George Best

Early Life

George Best was born on May 22, 1946, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He grew up in a simple family. His parents were Dickie Best and Anne Best. As a young boy, George loved to play football. He played in the streets with his friends every day. He was very good at football, even when he was small.

Starting Football

When George was 15 years old, a football scout saw him play. The scout worked for Manchester United, a big football team in England. He liked how George played very much. He called the Manchester United manager and said, "I found a very special young player."

Manchester United invited George to come to England. At first, George was scared and went back home to Belfast. But later, he tried again. This time he stayed. He started training with Manchester United. The coaches saw that he was very talented.

Rise to Fame

George Best played his first game for Manchester United in 1963. He was only 17 years old! He played very well, and people started to notice him. He was fast and could control the ball very well. He could go past other players easily. Many people said he was like a dancer on the football field.

In the 1960s, George Best became very famous. He helped Manchester United win many important games. In 1968, Manchester United won the European Cup. This was the biggest prize in European football. In the same year, George Best won the Ballon d'Or. This means he was the best football player in Europe!

Style of Play

George Best was different from other players. He was not very tall, but he was very quick. He could change direction very fast. He could use both feet to control and kick the ball. He scored many beautiful goals.

People gave him many nice names:
- The Fifth Beatle (because he was as famous as the Beatles music group)
- El Beatle
- The Belfast Boy
- The Greatest

Many people think George Best was one of the most skillful players ever. He could do things with the ball that other players could not do. He made football look easy and fun.

Life Outside Football

George Best was not only famous for football. He was also famous for his good looks and style. He had long hair and wore nice clothes. Many young people wanted to be like him. He was in many TV shows and advertisements. He owned fashion shops and nightclubs.

But being very famous was not always good for George. He started to go to too many parties. He started to drink too much alcohol. This was not good for his football. His managers and friends tried to help him, but it was difficult.

Later Years

George Best stopped playing for Manchester United in 1974. He was only 27 years old. This was very young for a football player to stop. After Manchester United, he played for some other teams, but he was not the same player anymore.

Here are some numbers from his career:
- He played 470 games for Manchester United
- He scored 179 goals for Manchester United
- He played 37 games for Northern Ireland
- He scored 9 goals for Northern Ireland

Health Problems and Final Years

George Best had many health problems because he drank too much alcohol. He was very sick for many years. In 2002, he had an operation to get a new liver. But he still had problems with drinking.

George Best died on November 25, 2005. He was 59 years old. More than 100,000 people came to his funeral in Belfast. This shows how much people loved him.

Why George Best Was Special

George Best was special for many reasons:
1. He was one of the most skillful football players ever
2. He made football fun to watch
3. He helped Manchester United become a very famous team
4. He showed that a boy from a simple family could become very famous
5. He changed how people saw football players

His Legacy

Today, people still remember George Best. Many young players want to play like him. At Manchester United's stadium, there are pictures and statues of him. In Belfast, they named their airport after him - George Best Belfast City Airport.

Many famous people said nice things about George Best:
- Pelé (another famous player) said: "George Best was the greatest player in the world."
- Sir Bobby Charlton (his teammate) said: "He was the most naturally gifted footballer I ever saw."

Important Awards and Achievements
- European Cup winner (1968)
- Ballon d'Or winner (1968)
- Football League First Division winner (1965, 1967)
- European Footballer of the Year (1968)
- FWA Footballer of the Year (1968)

Life Lessons

George Best's life teaches us some important things:
- If you work hard, you can be very good at what you like
- Being famous can be difficult
- It's important to take care of your health
- Everyone makes mistakes, but what matters is how we learn from them

Simple Words About George Best

If we use very simple words, we can say:
- He was very good at football
- He made people happy when he played
- He had some problems in his life
- Many people loved him
- He changed football
- People still remember him today

Vocabulary Help

Here are some simple words from the text:
- Scout: Someone who looks for good players
- Talented: Very good at something
- Skillful: Good at doing something difficult
- Legacy: What people remember about someone
- Achievement: Something good that someone has done

Remember

George Best was not perfect. He made mistakes in his life. But when he played football, he was amazing. He made many people happy. People still talk about him today. He showed that football can be beautiful and fun.

Many people say that footballers today are like movie stars. George Best was one of the first football players to be this famous. He changed how people saw football players. He was not just a football player - he was a star.

Even though he had problems in his life, people remember the good things about George Best. They remember his amazing goals, his quick feet, and how he made football look like art. He was a special player who made football history.

Reading Comprehension Questions: George Best

True or False Questions
1. George Best was born in London.
2. He started playing for Manchester United when he was 17 years old.
3. He won the European Cup in 1968.
4. George Best played all his career at Manchester United.
5. He played football for Northern Ireland.

Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where did George Best grow up?
a) England
b) Belfast
c) Manchester
d) Dublin

2. Why did people call him "The Fifth Beatle"?
a) Because he played in a band
b) Because he had long hair
c) Because he was as famous as the Beatles
d) Because he lived in Liverpool

3. What award did George Best win in 1968?
a) World Cup
b) Olympic Medal
c) Ballon d'Or
d) Golden Boot

4. How old was George Best when he stopped playing for Manchester United?
a) 27 years old
b) 30 years old
c) 35 years old
d) 40 years old

5. What was named after George Best?
a) A stadium
b) A street
c) An airport
d) A school

Short Answer Questions
1. What did George Best like to do when he was a young boy?
2. How did Manchester United find George Best?
3. Name two things that made George Best special as a player.
4. What health problems did George Best have?
5. How many goals did George Best score for Manchester United?

Matching Exercise
Match these words with their meanings:
1. Scout A. Very good at something
2. Talented B. What people remember about someone
3. Skillful C. Someone who looks for good players
4. Legacy D. Something good that someone has done
5. Achievement E. Good at doing something difficult

Discussion Questions (For Speaking Practice)
1. Why do you think George Best was so popular?
2. What can we learn from George Best's life?
3. Do you think football players today are different from George Best's time?
4. Who is your favorite football player? Why?
5. Why is it important to take care of your health when you are a sports player?