George Best is arguably the most important player in Northern Ireland’s history , and one of the most iconic British players of all time. He played mainly for Manchester United, where he won several titles.

In addition to his great footballing skills, he also stood out for his dark side, a life marked by alcohol.

Best of George Best’s quotes

He passed away in 2005, but left legendary phrases throughout his life. In this article you can find them.

The best quotes pronounced by George Best are the following.

1. Pelé said he thought I was the best player in history. I’ve always thought I was the best player, it’s the way you have to look at it. I’ve never looked at another player and felt inferior

One of the characteristics of this player was his high self-confidence to . This is what brought him to the top of the football world.

2. If he had been born ugly, you would not have heard of Pelé

Pelé is considered the greatest player in the history of football; however, many consider Best to have been an incredible player as well. Both of them coincided in their footballing careers.

3. I had a house near the sea, but to go to the beach you had to pass in front of a bar. I never went swimming

In addition to being a great player, he was also controversial and party-prone.

4. If soccer is an art, then I am an artist

Clearly, George Best was not exactly humble. Although he was actually a great player.

5. Love is about mutual respect, apart from attraction

A quote in which the player philosophizes what love is and what it consists of.

6. Perhaps “lonely” is too strong a word, but I have always enjoyed being alone

A confession from this former Manchester United player.

7. Every time I enter a place there are sixty people who want to invite me to drink, and I don’t know how to say no

George Best, like other famous British players, had serious drinking problems.

8. My biggest goal is that my father will think I was the best, and he does

Best fought very hard to get to the top of football and he did it.

9. You can’t finish with your left hand. Cannot finish with his head. He doesn’t go in to steal balls and doesn’t score many goals. Other than that, he’s fine

This sentence is addressed to David Beckham, another legendary Man U player.

10. That’s what little kids do: throw food away. That’s not fighting. We’re men. We’ve fought.

In reference to the ‘Battle of the Buffet’, which included Judadores from Man United and Arsenal.

11. I would give all the champagne I have ever drunk to play with it at Old Trafford

With this quote he was referring to the also emblematic United player, Eric Cantona.

12. I never went out in the morning with the intention of getting drunk. It just happened

Drinking and alcohol were an important part of this controversial footballer’s life.

13. I have stopped drinking, but only while I am asleep

Again, a quote referring to his drinking problems.

14. In 1969 I gave up women and drinking, but it was the worst twenty minutes of my life

Alcohol harms people’s lives when they abuse. There was speculation that his death was a consequence of his bad habits. Actually, it was, but he died from an overdose of pills.

15. I once said that the IQ of “Gazza” was less than the number on his T-shirt and he asked me: What is the IQ?

Paul Gascoigne was also a controversial British player with serious drinking problems.

16. I had a house on the coast, but to go to the beach you had to pass in front of a bar. I never took a bath

This player enjoyed the same thing on the pitch as he did in a “pub”.

17. Don’t die like me

One of the last phrases he publicly released.

19. I was born with a great gift and sometimes that comes with a destructive streak

When you have everything in life and you don’t know how to manage success, it can bring you bad consequences.

20. You can’t trust many people

There’s everything in the Lord’s vineyard. But when you’re known and famous, there are people who want to take advantage of your position.

21. I always wanted more, more of everything

It also happens that when you have everything, you want more and you’re not happy.

22. When I leave, people will forget all the garbage and only remember football

When someone dies, people remember the positive things in their life.

23. It’s not true that I’ve slept with six Miss Worlds. It was only three

In addition to his problems with alcohol, this character was also a womanizer.

24. If you form your own mind, you can only blame yourself

In reference to the mistakes he made in life, which were many.

25. Soccer is a sad game

When money gets in the way, football stops being a sport and becomes our business.

26. I spent a lot of money on cars, women and alcohol. The rest I simply wasted

A few words of irony about some mistakes in his life.

27. I definitely don’t think money can buy love. It can buy affection, but not love

Love is a very deep feeling, born of the soul. You can’t fool it.