At the age of 15, George Best was discovered in Belfast by Manchester United scout Bob Bishop, whose telegram to United manager Matt Busby read: "I think I've found you a genius."
He reached dizzying heights with his outrageous skills in a career that lasted a mere six years at the top, where he became the first real football celebrity, before self-destructing.
In those six magical seasons with United, he scored 115 goals in 290 games - six of them in one game! He won two League Championships, the European Cup and was voted European Football of the Year. Pele named him as his favourite player, which was remarkable considering Best's international career with Northern Ireland never allowed him the opportunity of appearing in the World Cup finals.
George Best was in many ways the perfect footballer on the field, being quick, two-footed, able to pass with accuracy at all ranges, dribble and with a deadly imagination in front of goal given half a chance.
Widely considered the best football player ever produced in Britain and it could be argued he may have become greater still. In his native Northern Ireland, the admiration for him is summed up by the local saying: "Maradona good; Pelé better; George Best."
