George Best
(1946-2005), FootballerSitter in 7 portraits
Arguably the greatest player in British football history. Belfast-born Best was already a Manchester United and Northern Ireland star aged 17. Dubbed 'El Beatle' by Portuguese press reporters in 1966 after United beat Benfica 5-1 in Lisbon, Best's fashion sense and Beatle haircut saw him emerge as the first 'pop-star' footballer. The leading scorer for United in the Football First Division in 1967-8, he won a European Cup medal and the title of European Footballer of the Year. Best also played for Northern Ireland thirty-seven times from 1964-77. In later years he was also known for his troubled lifestyle, departing from United in 1974 after falling out with the management, and retiring completely from the game in 1983.
by Syndication International Ltd
bromide print, 3 October 1964
NPG x199765
by Sefton Samuels
bromide fibre print on card mount, 31 May 1968
NPG x923
by Andrew Catlin
bromide fibre print, August 1987
NPG x128833
by Trevor Ray Hart
chromogenic print, 22 November 1995
NPG x87120
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