George Best

George Best (born May 22, 1946 in Belfast) is a former footballer from Northern Ireland, and one of the most celebrated players ever from Great Britain or Ireland.

Alcoholism

In 1984, Best received a three-month prison sentence for drink driving, assaulting a police officer and failing to answer bail. He spent Christmas 1984 behind bars and turned out as a player for Ford Open Prison. In 1990, he appeared on a prime time BBC chat show in which he swore and was clearly drunk. He later apologised and said this was one of the worst episodes of his alcoholism. In 2000, he had a liver transplant. In 2003 he was the focus of much criticism when, despite his transplant, he openly drank white wine spritzers and was accused of being selfish and having no regard for other people's feelings. His wife Alex appeared as a contestant in a 2003 reality television programme making allegations about their relationship. On 3 January 2004, Best was convicted of another drink driving offence and banned from driving for 20 months.

Related Topics:
1984 - Drink driving - Ford Open Prison - 1990 - BBC - 2000 - Liver - Transplant - 2003 - Wine - Spritzer - 3 January - 2004 - Driving

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In November 2004 Best agreed to join FA Premier League club Portsmouth F.C. as youth coach, citing his desire to get involved in football again.

Related Topics:
2004 - FA Premier League - Portsmouth F.C.

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Best is widely considered, at least in the U.K., to be one of the most skilful players ever to have played the game. Indeed Pele, widely considered the finest talent ever to play the game, once stated that George Best was the best player he ever saw play. His talent would almost certainly have been recognised more on the world stage had his national team not been a relative "minnow". Along with Paul Gascoigne and Lee Sharpe (also of Manchester United fame), Best is held up by UK football fans as an example of the dark side of the game, where a prodigous playing talent is squandered by managers and agents too quick to ignore players' personal problems.

Related Topics:
U.K. - Paul Gascoigne - Lee Sharpe

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Best has often said that he would like to see a United Ireland soccer team like those in rugby and hockey.

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