George Best - brilliant 26-min interview (1984) 

When George managed to stay away from the drink, he was such a softly spoken and humble bloke. Such a tragedy that alcohol had the last word on his life, but history will remember him as one of the greatest magicians in the history of the game. A footballing god who stands alongside Pele, Maradona and Messi. And to think he retired from the game at 26 before he reached his peak. Rest in peace, Georgie boy.

All my family and parents from Belfast. George Best is the pride of here. True legend. But unique and special as a personality beyond the football. RIP

Uncle George was the greatest football player of all time.

The most memorable thing I remember about George Best was when he came back after a long suspension in the early 1970s. United played Northampton Town in the FA Cup and I was watching the 4 oclock to 5 oclock BBC slot and the scores kept coming in. One minute Best had one, two, three, four, five ... by now it was getting ridiculous and then to top it all he got his sixth of the match. Of course George being George some of those goals were made and taken by him after using his amazing dribbling skills. Other facets of George's game that make him out as a 'great' were his abilities to head the ball and keep going after being fouled sorry I mean assaulted by opposition players.

George Best, an Irish football legend. REST IN PEACE.

Forget the prima donnas - Bestie was the GREATEST player to ever play the game in the UK- so special!

Quite simply the greatest footballer ever. Back in the days when defenders were tough, no nonsense with their tackling: Mackay, Harris, Hunter…George would often glide past them with his speed and balance.

Thanks for this, Georgie Best is a legend, when he died Man Utd’s next game was away at West Ham, we asked the club that the whole ground should give him a rendition of Bubbles, they opted for a minutes applause…God Bless Georgie Best x

I love the way the media use phrases like, "drugs and alcohol," (as if alcohol wasn't a drug) and "after a well-deserved pint," etc., normalizing the use of his most dangerous drug of all.

I met the great George Best in San Jose California before a San Jose Earthquakes game in the late 70s. He was very nice when he signed his Autograph and he then went out and won the game with the most sublime goal you will ever see. He was a genius and a .nice man to boot God broke the mold after he made hi.m. God bless him in heavan

George Best was a legend.😢💔🌹❤️🙏

Never was a player more aptly named. An absolute genius.

Cruijff and Best are de best football players ever! R.I.P both

After the '68 European Cup.Final win, most of the Manchester United team were old and had achieved their dream. Instead of rejuvenating the team, built around Best, they persevered with the "over the top" old players. Best had to carry this team. He struggled with this burden. His form and personal life took a nosedive. He should have moved club at this time for the next challenge. I think he would have profited from such a move. He subsequently finished playing seriously very early. I believe looking back this must have added to his personal turmoil.

What a lovely interview. I was lucky to see George play and his ability was unquestioned whoever you supported.

Piers Morgan thinks Christian ronaldo is the GOAT, has he actually forgotten about George best?? 🤔, sorry Mr Morgan but this genius IS!!!!!

The best player the world has ever seen, can you imagine messi , Ronaldo, de bryne , who ever playing with the footballs the boots the pitches that George was playing in week in week out never injured like the cotton wool brigade now days are none of the above mentioned or players of today was no where near the great George best 👍

Best player I ever seen.

I used to enjoy George Best's comments on football commentaries, he said it the way it was which was quite unusual, he was so good he could tell it the way he saw it. So charismatic, so sad what happened to him but he brightened people's lives.

Today's young folk just don't comprehend how bloody good George was. The modern game today would be a training session for him, had he turned up 😂#BlessHim

I met him once, very pleasant and courteous man.

An older Red who saw him play in his heyday once described George to me as like watching a magician at work with all the talent possible, and the best on the planet for about three years.

He was the face of Cookstown sausages when I was a wein....George certainly crossed the great divide between us and them back in those dark days.

Perhaps the last interview with George so sober and clear minded. Such a nice character and a footballer who comes along once a generation. It’s an awful shame he let the drink get to him in the end, it’s such a terrible disease.

Without doubt in the top 3 players of all time

George Best is one of the greatest players of all time if not the greatest YNWA

Thanks for showing this, great interview with others as well. I would love to see Best and Stanley Mathews sit down together for an interview, two incredible talents with similar individual styles.

Interesting hearing his comments about individuals being coached out of the game when we stand on the precipice of the very end of individuals post Ronaldo and particularly Messi. Media and fans alike obsessed with team/formations/stats etc. An eight year old in the playground is not inspired by this. It is individuals that do something that you cannot believe you just witnessed - like they were touched by something from another planet that sets your pulses going.

Shame how alcohol was his demon and couldn't control it. Above all decent player and polite person

The sad thing is he got a 2nd chance off life and did not grab it

Tragic to see what the bevvy did to him, a lesson for us all, but what an amazing player.

At his peak , he was totally unplayable .

It's interesting to hear that final part, where Harry Gregg states that players are too conditioned and essentially not 'real men'. It's the same thing that's argued today. Of course, you will get a George Best for each generation; we've had Ronaldo, Messi, and players like that. I think the 90's actually were an ideal balance of aggression and fair play. In Best's time it was still too savage; great players like him and Pele got cut down, and there was seemingly less concern for player welfare (heading those brick balls) and health (alcoholism which Best suffered from). The problem with football today is not that it is more safe, but that cheating has become more sophisticated and corporate tv have got their claws in it. That is what is ruining the sport. More money and investment has meant the game is improved in some areas, like player wellbeing, but its soul has been taken as it strives for perfection (VAR) and has become for business over fans.

I wonder what awful horrible things they had to experience when they came to Manchester?

Brilliant interview with george best. I didnt know noel edmonds had a chat show. Or maybe i just cant remember becouse this was 38 years ago, i was age 11 when this came on. I didnt even know who george was! Where has all those years gone?

God Almighty bless Harry Gregg. A true gentleman and always a humble hero

Saw George play a few times, the last time against arsenal in 1970. United lost 0-4, but George was still so good and deserved a better team to play with. United was ageing and his drink was slowing him down.

I had the privilege of seeing him play in his heyday.always remember his cheeky goal in the 68 European cup final

Matt Busby and Manchester United really let him down with not progressing the team, imagine if he had an alex Ferguson manager he could of had a career as good as rysn giggs and maybe even a as good as roy Keane

Most naturally gifted and brilliant football player that was! Better than Pele and current modern lot

George was the best

Saw bestie at cravan cottage early seventies.. no training over weight but … what a player!

He looks fresh, immaculate, happy, he would talk to everyone, what a difference nowadays when prem players have their head up their backsides

Next to Pele the greatest footballer that lived. RIP Georgie.

HE WAS AN AMAZING FOOTBALLER, HUMBLE MA, THE DRINK LIKE MANY OF THESE TALENTED MEN FINISHES THEM. GLAD GASCOIGNE SAW THE LIGHT. SO SAD GEORGE BEST DID NOT.

Best by name. Best by nature.

Sadly this was all wishful thinking. His demons would resurface. But then again, he would be dead by now anyway. So who are we to judge?

Never ever be a character who shone as bright as George Best ❤

Jimmy jinky Johnstone the Celtic and Scotland player was best of all . A shear Entertainer was jimmy who had Norman Hunter not knowing where to turn in the European cup semi final v Leeds at Elland road . Jinky left Hunter wondering where the ball was as jimmys dribbling skills were best ever . Jinky Lord Of The Wing ..

George Best - Legend RIP

George fitted in with in with that exciting period of time the swinging sixties .both the sixties and George were made for each other😊⚽🌼

Its crazy how good he was for them to be making programmes about him like that even then! Its even more amazing to think he didn't have tv or internet to learn to play that way and no in Britain or Eire had so it just came from him. Genius

In the days when City and Utd players were friends. Oh accept Mike Doyle. Best was just superb shame we never had a GB Team in the olympics at the time!

He threw someone else's liver away

First "mega" football star not to have the support of a "media team" to protect him as today's stars do. You have to take his life story in the context of the time he existed, which many youngsters cannot comprehend. He was undoubtably a true football genius - and handsome to boot, the first British superstar. Later stars had more guidance and protection.

My idol as a young boy,all those decades ago,and I remember saying to my mother can you send my, pocket money,to george,simply the best

The young ones these days never heard of this genius playing on cow paddocks. Goat inmy book

Great talent

Shame he couldn't of worn the England shirt. R I P George.

The greatest player ever.

George best was the best rip

The Alain Delon of football

What Noel Emunds knows about football woul d not fill much space but he does well here. He did his research

Apart from the exception Best and top footballers, note the quality dress sense/respect for themselves and everyone else on show here. Not long ago in real terms but beyond the far distant past for most walking around today.

A beautiful soul

George at his best, pardon the pun, lol.

No one can understand what demons he was trying to quieten with drink

I love Manchester United are my favorite football

"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." (George Best)

aside from the legendary football stuff - isn't it amazing to see how guys used to dress ; not that long back really - was when i started in an office - all wore ties - no rules about it - just the done thing - wearing pyjamas in public , was for people who had escaped from hospital ,,,,,,,

It’s remarkable that the comments gregg and best made about skills being coached out of the game are even more applicable now than they probably were during the 1980s

For the record Graham Williams FB at West Brom was only 5-8, paddy was smoking something !

Genius.

Having matured and understand the game I now realise just how good a player he really was. I if I will see a better player

best player I ever saw

Legenda na terenu i van njega avangardna licnost ispred vremena u kom je ziveo jedini koji mu je slican maradona kraljevo srbija

Noel Edmonds didn't age a day

Thank you so much for posting this. Much appreciated ❤

So pleased I found this. Will search for 'All by nyself' and the one about his mother. Thank you for showing a touch of the real GB

Edmonds. Partridge would be furious.

British greatest player of all time.Period. World top 3 ... Pele,Diego and him.

Cookstown sausages and e for b and Georgia best on utv😁

its weird they talk about George Best like he wasn't there

Simply The Greatest of All time was George. He was Keith Moon or Oliver Reed, in football Boots.

What a man that Harry Gregg was.

I saw George Best and Pat Crairand in Richmond Park inchicore when I was a kid sitting on Father's shoulder, Best had a navy blue suit on

Mi illumini di immenso. Il migliore di ogni tempo. Rimarrai per sempre nel mio ❤. Riposa in pace caro Gerge 😢

Has a Liverpool fan I must admit George Best was the Greatest Player that the UK ever produced without doubt.

Roy Keane - "He was just doin' his job man. You're all living in cloud cuckoo land"

When beige was in fashion

Thanks for this. What was the programme called and when was it broadcast please?

His mother was an alcoholic she went to the local shop for her soup 😞😞 he bait his way in and said don't serve her they said piss off we are here to make money 💰💰 we will serve her 🍾🍾🍾

Great to see an interview with Noel Cantwell.

What a shame he wasted his ability and money

"when I die and they lay me to rest, i goin' on the piss with Georgie Best"

i think george would of been more comfortable not being there,

A wasted life really. The club should have tried harder to monitor his behaviour....especially the "Senior" players.

Terrible thing drink if u let it get a grip of u

Sober ! God bless ya...

He sayd they dont pkay football today that was 1984 😅 wat they play now lol today all changed all bull shit 😂