Football legend George Best has died in intensive care at a west London hospital, a spokesperson said on Friday.
”After a long and very valiant fight, Mr George Best died this afternoon in the intensive-care unit at Cromwell hospital,” a spokesperson said in a statement. ”The thoughts of all staff at Cromwell hospital are with Mr Best’s family at this time.”
The former Manchester United and Northern Ireland winger (59), whose battle with alcoholism led to a liver transplant in 2002, was taken to hospital on October 1 with an infection thought to be linked to immuno-suppressant drugs used to help prevent his body rejecting the new organ.
His health deteriorated rapidly at the end of October when he developed a kidney infection. He had been making daily progress until last week when he suffered a severe setback, developing a lung infection.
Tributes
Earlier on Friday, Britain paid emotional tributes to Best as fans left flowers, scarves, team shirts and farewell messages outside the London hospital where he languished unconscious on his deathbed.
Newspapers reminisced about Best’s highs on the pitch and lows at the mercy of alcohol.
Floral bouquets, Manchester United scarves and shirts, one bearing Best’s name and the number seven, which he wore during his glory days, were left near the hospital’s main entrance.
Former Scotland striker Denis Law, one of Best’s United teammates, visited his old friend on Friday morning.
”We are just waiting,” he told reporters outside the hospital. ”We expected it to be earlier, but he keeps fighting. His heart is extremely strong but all the other parts are collapsing; it is really just a matter of time.”
Best’s son, Calum (24); his father, Dickie (87); and other family members kept an all-night vigil at his bedside.
A message on one bunch of flowers at the hospital read: ”Dear George, thanks for giving me so much joy, you were my hero as a child and as an adult. You will never be forgotten. Love to you and your family.”
‘Pop-star’ footballer
Ranked alongside Pele and Diego Maradona as one of the great figures in the beautiful game, Best was regarded as the first ”pop-star” footballer.
He made his professional debut for United in 1963, aged 17, going on to help the club become the first English side to lift the European Cup in 1968. In the same year, he was voted European Player of the Year.
He won 37 international caps before heavy drinking took its toll and he unexpectedly quit Manchester United for good at the age of 28.
Best’s alcoholism brought on a succession of health problems that led to the transplant, during which he nearly died. He was back on the booze within a year, however, despite having been told another drink could kill him. — AFP
