George Best

This morning when I woke up the first thought that flickered through my mind was - as George Best? I thought he would die in the night, but nothing is confirmed the news, to which all must be good with the world. But unfortunately not for long.

I had the great pleasure of George in the flesh over a hundred times, and many of these games remain in a vacuum. It was the kind of player who could not keep my eyes for too long, because if you did,You could lose his last bit of magic, Art Rooney with many other destinations.

There are many stories of George, of them will have heard before, but I like the one when he was a young boy and came to Old Trafford as a child, very thin. He took the ball to Harry Gregg, cold dribbled around him and tapped the ball into the empty net. "It gets a little *******! How dare that for me," growled Gregg, a senior trader of the old school, hatedshare goals, even in training.

George promptly did the same thing three times, and Gregg knew that stars were discovered.

I suppose that one of its most famous games was the match against Benfica in Lisbon in 1966. United had won the first leg 3-2 and were widely expected to go into the tax return. (Germany to win or draw in Lisbon in competition, to stay familiar eh?) Benfica had a much bigger club, then as now, just European champions. But the best was unplayableThat night, he scored two goals and a good United won 5-1 in the famous stadium. Even the locals applauded his brilliance, and baptized him in front of "El Beatle", shades of last weekend Bernabeau Ronaldinho or Thierry Henry in Portsmouth a few seasons. As the home fans applaud you know that you just experienced something special.

But my favorite game was for Northern Ireland in Belfast. The one against a very good Scottish team in 1967, and he did not even score, but I neverSeen a game where a player has dominated the whole game from beginning to end, when George had that day, only Maradona came anyway.

If ever a game by a player against eleven, was on this day. George asked for the ball, and guys in green gave him every opportunity, because they knew that it was simply unplayable. If you have the opportunity to see a video of this game, then you look and see what I mean.

So where bestyIt was in the charts of all time? And 'natural for me, I am admittedly biased, is head and shoulders above all others that ever came to the island is definitely a top player, in my humble opinion as Cruyff, the famous two old rivals, Pele and Maradona leaves, both very bright, but George was right there with them, it was so good. The great Pele when the player addressed as the world's largest, said: "No, the biggest player is the GeorgeBest. "

As is better when it was, it was unstoppable, and it was like Bobby Charlton and Dennis Law (European Footballer of the Year both) would be easy to admire the ball and stop, and left with him. He received packed the grounds wherever he went, he played the game with a smile on his face monstrous. He has inspired children throughout the length and breadth of the land, fallow fields and playgrounds around the world, has inspired them to something special, try somethingGeorgie was different because they have seen it on TV.

to accept the Liverpool Daily Post, a newspaper with one eye, if there ever was one, when I wanted to tell a local newspaper once ran a huge title that said: EVERTON fall to the genius of the best. I took the Daily Post for thirty years, and I can never remember them ever write such glowing words on a player, sooner or later. George had a habit of winning the hearts tough opponent.

ButHe was a man of many weaknesses, not their hands on those of us from those who have spoken to people who knew him best in him as a generous, caring, and I think it's true. On the football field had no weaknesses. Not at all, could shoot with one foot, is a shot the ball well, a great tackler, an unmatched shortstop (now a rare talent), it was fast, and do not forget he played in a time of fierce tackler who the attack was legal from behindExpulsions and a rarity, and it was as good as he was, above all, had the capacity to produce the unexpected, the true sign that marks the Great.

And now he's gone, and I will miss him very much, for my part. But all these memories forever live with us, and for those, George, thank you. George Best passed away peacefully at a hospital in London, around with his family around him.

George Best

22. May 1946 - November 25, 2005.

Rest inPeace.