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George Best, l'immortale
Lo chiamavano "il Quinto Beatle". Era affascinante, sfacciato, "bello come un attore di Hollywood", idolatrato dal pubblico femminile. Ma George Best era soprattutto sublime sul campo da calcio, con la sua grazia da ballerino e quei dribbling labirintici con cui stordiva i difensori e incantava i tifosi. Lanciandola con la punta del piede, era capace di infilarsi una monetina nel taschino della giacca. Una volta segnò due reti indossando uno scarpino solo. A ventidue anni, nel 1968, vinse il Pallone d'oro e realizzò un gol decisivo nella finale di Coppa dei Campioni, consegnando l'atteso trofeo nelle mani del leggendario allenatore Matt Busby, che intorno a lui aveva ricostruito il Manchester United dopo il disastro aereo di Monaco di Baviera. Quei trionfi segnarono però l'apice e l'inizio del declino di Best, dell'atleta come dell'uomo, risucchiato troppo presto nella spirale dell'alcolismo e di una spropositata celebrità. Basandosi su materiali d'archivio Hamilton ripercorre la parabola tragica del campione britannico, dall'infanzia nei sobborghi di Belfast alle imprese con la maglia dei Diavoli Rossi, fino alla sua prematura scomparsa, raccontandoci come un esile ragazzino irlandese sia riuscito a diventare, nel giro di poche folgoranti stagioni, il calciatore più forte del pianeta.
493 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 21, 2019
Allora, cinque stelle, e se fosse solo per George Best potrebbe essere benissimo diciannove. Alcune cose a caso.
1) Non ho mai visto giocare George Best, per ovvie ragioni anagrafiche. Purtroppo.
2) Mi sono riguardato settemilaseicento volte i video di George Best su YouTube. Quelli di quando gioca a pallone. Gli altri, quando è ubriaco e fa il buffone, lasciamoli ai gossippari.
3) Domanda standard: ma se non avesse bevuto, cosa avrebbe potuto fare?
4) Non mi capacito che George Best e Rino Gattuso abbiano svolto la stessa professione.
5) Complimenti alla casa editrice dal nome che richiama un codice fiscale. Dopo quella di Michael Jordan, un'altra biografia stupenda. Dopo li chiamo e chiedo se sono interessati a quella di Gigi Riva. Se dicono di sì, inizio a scrivere.
6) A pagina 98, parlando di schemi, è citato il 4-4-3. Mi ha fatto pensare a Oronzo Canà.
7) Circola una battuta, da quando Best è morto. Fa pressapoco così: Pele good, Maradona better, George Best. Molto bella. Se foste degli impallinati di politica trash, come me, potreste dire: Togliatti bene, Berlinguer meglio, Gennaro Migliore. E giù a ridere come dei forsennati.
Buonanotte.
1) Non ho mai visto giocare George Best, per ovvie ragioni anagrafiche. Purtroppo.
2) Mi sono riguardato settemilaseicento volte i video di George Best su YouTube. Quelli di quando gioca a pallone. Gli altri, quando è ubriaco e fa il buffone, lasciamoli ai gossippari.
3) Domanda standard: ma se non avesse bevuto, cosa avrebbe potuto fare?
4) Non mi capacito che George Best e Rino Gattuso abbiano svolto la stessa professione.
5) Complimenti alla casa editrice dal nome che richiama un codice fiscale. Dopo quella di Michael Jordan, un'altra biografia stupenda. Dopo li chiamo e chiedo se sono interessati a quella di Gigi Riva. Se dicono di sì, inizio a scrivere.
6) A pagina 98, parlando di schemi, è citato il 4-4-3. Mi ha fatto pensare a Oronzo Canà.
7) Circola una battuta, da quando Best è morto. Fa pressapoco così: Pele good, Maradona better, George Best. Molto bella. Se foste degli impallinati di politica trash, come me, potreste dire: Togliatti bene, Berlinguer meglio, Gennaro Migliore. E giù a ridere come dei forsennati.
Buonanotte.
December 1, 2019
interesting biography of the gifted George best
August 5, 2025
Finishing this made me want to go back through many of the books I've rated 5 stars on here and lower their rating. THIS is a 5 star book. An absolute page turner about the greatest Irish footballer to ever live. A tale that is both so romantic and so tragic, that perfectly encapsulates how he experienced the highest of highs as he danced down the wing at Old Trafford wearing United red, and also how his life descended into pure alcohol induced chaos. One thing though is for certain; Maradona good, Pele better, George Best.
August 21, 2020
Brilliantly written with a lot of insight. It gives a lot of clarity into the complexity of the life of a footballing genius. Well narrated, especially the games...you can actually imagine Best doing wonders with the ball. Pele good, Maradona better, George Best!!
July 20, 2024
Duncan Hamilton's excellent biography of George Best points to some pivotal moments in his life and career. His greatest playing moment and the height of his sporting life was Manchester United's winning of the European Cup on May 29th 1968. Best was only truly happy when he was playing, scoring and receiving the adulation of his adoring fans. Nothing else mattered, the aftermath celebrations, the rewards, the copious amounts of alcohol, and the constant flow of beautiful women who entered his life briefly and ultimately departed soon after. It is said that Best was recognized as the first celebrity footballer, his life becoming public property and began quickly spiraling out of control. If only Best had been offered psychiatric counseling, if only Matt Busby had understood more fully his prodigal son, and rather than gently lecture him punished him in a more fitting and effective manner. George Best was a flawed genius, an outstanding sportsman, and it is a great pity that his footballing skills were always overshadowed by this darker side. However ultimately we all control our own destiny and must stand responsible for decisions made and actions taken throughout our life.
Update :) just reread one of the best life stories I have ever read....George had it all but could only ever find happiness at the bottom of a glass......
Update :) just reread one of the best life stories I have ever read....George had it all but could only ever find happiness at the bottom of a glass......
January 24, 2014
My review of this wonderful book is on that ever-so-good football blog, the blog for the discerning football supporter who really doesn't like Sky Sports News, The Two Unfortnates: http://thetwounfortunates.com/book-re...
July 29, 2018
This is the best book I have come across about George Best.I am ten years younger that George but feel I grew up in a different time from him in so many ways. There is no doubting he was a player of genius. He was in late teens & early twenties a supreme exponent of the beautiful game. Reading his story you could argue that Best was almost too good for his own good. Nobody seemed to know how to handle him or the situation though some tried. George Best had his flaws, as a person, but I don't believe they were any worse than those of many of the rest of us. What was different for him was his circumstances. There were a lot of contributing factors to his downfall. Reading this book from the relative wisdom of our times it is difficult not to feel sorry for him. Duncan Hamilton has written a book which tells a story that is about much more than a sporting one. It is a story about the human condition. It should be read by everyone even those who don't know or care much about football. On finishing it I had mixed feelings. George had a wonderful career & gave a lot of pleasure to many millions I just wish he had, in return, a better & a more contented life in return for the joy he gave out so freely. Genius, unfortunately, can be a two edged sword.
February 2, 2019
Excellente biographie de George Best qui décrit aussi bien sa face brillante que ses déboires. L'auteur décrit parfaitement l'ambiance et prend souvent le temps de décrire en détails les objets de la scène tels que les meubles pour y transporter le lecteur. C'est la biographie complète du premier joueur de football et peut-être simplement le premier homme à être aussi célèbre et créer autant d'engouement autour de son personnage : engouement qui aura certainement en grand partie entraîné sa chute.
December 10, 2018
"Georgie, Georgie, they call you the Belfast Boy"
Anyone who didn't see George Best play football, or at least hasn't seen archive footage, may wonder what all the fuss was about. As far as they know Best played for Man Utd, was a womaniser and an alcoholic.
Was Best really a petulant footballer who had too much, too young, too fast, or is Best a victim of mental illness and addiction, not recognised in an era of the British stiff upper lip and a lack of pastoral care for youngsters living far from home. That's up to you to decide.
Duncan Hamilton takes a more sympathetic look at the rise and fall of one of the world's most talented players.
Anyone who didn't see George Best play football, or at least hasn't seen archive footage, may wonder what all the fuss was about. As far as they know Best played for Man Utd, was a womaniser and an alcoholic.
Was Best really a petulant footballer who had too much, too young, too fast, or is Best a victim of mental illness and addiction, not recognised in an era of the British stiff upper lip and a lack of pastoral care for youngsters living far from home. That's up to you to decide.
Duncan Hamilton takes a more sympathetic look at the rise and fall of one of the world's most talented players.
June 29, 2024
An exceptional book about a football legend which tells it all. His decline with the disease of alcoholism. The boy who never really grew up, just wanting to play football. He had his best friends but even they couldn't protect him from the glare of the media wanting to intrude in his life 24/7. An absolute legend whom I say play at East End Park for Hibs. Far from his peak, he still oozed class that day. Easily the best book about Best.
July 13, 2021
Affectionate biography of the Belfast Boy, thankfully concentrated on his early life and his footballing heyday. There are many aspects of George's life that are indefensible, especially his "relationships" with women. George himself would agree with you on that. What this book captures are his many kindnesses, his inner confusion, his essential shyness ... and his genius.
February 4, 2017
un altro punto di vista nella vita di un campione inghiottito dai propri demoni. scritto bene soprattutto nell'analisi delle azioni migliori di George e nella vita fuori dal campo. Risulta il ritratto di un ragazzo fragile che purtroppo non ce l'ha fatta.
August 29, 2025
A fantastic read, passing the ball through the injuries and goals in an event packed life, of Irish football legend George Best…..and as he best summed himself “I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.”
April 19, 2020
spellbinding
Fascinating ,loved every minute of it. Have read several of me Hamilton's books now. All superb. highly recommended read .
Fascinating ,loved every minute of it. Have read several of me Hamilton's books now. All superb. highly recommended read .
June 16, 2020
Started off great, very well written, but spent too much time on alcoholism
June 1, 2022
What an incredible book. I was hooked from the first page, near the end I couldn't read the word's through my tears. George was the Best and will always be the Best.
December 4, 2022
Flawed Genius
Very good biography of Best. Most of the stories are well known but the book is well written and doesn’t sugar coat the subject.
Very good biography of Best. Most of the stories are well known but the book is well written and doesn’t sugar coat the subject.
April 15, 2016
Having recently read Duncan Hamilton's 'The Footballer Who Could Fly', which received a four star rating from me, I had to read his biography of George Best.
What else was there to learn? I had previously read Cole and Hilton's 'Memories of George Best' as well as 'Bestie' the autobiography. I was privileged to have witnessed this genius in action through the 1960's. I lived close by his 'digs' at Aycliffe Avenue. My 'mod' Lambretta caught him one day in 1968, crossing the road in front of me. Of course I was speeding, but George just switched on the after burners and made it to the pavement with ease. So I witnessed the man's pace in real life.
In a star studded United team, Denis Law and George Best were my supernovas.
Hamilton's 'Immortal' is undoubtedly one of the finest football biographies I've read. Published in 2013, the florid writing is high with the scent of sanctity and low on the smell of liniment. In fact the great bard could have aptly described Best's fleeting vintage with the same lines used in summary of this author's study.
How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world!
Enough to bring tears to an old man's eyes.
Just one factual error on p55 Mr Hamilton. 'In the 1963 FA Cup Final against Leicester City - a 3-1 win giving Busby his first trophy post-Munich - Law claimed two of the goals.' Incorrect, Law scored one goal and David Herd scored the other two.
What else was there to learn? I had previously read Cole and Hilton's 'Memories of George Best' as well as 'Bestie' the autobiography. I was privileged to have witnessed this genius in action through the 1960's. I lived close by his 'digs' at Aycliffe Avenue. My 'mod' Lambretta caught him one day in 1968, crossing the road in front of me. Of course I was speeding, but George just switched on the after burners and made it to the pavement with ease. So I witnessed the man's pace in real life.
In a star studded United team, Denis Law and George Best were my supernovas.
Hamilton's 'Immortal' is undoubtedly one of the finest football biographies I've read. Published in 2013, the florid writing is high with the scent of sanctity and low on the smell of liniment. In fact the great bard could have aptly described Best's fleeting vintage with the same lines used in summary of this author's study.
How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world!
Enough to bring tears to an old man's eyes.
Just one factual error on p55 Mr Hamilton. 'In the 1963 FA Cup Final against Leicester City - a 3-1 win giving Busby his first trophy post-Munich - Law claimed two of the goals.' Incorrect, Law scored one goal and David Herd scored the other two.
Read
June 8, 2020It inevitably takes the candid brilliance of a rare author to chronicle the life of a coruscating genius. Duncan Hamilton proceeds to do exactly that in "Immortals".
Without sympathy or sycophancy, Hamilton proceeds to lay bare the turbulent life of one of the greatest and gifted footballers of all time. A life characterized by triumph and tragedy in equal measure. Every superhuman feat that George Best produced on the footballing field was neutralised in equal measure by his antiques with the bottle or in bed.
Every mystical feint was overshadowed by an indiscriminate fling; every magical flick subsumed by a flagrant flow of booze. However as the marvelous book aptly demonstrates, George Best would be most remembered for what he did on the field rather than what he became off it.
He was the Best that football could ever offer. A banner poignantly unfurled by his fans at his funeral gave clinical testimony to this fact. It read "MARADONA GOOD; PELE BETTER; GEORGE BEST!!! Read this book and re-read it!!!
Without sympathy or sycophancy, Hamilton proceeds to lay bare the turbulent life of one of the greatest and gifted footballers of all time. A life characterized by triumph and tragedy in equal measure. Every superhuman feat that George Best produced on the footballing field was neutralised in equal measure by his antiques with the bottle or in bed.
Every mystical feint was overshadowed by an indiscriminate fling; every magical flick subsumed by a flagrant flow of booze. However as the marvelous book aptly demonstrates, George Best would be most remembered for what he did on the field rather than what he became off it.
He was the Best that football could ever offer. A banner poignantly unfurled by his fans at his funeral gave clinical testimony to this fact. It read "MARADONA GOOD; PELE BETTER; GEORGE BEST!!! Read this book and re-read it!!!
May 6, 2014
Very realistic for an authorised biography. Fascinating to hear about all the goals from George Best's mouth. Doesn't shy away from the worst details of his alcoholism, but still you like him for all the positive aspects to his character; generosity, loyalty and even his cheek (He boasted he'd nutmeg Johann Cruyff and when he first got the ball in the match between Northern Ireland and the Netherlands he went over to Cruyff on the other wing and duly nutmegged him! You'd wonder whether to be sad at his potential unrealised or to take it as George did that he had a life most people would kill for despite the alcoholism.
June 22, 2014
So much I didn't know. Most shockingly that 42s used to be his club Slack Alice's (horrible name).
July 27, 2014
Good book about a decent footballer.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews