behind these guys.

He was better the best player ever, even better than Pele, even he said so

"In 1969 i decided to quit drink and women, it was the worst 20 minutes of my life"

and

"I spent all my money on Booze, Women and Fast Cars, the rest I just Squandered"

Genius footballer and a sad loss, RIP.

Speaking of Beckham, Best once stated "he can't kick with his left, he can't head the ball and he can't tackle, apart from that he's all right"

Very true

Well, if Wayne Rooney can keep from destroying himself he could end up as one of the top 10 greatest British players of all time.

You forgot Peter Beagrie. He's mint.