Remembering Georgie Best on what would be his 69th birthday

How overused is the word "legend" in football? When you consider that nowadays it is what's used to describe anyone who has played over 100 games for a club, then you feel almost embarrassed to call a player as great as George Best a legend. Superlatives aside, one thing is for sure - he is one of, if not the, greatest footballers to ever grace this country. Before Ronaldo and Messi banged in goals for fun on a regular basis, before Maradona did ridiculous things with a football that made people gasp with amazement, and before David Beckham thought he invented the celebrity footballer - there was George Best.

As well as gaining legendary status on the pitch - most famously helping United secure their first European Cup in 1968 - he perhaps gained just as much fame (or infamy) off it. A heavy drinker and womaniser throughout the Sixties and Seventies, football came a distant third place in the latter years of his career. At the tender age of 28 he left United and thanks to those distractions that damaged his ability to reach his full potential, the world - especially United fans - was left to wonder: "what if?" He went on to play for several mediocre clubs after United - from Jewish Guild in South Africa, to Los Angeles Aztecs, and finally back home to Northern Ireland to play for Tobermore United. He made a little over 200 appearances in the 10 years after he left United, but it was the 474 he played in his 11 years with United - winning two league titles, a European Cup and crowned Europe's best player in '68 - that he will be forever remembered for.

The alcoholism that plagued his years as a footballer followed him long into retirement, and on 25th November 2005, at the tragically young age of 59, the world lost an icon. The image of the dying George Best in hospital - taken days before he died, at his request, to warn people of the dangers of alcohol - will forever stay in mind. However the images and videos of him dancing through defenses and entertaining the world with his skill is far stronger.

So without further ado, I present the one, the only, the Best: Georgie: