He always did speak from the heart and said it how it was. Seems a joke to me watching these videos back , how these guys were treated when Sky Sports took over football in 1992-3. Ten years or more of mediocrity from unrememberble pundits who just sat on the fence.
@mrmister769The best number 9 to come out of the UK..But he also had his Demons!!..I watched a Docu Bio on him early on in the yr..( as a long suffering Spurs fan)And it showed them in the dressing room at half time &I think the manager was moaning at him for not tracking back&JG was like are u f##kn serious! just give me the Ball&I'll score!! .But u def felt he was of the attitude where he couldn't care less about what the manager had to say ( while remaining respectful) And I think the Brilliant forward Romario was def similar to the legend Mr Greaves! . And him&Ian St john were good together..honest,interesting&down to earth funny!
@@thenomad525is that why they took this show off? What an mistake..Andy Gray&Richard Keyes were good,but this was the real deal..JG had that special quality&when he made observations u paid attention,( even if I disagreed) u knew that was how he felt about something,no BS!
Ian St John and Jimmy Greaves were true greats of the game. The Saint was a Scotland regular and Liverpool's idol of the Kop for nearly a decade; and Greavsie was England's most gifted goal scorer. On this issue of George Best, I have to side with Greavsie on this one. He understood exactly what a demon the drink could be; it was a battle that he won, and George sadly lost. All three are legends of the game, and rest in peace all three of them.
You say that but people forget Roger Hunt. Started the ‘66 WC Final ahead of Greaves as the top goal scorer in the England top flight whilst overshadowing Ian the whole time they were both at Liverpool as the clubs top goalscorer until Rush turned up!
I saw Best play for San Jose Earthquakes against Brentford in 1981 I was 6 and still remember it George got the only goal for San Jose who lost 10-1. I then met him with Bobby Moore at a talk in 1984 and got a photo with them both. Then in 1988 I saw him playing cricket in Maidenhead for Micheal Aspells team. He came out over the limit and Kenny Lynch was his runner but he could still hit the ball for 6. After the match I took my little brother to get a photo with him. We were being patient waiting in the crowd of people and the security said ok thats enough, and George said "these two" and I took the Photo. The guy was a sensitive man and thus fame was an issue for him but I will never forget that moment when he made sure we got that photo. Legend.
Interesting comment..And I played some football &got to know one of his countryman in the early 2000 over the U.S( The Dude was sound,but he also had his booze &Bob issues) but he played in the League of Ireland&played against GB in a charity game or something..And he said to me,he sneaked up on GB&nicked the Ball away from the great man ( this was when he was retired of course!) But u can't take these moments away from people👍⭐☘️
In fairness, that comment was made in 1988 at the height of his powers when he was doing incredible stuff and maradona didn't quit at 27 or 28. He was still playing top stuff into his thirties.
I remember George Best at a game at LIVERPOOL i remember his skills and the natural way he played he was years apart from anyone just so sad the way it turned out for him just like Gazza gifted but troubled
Ian St John, was never the brightest bulb, Best gave more joy tying up his boots than you did in your whole career..jealousy is poison..Thank you Jimmy!
@Majik box.......Totally agree! I was lucky enough to see George play 'in the flesh' a number of times and whenever he touched the ball, the entire crowd would be on the edge of their seats. He gave so much - he was a pure entertainer and a naturally gifted footballer and even if he was having an 'off day' he still had the ability to do something extraordinary. As for 'giving back to the game' - St John is a fine one to talk! A typically 'tightarse' Scotsman, I remember meeting a Scouser who had a fish and chip stall outside Anfield in the early 1960's. Whilst footballers weren't paid the obscene amounts of money they get these days, he told me that whenever Liverpool had a home game, St John would always stop at his stall after the match for fish and chips. He never once offered to pay!
George Best You are a Fantastic Football player You are the Best George Best Good bye the Belfast boy World legend Maradona Cruyff Pele George Best is the Best
Great stuff... Saint & Greavsie were brilliant... Me Nan used to watch em cos she liked em... She knew nothing and cared not a jot about football... Just loved watching em cos they were that good. As for George Best... Funniest and best biography I have ever read... What a footballer... Archetypal example of someone that was born to do one thing...and one thing only... He couldn't really have handled normal life even if he had been an accountant or a plasterer
Tavy@ i couldnt believe it when man utd refused george a testimonial. After what he won for them plus the crowds he put on the gate home and away. No other player had the impact that he had. We all know it was george that won them the european cup. And if they had better players they should have won it again the next year with george. And the joy he gave to so many fans was unreal. But man utd are a miserable club and always have been, even in george and denis and bobbys time. Theres alot of truths about this club that people still dont know about today. Pure cold hearted to the core man utd. George just wanted to enjoy his football and give the crowd alot of pleasure. But by 1969 they were to mean to spend big plus get rid of at least 4 players, then 4 years later they were relegated. Then liverpool took over for ten years in europe plus england.
@alanmctavish4802 That's a very interesting comment. I didn't know that United refused him a testimonial. That's absolutely shocking. He was one of the main contributors in the building of the the Man Utd legend. They owe him so much. You're spot on about them refusing to spend big. They never made a bid for Alan Ball when Everton wanted to sell him in late 1971 and George in an interview years afterwards expressed his deep disappointment about this lack of ambition for a club with big ideas about its status in the game and stated that it was a contributory factor to his growing disillusionment with the club he loved.
No offence to St.John here but I don't hear people still talking about him and how he is one of, or even the, greatest to ever grace the football field George Best was so far ahead of his time his parents haven't met yet
Growing up in the 80s, Saint & Greavsie was a staple on Saturday. Fantastic. Brilliant football punditry. All pure football fans of that era miss them both.
Greavsie so casually dressed as per usual and wearing a top with a rainbow stripe on was also so ahead of his time before all this pride malarkey existed ha ha
Many people who are brilliant at what they do, have no love of it. It's the ultimate irony that someone as gifted with a ball as George was, could take it or leave it, and often did the latter.
@@ashleyhyne7027 well yeah it really did. The World Cup win was two years before this. After the italia 90 World Cup his career at the highest level was over at the age of 30. Started missing training and games due to ‘stress’ and his cocaine habit, then he was kicked out of Italian football due to his addictions (had been banned for 15 months) and then it was all downhill.
@@ashleyhyne7027 I am right. Anyone who watched him in ‘90 could see he was a pale shadow of the player he’d been in Mexico. He was 29, he should have been almost at his peak. He did have an ankle injury, granted, but his body was clearly starting to fall apart after years of abuse. The less said about ‘94 the better… let’s just say it doesn’t really help your argument!
On the subject of United's meanness, Busby told the team that he would see them right when the £20 wage cap was lifted; when it was he gave them a fiver raise. Worse still, Jackie Blanchflower had to retire owing to his back injuries sustained in the plane crash; living in a United property he was virtually evicted as he was of no further use to the club.
I have done a lot of research on Ferguson and you're wrong. He was as hard as nails when he needed to be, but he always knew that family was the most important thing in people's lives and treated them accordingly. Ferguson was actually a very compassionate man.
Im 68 and saw george play for utd in 67 68 seasons, i remember being really angry when he walked away fromm the game because i knew i would miss him doing things on a football pitch no body could come near too.i dont blame him at all and respect his decision entirely ,a genius will always be missed just as the benius alex hibgins will never be matched,,just be grateful they came along and thrilled us with their wonderful talents,,,,just no one around now that even come near,how much to buy bestie nowadays,,,he was just awesome brilliant and brave,back in the day many were out to do him,,,,tbanks George RIP
There aren't many players I have watched from past decades that I can honestly say looked like a modern day player of today. George Best reminds me of the way Messi played. I cannot think of bestowing that comparison to any other player of the past when comparing them to today. Sure there were fantastic players such as Pele, Charlton, Maradona etc but Bestie played like a man who travelled back 60 years to play the game.
What 99% of people don't realise is that George Best wasn't just a genius at football, he was a bona fide genius with an IQ of 170. That intelligence could have taken him anywhere in industry, commerce or education but he loved football and had to play it. He passed his 11+ and went to a rugby playing grammar school but packed that in to go to a secondary modern so he could carry on with football. Super intelligent people have a hard time mixing with the ordinary joe's and alcohol can be great leveller, also George was extremely shy around people he didn't know well and once again alcohol helps with that. George drank to fit it and be accepted but when UTD went downhill fast after 1969 he drank for solace. Greatest player of all time ? only those who saw him play can answer that, as for Saint, if George had played for Liverpool he would have had a different opinion.
St. John seems to be asserting that George Best never really gave anything of himself to the Irish FA. Number of international caps: Best 37 St. John 21
In fairness, Scotland had a lot more competition for places. Best was an absolute must to start for Northern Ireland. Realistically with his ability, he should have been pushing 60 or 70 caps. There were a lot fewer national games back then.
Think I agree with Ian St John here. If motivation was to salute one of the truly great players and money goes to Charity I would have thought about going. But if it was just to earn a few quid for Best and his hangers on than I wouldn't have gone.
George was let down by utd. I know having played with him as a junior OT. After the 68 European cup win the club collapsed, old players stayed too long, busby was shot. The whole mess fell on George's shoulders. It was too much.
Well said, I've said it for years, it wasn't drink that ruined George, it was Utd. After the European Cup win, the Club stagnated, rotted. They was in the 2nd Division 6yrs later. That's what led George to alcohol, nothing else.
@@melvyndolby8625..hi Mel it's Mick hope you're well pal..you're so right about the club not wanting to spend big after 68..and we suffered for it..can see parallels now with those leeches the glazers..we could well end up being another Leeds!..stay safe mate!🤬👊👹
Correct! They should have built the team around him. Law was electric but had a really damaged knee, Stiles was a great player but had bad knees, there were a few quality players there. They won the 68 European Cup then took their foot off the pedal, shut up shop. George should have gone to Leeds, Chelsea or Liverpool. Chelsea maybe not due to the manic London scene. Such a shame. You can tell by 1970-73 he had enough and was trying to score from corner kicks etc.
Well said. George also played in almost 100 testimonials for others, and in charity games to raise money, so ISJ's remarks were off-base. Reflecting on this video now, I do sort of get why ISJ was a bit annoyed, in part because as a fellow ex-pro, he envied George's fantastic skills and thought he shouldn't have left the game in his mid-20s (or at least in the English top flight). Most testimonials, as far as I know, are for players nearing their retirement. Best left United, finally, in 1974 and played for other teams abroad. I do agree with Greaves that it was unfair to say that GB took more out of the game than he put in. It was hardly Best's fault that he was this good-looking dude who had women on his arm, or that he was an advertiser's dream and made lots of money (in relative terms). He was at Old Trafford, if you include his youth team involvement, for 11 years, and at his peak for about 6 years, and look at the goals, the two championships and the ECup, the youngest to win European Footballer of the Year. I guess, though, that ISJ, even though he was a Liverpool player, wanted him to be around even more. And he's certainly not wrong. There will never be another like him.
Jimmy shut St.John up when he said 1 game of watching George play was worth 10 years of most other footballers. St.John should hang his head in shame for his derogatory remarks towards George Best who, imo, was and still is THE Best.
Ian st John typical ex livarpool player being salty about a legend ?? Who by the way Ian 🤔 in a lot of ways brought football out of the dark ages at a very young age with his love of how the game should gracefully be played ? Young kids no matter who they supported all idolised George best for his ability on a football field ! No one had the effect best did in football terms he was loved by players n fans the world over 😊
The FA being squeamish about their best ever player making a one off buck well after the end of his career. Compare that to the salaries that, as Greavsie put it, mediocre players earn week in week out today.
George Best put more bums on seats than any other player in history, mine included, my first ever live game was West Brom v Man Utd, i was a Wolves supporter, but i went just to see Georgie full stop.
Disagree with St John, although Best quit Man Utd at the age of 27, he played in Scotland,USA, lower leagues and friendlies just to play the game he loved. If anything he done more for football than any other of greats in world football. He played anywhere that wanted him. Just wish he went to the Word Cup in 1982 with N. Ireland. Watching the highlights from his testimonial in 1988 a half fit Best was still better than 95% of players fully fit. Imagine Best, Maradona and Zico at the same tournament
Best missed the 1966 world cup by a single goal scored in albania. If he had stayed fit he would have gone to the 1982 world cup. Maybe in a parallel universe he did both
Poor Georgie, Irish upbringings are centered around occasions followed by the pub, people get into a routine of drinking in a pub, the centre of social activity, its changing a bit now but still strong , drugs worse now , too much of drink and it eventually gets you , cultural problem here, when young ur a great lad if u drink 10 pints but once u develop a problem few want to know u , its kinda genetic too and passed on unfortunately
Interesting...The Brazilian press actually named Peter Thompson as the White Pele at the Little World Cup..was it 1962?..another great winger for England who was not allowed to flourish with England due to Ramsey 's wingless wonders.
He wasted his career and lots of people tried to help him with his drinking but, he didn’t listen. People say it wasn’t his fault but, of course it was. I used to drink heavily until I got to a point where I realised I’d upset and pushed everyone away, so I have no sympathy for him…. He was embarrassing. The money should have gone to charity, as there are much more deserving people out there
@@spendover well, regardless of what you think, many many people adored him and many were willing to go to his testimonial and say thanks for the joy he brought them. He’s far from being the only human to waste his life with an addiction. Like everyone he was flawed. Unlike most he was truly gifted.
He didn't give a lot to the game? If this is true then why would anyone still be talking about him 10, 20 30+ years after retiring? I never watched one match of his and I know who he was. You don't get that without bringing a lot to the game.
George is in the top 20 for most appearences by a utd player and number 5 all time scorer, 11 years at the top level is hardly Not putting anything into the game!
Saint was so wrong , George gave a lot to football, inspired thousands if not millions of kids at the time to play the game, helped United to the Pinnacle in 1968. Greavsie is spot on. Marradona was a cheat and eventually a drug cheat.
We waited in the freezing rain to hopefully see Best play for Hibs, he appeared midway through the second half, clearly pissed , but still in short bursts the class of the field , the highlight of the game was his jostle with a defender when Hibs got a corner , Best held the far post and spewed up just behind the goal line , turning back to continue the position just with the defender he wiped the spew from his beard onto his sleeve and then wiped the sleeve across the defenders face 😂😂😂 totally gross and the poor defender , who was obviously a sympathy Spewer , wretched and boked for the rest of the match as when the next corner came Best pointed the spew patch to him , pointed to his sleeve and motioned to " wipe " him again 😂😂😂😂 All true , what a genius.
@@spendover both came from very humble working class backgrounds, both considered amongst the most naturally gifted footballers who ever lived, similar playing styles, both transcended football to become icons, both regularly came into conflict with authority, both regularly kicked off the pitch by thuggish opponents, both finished at the top level too young (Best at 26/27, Diego at 30), both plagued by parasitic hangers-on, both destroyed physically by addictions, both died at basically the same age (Diego had just turned 60, George was six months short of his 60th). They even died on the exact same date 15 years apart.
Put Best in Messi era... better pitches boots ball and no fouls allowed or red card... he'd be better than Messi.. so would Maradona... and Di Stefano and Pele... Puskas and Cruyff would be equal with Messi
"One game from George was worth 10 years from a mediocre player....." Bravo, Jimmy!
Jimmy Greaves speaking from the heart there. God bless him. He too was a genius.
@mrmister769completely agree
He always did speak from the heart and said it how it was. Seems a joke to me watching these videos back , how these guys were treated when Sky Sports took over football in 1992-3. Ten years or more of mediocrity from unrememberble pundits who just sat on the fence.
@mrmister769The best number 9 to come out of the UK..But he also had his Demons!!..I watched a Docu Bio on him early on in the yr..( as a long suffering Spurs fan)And it showed them in the dressing room at half time &I think the manager was moaning at him for not tracking back&JG was like are u f##kn serious!
just give me the Ball&I'll score!! .But u def felt he was of the attitude where he couldn't care less about what the manager had to say ( while remaining respectful) And I think the Brilliant forward Romario was def similar to the legend Mr Greaves! . And him&Ian St john were good together..honest,interesting&down to earth funny!
@@thenomad525is that why they took this show off? What an mistake..Andy Gray&Richard Keyes were good,but this was the real deal..JG had that special quality&when he made observations u paid attention,( even if I disagreed) u knew that was how he felt about something,no BS!
@jerryoshea3116 The show ended largely due to ITV losing the rights to show top flight football.
Good for Greavsie sticking up for Bestie at the end.
Ian St John and Jimmy Greaves were true greats of the game. The Saint was a Scotland regular and Liverpool's idol of the Kop for nearly a decade; and Greavsie was England's most gifted goal scorer. On this issue of George Best, I have to side with Greavsie on this one. He understood exactly what a demon the drink could be; it was a battle that he won, and George sadly lost. All three are legends of the game, and rest in peace all three of them.
You say that but people forget Roger Hunt. Started the ‘66 WC Final ahead of Greaves as the top goal scorer in the England top flight whilst overshadowing Ian the whole time they were both at Liverpool as the clubs top goalscorer until Rush turned up!
Well said..👍
I saw Best play for San Jose Earthquakes against Brentford in 1981 I was 6 and still remember it George got the only goal for San Jose who lost 10-1. I then met him with Bobby Moore at a talk in 1984 and got a photo with them both. Then in 1988 I saw him playing cricket in Maidenhead for Micheal Aspells team. He came out over the limit and Kenny Lynch was his runner but he could still hit the ball for 6. After the match I took my little brother to get a photo with him. We were being patient waiting in the crowd of people and the security said ok thats enough, and George said "these two" and I took the Photo. The guy was a sensitive man and thus fame was an issue for him but I will never forget that moment when he made sure we got that photo. Legend.
Brilliant post 👍👍
Interesting comment..And I played some football &got to know one of his countryman in the early 2000 over the U.S( The Dude was sound,but he also had his booze &Bob issues) but he played in the League of Ireland&played against GB in a charity game or something..And he said to me,he sneaked up on GB&nicked the Ball away from the great man ( this was when he was retired of course!) But u can't take these moments away from people👍⭐☘️
Superb
Such a great summing up from Jimmy Greaves about George vs. mediocre players - spot on.
You can tell Greavesie understood the alcohol issue, even though he didn't bang on about it
Jimmy Greaves... gone but not forgotten.
@@jamesmonty2963 Hard luck for you then.
"Maradona is able to handle the pressures of being a footballing genius." That comment aged well. 😅
I thought that too shoving all sorts up his hooter
I think "handle it" was an unfortunate choice of words for more than one reason.
@@surreyevobut he did coke all the time, so did mike tyson..Nothing to do with pressure
In fairness, that comment was made in 1988 at the height of his powers when he was doing incredible stuff and maradona didn't quit at 27 or 28. He was still playing top stuff into his thirties.
@@sean_43 Yes. Also in fairness, Everyone knows it was made when Saint & Greavsie & Maradona were alive
Bestie once said Greavsie was his favourite player, I wonder if Jimmy ever heard about that, rest well gentlemen
There will never be another George best. Period.
There will never be 2 of anyone ...
@@Unborn-Stillborn Think there's more then 2 Lefty's. LOL.
@@Unborn-Stillbornthere’s always one idiot
Loved The Saint and Greavsie as a young lad, brilliant double act and they brought great humour to the game 👍
Jimmy was an all time great himself!
Jimmy Greaves really spoke well here. Absolutely spot on with everything.
If George Best gave nothing to football, he wouldn’t be remembered today. He had game!
Jimmy was a genius as well
Best England striker of all time.
@@TheSeafordian100% he was
I remember George Best at a game at LIVERPOOL i remember his skills and the natural way he played he was years apart from anyone just so sad the way it turned out for him just like Gazza gifted but troubled
The guy should have been awarded a testimonial at Old Trafford. How can anyone say he Never contributed to the game?..Ridiculous
I agree, St John is a bit of a Tit here,
Ian St John, was never the brightest bulb, Best gave more joy tying up his boots than you did in your whole career..jealousy is poison..Thank you Jimmy!
@Majik box.......Totally agree! I was lucky enough to see George play 'in the flesh' a number of times and whenever he touched the ball, the entire crowd would be on the edge of their seats. He gave so much - he was a pure entertainer and a naturally gifted footballer and even if he was having an 'off day' he still had the ability to do something extraordinary.
As for 'giving back to the game' - St John is a fine one to talk! A typically 'tightarse' Scotsman, I remember meeting a Scouser who had a fish and chip stall outside Anfield in the early 1960's. Whilst footballers weren't paid the obscene amounts of money they get these days, he told me that whenever Liverpool had a home game, St John would always stop at his stall after the match for fish and chips. He never once offered to pay!
George Best You are a Fantastic Football player You are the Best George Best Good bye the Belfast boy World legend Maradona Cruyff Pele George Best is the Best
Great stuff... Saint & Greavsie were brilliant... Me Nan used to watch em cos she liked em... She knew nothing and cared not a jot about football... Just loved watching em cos they were that good.
As for George Best... Funniest and best biography I have ever read... What a footballer... Archetypal example of someone that was born to do one thing...and one thing only... He couldn't really have handled normal life even if he had been an accountant or a plasterer
His career may have been short, but he was the greatest player that Utd ever had, or probably ever will.
Edwards?
@@mister3566 Nah. Eric Djemba-Djemba.
@@gaywest4298 2 for 1
Harry Maguire ?
Veron ?Fellani ? Falco ?
The greatest footballer that ever lived.
George Best The Best!!
…better than all the rest.
Tavy@ i couldnt believe it when man utd refused george a testimonial. After what he won for them plus the crowds he put on the gate home and away. No other player had the impact that he had. We all know it was george that won them the european cup. And if they had better players they should have won it again the next year with george. And the joy he gave to so many fans was unreal. But man utd are a miserable club and always have been, even in george and denis and bobbys time. Theres alot of truths about this club that people still dont know about today. Pure cold hearted to the core man utd. George just wanted to enjoy his football and give the crowd alot of pleasure. But by 1969 they were to mean to spend big plus get rid of at least 4 players, then 4 years later they were relegated. Then liverpool took over for ten years in europe plus england.
@alanmctavish4802 That's a very interesting comment. I didn't know that United refused him a testimonial. That's absolutely shocking. He was one of the main contributors in the building of the the Man Utd legend. They owe him so much. You're spot on about them refusing to spend big. They never made a bid for Alan Ball when Everton wanted to sell him in late 1971 and George in an interview years afterwards expressed his deep disappointment about this lack of ambition for a club with big ideas about its status in the game and stated that it was a contributory factor to his growing disillusionment with the club he loved.
@3:38 'What's left for George now?' The sadness in Jimmy's eyes said it all.
No offence to St.John here but I don't hear people still talking about him and how he is one of, or even the, greatest to ever grace the football field
George Best was so far ahead of his time his parents haven't met yet
Nice to hear heartfelt opinion unlike nowadays when no one says anything because it might offend someone
Growing up in the 80s, Saint & Greavsie was a staple on Saturday. Fantastic. Brilliant football punditry. All pure football fans of that era miss them both.
Jimmy himself was one of the greatest player,he should have played in the 1966... but.
. it's history
Greavsie so casually dressed as per usual and wearing a top with a rainbow stripe on was also so ahead of his time before all this pride malarkey existed ha ha
Many people who are brilliant at what they do, have no love of it. It's the ultimate irony that someone as gifted with a ball as George was, could take it or leave it, and often did the latter.
Greatest footballer of all time bar none !
Not sure Maradona was a great example of someone who could handle the pressure! It all fell apart for him a couple of years after this
History wasn’t kind to Ian st john on this comment
@@ashleyhyne7027 well yeah it really did. The World Cup win was two years before this. After the italia 90 World Cup his career at the highest level was over at the age of 30. Started missing training and games due to ‘stress’ and his cocaine habit, then he was kicked out of Italian football due to his addictions (had been banned for 15 months) and then it was all downhill.
@@ashleyhyne7027 I am right. Anyone who watched him in ‘90 could see he was a pale shadow of the player he’d been in Mexico. He was 29, he should have been almost at his peak. He did have an ankle injury, granted, but his body was clearly starting to fall apart after years of abuse.
The less said about ‘94 the better… let’s just say it doesn’t really help your argument!
Maradona - able to handle it. Words aged badly.
@@ashleyhyne7027 like Maradona after 1990, you lost.
On the subject of United's meanness, Busby told the team that he would see them right when the £20 wage cap was lifted; when it was he gave them a fiver raise. Worse still, Jackie Blanchflower had to retire owing to his back injuries sustained in the plane crash; living in a United property he was virtually evicted as he was of no further use to the club.
Busby great manager , but as a man not so sure. Ferguson the same. Before anybody starts the abuse ... do some research !!!!
I have done a lot of research on Ferguson and you're wrong. He was as hard as nails when he needed to be, but he always knew that family was the most important thing in people's lives and treated them accordingly. Ferguson was actually a very compassionate man.
As Bernard Manning used to say, "What is the difference between Matt Busby and Al Capone? Al Capone has a scar."
Im 68 and saw george play for utd in 67 68 seasons, i remember being really angry when he walked away fromm the game because i knew i would miss him doing things on a football pitch no body could come near too.i dont blame him at all and respect his decision entirely ,a genius will always be missed just as the benius alex hibgins will never be matched,,just be grateful they came along and thrilled us with their wonderful talents,,,,just no one around now that even come near,how much to buy bestie nowadays,,,he was just awesome brilliant and brave,back in the day many were out to do him,,,,tbanks George RIP
3:20 Greavsie sums it up here
There aren't many players I have watched from past decades that I can honestly say looked like a modern day player of today. George Best reminds me of the way Messi played. I cannot think of bestowing that comparison to any other player of the past when comparing them to today. Sure there were fantastic players such as Pele, Charlton, Maradona etc but Bestie played like a man who travelled back 60 years to play the game.
Two of the best 👌🏻
Legends 🙏🏻
What 99% of people don't realise is that George Best wasn't just a genius at football, he was a bona fide genius with an IQ of 170. That intelligence could have taken him anywhere in industry, commerce or education but he loved football and had to play it. He passed his 11+ and went to a rugby playing grammar school but packed that in to go to a secondary modern so he could carry on with football.
Super intelligent people have a hard time mixing with the ordinary joe's and alcohol can be great leveller, also George was extremely shy around people he didn't know well and once again alcohol helps with that. George drank to fit it and be accepted but when UTD went downhill fast after 1969 he drank for solace.
Greatest player of all time ? only those who saw him play can answer that, as for Saint, if George had played for Liverpool he would have had a different opinion.
St. John seems to be asserting that George Best never really gave anything of himself to the Irish FA.
Number of international caps:
Best 37
St. John 21
In fairness, Scotland had a lot more competition for places. Best was an absolute must to start for Northern Ireland. Realistically with his ability, he should have been pushing 60 or 70 caps. There were a lot fewer national games back then.
Loved Saint and Greavsie.
Think I agree with Ian St John here.
If motivation was to salute one of the truly great players and money goes to Charity I would have thought about going.
But if it was just to earn a few quid for Best and his hangers on than I wouldn't have gone.
Bestie had mental demons. But he is the best footballer I have ever seen, him and Bobby Charlton.
George was let down by utd. I know having played with him as a junior OT.
After the 68 European cup win the club collapsed, old players stayed too long, busby was shot. The whole mess fell on George's shoulders. It was too much.
Well said, I've said it for years, it wasn't drink that ruined George, it was Utd. After the European Cup win, the Club stagnated, rotted. They was in the 2nd Division 6yrs later. That's what led George to alcohol, nothing else.
@@melvyndolby8625..hi Mel it's Mick hope you're well pal..you're so right about the club not wanting to spend big after 68..and we suffered for it..can see parallels now with those leeches the glazers..we could well end up being another Leeds!..stay safe mate!🤬👊👹
Correct! They should have built the team around him. Law was electric but had a really damaged knee, Stiles was a great player but had bad knees, there were a few quality players there. They won the 68 European Cup then took their foot off the pedal, shut up shop. George should have gone to Leeds, Chelsea or Liverpool. Chelsea maybe not due to the manic London scene. Such a shame. You can tell by 1970-73 he had enough and was trying to score from corner kicks etc.
Best gave a lot more to the game than st John ever did.
I've see them all, and George Best was the Greatest of them all.
Well said mate ! Truly the greatest ever footballer!
@@johnhughes8466 George had being watching and copied me as I could play with 2 feet too.
@@glenearl9506 You takin the proverbial p××s!
Ian St Who?? What a load of offensive nonsense he talked, unlike the wonderful Jimmy who spoke beautifully and was spot on.
Well said. George also played in almost 100 testimonials for others, and in charity games to raise money, so ISJ's remarks were off-base. Reflecting on this video now, I do sort of get why ISJ was a bit annoyed, in part because as a fellow ex-pro, he envied George's fantastic skills and thought he shouldn't have left the game in his mid-20s (or at least in the English top flight). Most testimonials, as far as I know, are for players nearing their retirement. Best left United, finally, in 1974 and played for other teams abroad.
I do agree with Greaves that it was unfair to say that GB took more out of the game than he put in. It was hardly Best's fault that he was this good-looking dude who had women on his arm, or that he was an advertiser's dream and made lots of money (in relative terms). He was at Old Trafford, if you include his youth team involvement, for 11 years, and at his peak for about 6 years, and look at the goals, the two championships and the ECup, the youngest to win European Footballer of the Year. I guess, though, that ISJ, even though he was a Liverpool player, wanted him to be around even more. And he's certainly not wrong. There will never be another like him.
Jimmy shut St.John up when he said 1 game of watching George play was worth 10 years of most other footballers. St.John should hang his head in shame for his derogatory remarks towards George Best who, imo, was and still is THE Best.
They really didn't understand addiction back then! It must of been hard being an addict back then
Maradona and George Best were similar both had issues, drink with George and cocaine with Maradona, which ultimately cut both careers short.
That silver suit is pure 1980's
Ian st John typical ex livarpool player being salty about a legend ?? Who by the way Ian 🤔 in a lot of ways brought football out of the dark ages at a very young age with his love of how the game should gracefully be played ? Young kids no matter who they supported all idolised George best for his ability on a football field ! No one had the effect best did in football terms he was loved by players n fans the world over 😊
The FA being squeamish about their best ever player making a one off buck well after the end of his career. Compare that to the salaries that, as Greavsie put it, mediocre players earn week in week out today.
he'd have just pissed it away. The man was doomed.
Georgie best was a British icon ..i know he was a bit of an alcoholic.. but he was brilliant.
George Best put more bums on seats than any other player in history, mine included, my first ever live game was West Brom v Man Utd, i was a Wolves supporter, but i went just to see Georgie full stop.
Maradona, Bestie and Gazza - the most natural talents that ever played the game. And they were all nuts!
Nuts is a pretty disrespectful way to describe people with addiction and mental health issues.
Disagree with St John, although Best quit Man Utd at the age of 27, he played in Scotland,USA, lower leagues and friendlies just to play the game he loved. If anything he done more for football than any other of greats in world football. He played anywhere that wanted him. Just wish he went to the Word Cup in 1982 with N. Ireland. Watching the highlights from his testimonial in 1988 a half fit Best was still better than 95% of players fully fit. Imagine Best, Maradona and Zico at the same tournament
Best missed the 1966 world cup by a single goal scored in albania. If he had stayed fit he would have gone to the 1982 world cup. Maybe in a parallel universe he did both
Good to see Swiss Toni’s cousin in the chair.
..I mean, even louder than owt Crocker & tubs wore on the ‘vice’😉😆
All great guys much missed......apart from interviewer.
Ian St John!Who never heard of him 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Ok. So you're ignorant.
Poor Georgie, Irish upbringings are centered around occasions followed by the pub, people get into a routine of drinking in a pub, the centre of social activity, its changing a bit now but still strong , drugs worse now , too much of drink and it eventually gets you , cultural problem here, when young ur a great lad if u drink 10 pints but once u develop a problem few want to know u , its kinda genetic too and passed on unfortunately
Nearly all geniuses are mad .It’s seems to be a tragic side effect of greatness
George Best! The White Pele
Interesting...The Brazilian press actually named Peter Thompson as the White Pele at the Little World Cup..was it 1962?..another great winger for England who was not allowed to flourish with England due to Ramsey 's wingless wonders.
George was the Best .
Turns out Maradona couldn't handle it either per the HBO documentary 😞.... RIP Jimmy and George... both genius players
George Best better than all the rest
Who’s the third guy?
Jackie Fullerton - Northern Irish TV/Sports presenter
Well, the Testimonial DID happen, and Best scored 2 goals (including a special lob over the keeper)!
Yep! In the pishing rain in belfast, but what a special night
So what happened to the money gained from the testimonial?
@@spendover it went to George Best, who was struggling financially at the time
He wasted his career and lots of people tried to help him with his drinking but, he didn’t listen.
People say it wasn’t his fault but, of course it was. I used to drink heavily until I got to a point where I realised I’d upset and pushed everyone away, so I have no sympathy for him…. He was embarrassing.
The money should have gone to charity, as there are much more deserving people out there
@@spendover well, regardless of what you think, many many people adored him and many were willing to go to his testimonial and say thanks for the joy he brought them. He’s far from being the only human to waste his life with an addiction. Like everyone he was flawed. Unlike most he was truly gifted.
You would never get this honestly today.
Did Ian really say what he just said?
He didn't give a lot to the game? If this is true then why would anyone still be talking about him 10, 20 30+ years after retiring? I never watched one match of his and I know who he was. You don't get that without bringing a lot to the game.
WELL SAID JIMMY
Mad to think everyone in this video are now dead, including those they talk about
I’m not exactly sure who’s who. But Rip to whoever passed!
George Best played more games and scored more goals for utd than st John did playing for Liverpool 10 years
St John, not fit to lace besties drinks !!
Jackie Fullerton bucked yer ma..
Best gave a good 10 years
Best made football cool .
George is in the top 20 for most appearences by a utd player and number 5 all time scorer, 11 years at the top level is hardly Not putting anything into the game!
"Maradona is able to handle it". Sigh.
Maradona never walked away from top flight football at 27
Saint was so wrong , George gave a lot to football, inspired thousands if not millions of kids at the time to play the game, helped United to the Pinnacle in 1968. Greavsie is spot on. Marradona was a cheat and eventually a drug cheat.
I worry for George without football. I fear the demon drink will get him. Hope I’m wrong but sadly I fear I will be right.
We waited in the freezing rain to hopefully see Best play for Hibs, he appeared midway through the second half, clearly pissed , but still in short bursts the class of the field , the highlight of the game was his jostle with a defender when Hibs got a corner , Best held the far post and spewed up just behind the goal line , turning back to continue the position just with the defender he wiped the spew from his beard onto his sleeve and then wiped the sleeve across the defenders face 😂😂😂 totally gross and the poor defender , who was obviously a sympathy Spewer , wretched and boked for the rest of the match as when the next corner came Best pointed the spew patch to him , pointed to his sleeve and motioned to " wipe " him again 😂😂😂😂
All true , what a genius.
maradona didnt handle it,He was high on coke most of the time
George didn’t give anything to football typical scouse jealousy, St. John couldn’t lace his boots 🇾🇪🔰
Saint who ? He couldn't of laced Besties boots.
Couldn't HAVE
Saint John’s comment on Maradona didn’t age well
Maradona couldn't handle it either
I struggle to see how Maradona and Best can be compared
@@spendover they have many, many similarities
@@lordsummerisle3139 explain
@@spendover both came from very humble working class backgrounds, both considered amongst the most naturally gifted footballers who ever lived, similar playing styles, both transcended football to become icons, both regularly came into conflict with authority, both regularly kicked off the pitch by thuggish opponents, both finished at the top level too young (Best at 26/27, Diego at 30), both plagued by parasitic hangers-on, both destroyed physically by addictions, both died at basically the same age (Diego had just turned 60, George was six months short of his 60th). They even died on the exact same date 15 years apart.
True but, Maradona was by far a much better all round player
Just kicked an f@@kin ball around.......Genius ?????😂😂😂😂
These lads knew how to have the craic with n without the strong stuff ( they could play a bit too ) Best was a Great maybe not a saint! but who was?
Ian.
Sound very low
We’re they not all drunks?
Put Best in Messi era... better pitches boots ball and no fouls allowed or red card... he'd be better than Messi.. so would Maradona... and Di Stefano and Pele... Puskas and Cruyff would be equal with Messi
Jeez, Saint..🤦🏻♂️
maradona handle it 😅😄🤣😂 yes with copious amounts of drugs.
At John needs a slap he made football
I bet Georgie boy went off Saint after that.
Maradona could handle the pressure !!