George Best

In an age in which ritual hyperbole has debased genuine achievement, the enduring memory of George Best’s footballing genius will hopefully serve as a timely reminder of the nature of true greatness and why it is so rarely seen.

Though small and slightly built, George Best was a player who could do everything. He was quick and brave. He had fantastic poise and balance. He could pass and shoot and was good in the air. But above all it was his sublime, mesmeric ability to take on and beat opponents with the ball that was the real hallmark of his genius and the cause of many of his unforgettable goals. He terrified defenders and if they managed to kick him, he would simply get up and beat them again.

He was, in his time, widely regarded as the best player in the world, an accolade endorsed by no less a contemporary than Pele himself, and in the light of his talents it is tragic that, although he triumphed in Europe with Manchester United in 1968, he was denied the opportunity to appear in a World Cup.

Despite his iconic status, he remained a modest, friendly and unassuming man – whose generosity, gentle humour and courtesy towards friends and fans alike ensured that he was loved and respected throughout his life.

George Best was a hero and like all tragic heroes he had one fatal flaw – the unrelenting disease of alcoholism which ultimately cost him his health as he became increasingly susceptible to infection following his liver transplant in 2002.

His long battle with ill health ended on Friday 25th November 2005, when his death was announced at the Cromwell Hospital following multiple organ failure.

It is impossible to imagine the illness and death of any other player whose career ended some thirty years ago being marked by so much genuine concern, respect and love. Yesterday, his great friend Rodney Marsh struggled with his emotions as he co-presented ‘The Game’ on Talksport. That programme ended with Don McLean’s 1970s hit record ‘Vincent’, a tribute to the great painter Van Gogh and a piece of music which evidently meant a lot to another great artist, George himself.

George Best will always be remembered by those who were privileged to see him - as a truly great player, a hero, an icon, and a legend, in the traditional sense of all those terms. Hopefully the remaining footage of his brilliant performances will continue to be shown to a succession of younger generations, both as a mark of his genius and as an indication of what genius is really all about. And in the words of Don McLean’s song, “Perhaps they’ll listen now”.