George Best's 1968 European Cup Winners’ Medal with Manchester United goes up for auction
A London auction house is marking what would have been George Best's 80th birthday by announcing the sale of his most important award - his 1968 European Cup Winners’ Medal.
Tomorrow, Friday 22 May, would have been the 80th birthday of the world football legend.
Known for his extraordinary skill, dazzling dribbling ability, and charisma both on and off the pitch, Best (1946-2005) is widely regarded as one of football’s greatest ever talents, rising to fame with Manchester United FC in the 1960s.
The 1968 European Cup Winners’ Medal comes from the famous match held at Wembley on 29th May 1968, between Manchester United and Benfica, which the Portuguese champions lost 4–1 after extra time.
The first half passed without incident, but eight minutes into the second half Bobby Charlton opened the scoring for Manchester United with a rare headed goal.
However, the lead only lasted for 22 minutes before Jaime Graça scored for Benfica. The score remained at 1–1 until the end of normal time, forcing the match into extra time.
George Best put United in the lead again three minutes into extra time – picking up the ball 25 yards from goal, Best broke into the penalty area, dribbled round the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.
Brian Kidd added United's third a minute later, before Charlton rounded off the scoring. United's win meant that they became the first English team to win the European Cup.
Best can be seen holding the medal in his right hand, still in it’s box, whilst holding the trophy with his left, in photographs from the final.
Now Bonhams has announced the a sale of an exceptional items of sport history, led by the 1968 European Cup Winners’ Medal awarded to George Best, which has an estimated value of £150,000 - 250,000.
Simon Roberts, Head of Sale at Bonham's, said: “The importance of the medal can’t be understated: it represents the greatest achievement of a player still considered to be one of the most talented British footballers of all time, a huge cultural icon who would have graced any World Cup; the victory over the favourites Benfica, including Best’s tide-turning goal, was the culmination of the mercurial forward’s career, and symbolised the resurgence of Manchester United under Sir Matt Busby following the 1958 Munich air disaster.”
The auction house reported George's sister, Barbara McNarry, as affirming the value of the medal. She reportedly said that "out of all of George’s treasure trove of soccer awards the most important thing was his 1968 European Cup Winners’ Medal".
With United he won two league titles, the club’s first European Cup, and a Ballon d’Or, scoring 179 goals in 470 appearances.
He also played only 37 times for Northern Ireland, scoring nine times, but sadly never graced a major international tournament.
The medal comes to auction from a UK private collection, having been first been sold at auction at Bonhams by the executors of George Best's estate in 2010.
With the FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon Championships around the corner, the sale, which runs from 15-24 June on www.bonhams.com,will include items from across the world of sport, from boxing to basketball, football and beyond.