Manchester United's 5 greatest players of all-time

#4 George Best

George Best

"George inspired me when I was young. He was flamboyant and exciting and able to inspire his team-mates. I actually think we were very similar players - dribblers who were able to create moments of magic."

Diego Maradona used those words to describe George Best, so it is easy to imagine what a fantastic footballer he was. The Northern Irishman was discovered by Manchester United at the age of 15 and made his debut as a 17-year-old in the 1963/64 season, where he scored six goals from 26 appearances. Under Sir Matt Busby’s guidance, Best continued to develop and soon became one of the brightest talents in world football.

He had a flamboyance about his game that was bright and pleasing to the eye and he was heavily reliant on his brilliant dribbling skills. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest dribblers in the history of football. Best was fast, two-footed and knew the way to the goal very well, which meant he was a nightmare to defend against.

Best went on to appear 470 times for Manchester United, scoring 179 goals. He won two First Division trophies, two Charity Shields and one European Cup during that time. He was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1968 and has inspired a generation to get the football and try to beat a defender. George Best is a Manchester United legend and he is the fourth best player to have played for the Red Devils.