and the Bay Area -- has ever seen passed away in a London hospital on Friday, Nov. 25. Best was 59 and died from multiple organ failure after a lengthy illness. A member of the North American Soccer League San Jose Earthquakes in 1980 and 1981, the legendary striker who made his mark scoring wondrous goals for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team, will be laid to rest on Saturday, December 3 in Belfast after a funeral service at Parliament.
Best essentially finished his legendary soccer career in San Jose, scoring 21 goals and registering 21 assists in 56 games from 1980-81 (he played a total of nine more professional games for AFC Bournemouth and the Brisbane Lions in 1983). After Pele, Best was one of the first and most influential international signings the NASL made, and he came to the former United States first division league in 1976, playing three seasons for the Los Angeles Aztecs before joining the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 1978-79.
One of the most colorful and flamboyant soccer players of all-time, Best was not only known for his sparkling play on the field, but his drinking and womanizing off of it, all of which was on full display in San Jose when he continually brought greatness to Spartan Stadium.
Best recorded one of the most magnificent goals ever scored in the United States, and what he considers to be the best goal of his career at Spartan Stadium, when he took a kick-off and single-handily dribbled, deked and juked through the entire Fort Lauderdale team, leaving defenders flailing in his wake before firing a shot past the goalkeeper in a 1981 game.
"Just watching that goal, I get twisted blood." Best told the San Jose Mercury News after watching a video-replay of the goal.
Before coming to the U.S. and joining the Quakes, Best enjoyed a storied and successful career at Manchester United, playing in 466 games and scoring 178 goals. Best led Manchester United to the First Division title in 1965 and 1967 and the European Cup in 1968, and was recognized as the European Footballer of the Year in 1968.
Best played 37 times for the Northern Ireland national team, scoring nine goals. In his career, Best also appeared for Stockport County (1975), Cork Celtic (1975-76), Fulham (1976-77) and Hibernian (1979-80).
