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 |
|
 |
2 x English League :
1964-1965, 1966-1967 |
|
Season |
Team |
Games |
Goals |
Position |
|
1963-1964 |
Manchester United |
17 |
4 |
2nd |
|
1964-1965 |
Manchester United |
41 |
10 |
1st |
|
1965-1966 |
Manchester United |
31 |
9 |
4th |
|
1966-1967 |
Manchester United |
42 |
10 |
1st |
|
1967-1968 |
Manchester United |
41 |
28 |
2nd |
|
1968-1969 |
Manchester United |
41 |
19 |
11th |
|
1969-1970 |
Manchester United |
37 |
15 |
8th |
|
1970-1971 |
Manchester United |
40 |
18 |
8th |
|
1971-1972 |
Manchester United |
40 |
19 |
8th |
|
1972-1973 |
Manchester United |
19 |
4 |
18th |
|
1973-1974 |
Manchester United |
12 |
2 |
21st |
|
1975 |
Stockport (2) |
3 |
2 |
- |
|
1975-1976 |
Cork Celtic |
3 |
0 |
- |
|
1976 |
LA Aztecs |
24 |
15 |
- |
|
1976-1977 |
Fulham (2) |
37 |
8 |
- |
|
1977 |
LA Axtecs |
25 |
13 |
- |
|
|
Fulham |
10 |
2 |
- |
|
1978 |
LA Aztecs |
12 |
1 |
- |
|
1979 |
Fort Lauderdale |
14 |
5 |
- |
|
1979-1980 |
San Jose |
30 |
13 |
- |
|
|
Hibernian |
22 |
3 |
10th |
|
1980 |
Fort Lauderdale |
19 |
2 |
- |
|
1981 |
San Jose |
56 |
21 |
- |
|
1983 |
Bournemouth (2) |
5 |
- |
- |
|
|
Brisbane Lions |
4 |
0 |
- |
|
|
Manchester United |
361 |
138 |
0.38 GPG |
|
|
Stockport |
3 |
2 |
0.67 GPG |
|
|
Cork Celtics |
3 |
0 |
0.00 GPG |
|
|
LA Aztecs |
61 |
29 |
0.48 GPG |
|
|
Fulham |
47 |
10 |
0.21 GPG |
|
|
Fort Lauderdale |
33 |
7 |
0.21 GPG |
|
|
San Jose |
86 |
34 |
0.40 GPG |
|
|
Hibernian |
22 |
3 |
0.14 GPG |
|
|
Bournemouth |
5 |
0 |
0.00 GPG |
|
|
Brisbane Lane |
4 |
0 |
0.00 GPG |
|
European Cups |
34 |
11 |
0.32 GPG |
|
|
N Ireland |
37 |
9 |
0.24 GPG |
|
|
|
Career |
696 |
243 |
0.35 GPG |
| George Best made his Manchester United
debut at the age of 17 in a 1-0 victory against West Brom just months after helping the club win what was at the time their sixth FA Youth Cup. The following season he collected the first of two league championship medals. The match that made him a star on the World stage (relatively speaking at the time) was a European Cup quarter-final tie against Benfica in 1966. Best scored twice in a stunning 1-5 victory in Lisbon. It was Benfica's first ever home defeat in the competition. United however fell to Partizan Belgrade in the semi-finals and at a time when the 'Champions League' really was a Champions League, they had to win the Championship before taking another shot at club footballs biggest prize. The 1967-1968 season would prove to be the zenith of Best's career. After narrowly overcoming Real Madrid 4-3 in the semi-finals Best and his Manchester United team-mates faced two time European Cup winners Benfica. The match headed into extra time after Graca cancelled out a Bobby Charlton header. Best picked up the ball on the half way line and used his tremendous pace to leave Benfica captain Mario Coluna in his wake before rounding the 'keeper and tapping into an empty net. Manchester United ran out 4-1 winners and Best, who finished top scorer in the league, followed team-mates Dennis Law and Bobby Charlton in being named European footballer of the year. At just 22 it would be the last prize of what should have been an incredible, trophy laden career. United started a dramatic slide before being relegated. By then Best had already jumped ship. Best was notorious for his playboy lifestyle and while his heavy drinking and womanising gained him superstar status, he was dubbed the fifth Beatle, it also lead to his downfall and ultimately his death. His problems started in the early 70s when he was twice suspended for missing a train and failing to turn up for training. In 1974 he 'quit' the game aged 27 after a row with new Manchester United coach Tommy Docherty. Over the next 9 years Best played for 9 different clubs and brought what had long since become an embarrassing career to an end in 1983. Without football to fall back on Best began a losing battle with Alcoholism. In 1984 he was jailed for 3 months for drinking driving and assaulting a police officer. In March 2000 he was hospitalised with liver problems. In 2002 he had a liver transplant but, admit great controversy at the time, continued to drink. Two years later he was convicted of another drinking driving offence. In October 2005 Best was admitted to intensive care suffering from kidney problems. On the 25th of Novemeber 2005 he died of a lung infection and organ failure. |