Even the greatest George Best fans had to admit, by 1976, that his best days were well behind him. 30 years old. Addicted to alcohol. Kicked out of Manchester United. George Best, many argued, was now a pale shadow of the genius dribbler he used to be.
That’s also what Dutch journalist Bert Nederlof thought. With the Holland vs Northern Ireland World Cup qualifier approaching, Nederlof was assigned the task to write a portrait of George Best. Nederlof flew to London to watch Best play for his new club Fulham against Southampton. After 90 minutes, Nederlof had seen enough. He wrote that Best was a fallen superstar no longer able to do what it takes to be a good footballer. Nederlof would soon regret those words.
A few hundred miles away, British journalist Bill Elliot was traveling with the Irish squad to the stadium where they’d meet Holland. The Orange squad, and their captain Johan Cruyff, in 1976, were synonymous with greatness. Elliot asked Best what he thought of Cruyff. “Outstanding”. “Better than you?”. George looked at the journalist and laughed. ‘You’re kidding aren’t you? I tell you what I’ll do tonight… I’ll nutmeg Cruyff first chance I get.”
What follows is Elliot’s description. “Five minutes into the game Best received the ball wide on the left. Instead of heading towards goal he turned directly infield, weaved his way past at least three Dutchmen and found his way to Cruyff who was wide right. He took the ball to his opponent, dipped a shoulder twice and slipped it between Cruyff’s feet. As he ran round to collect it and run on he raised his right fist into the air.”
“Only a few of us in the press box knew what this bravado act really meant. Johan Cruyff the best in the world? Are you kidding? Only an idiot would have thought that on this evening.”
While there doesn’t exist video evidence of this historic scene, Nederlof confirms that Best had played an absolutely incredible match, inspiring small Northern Ireland to a 2-2 draw against the best team in the world. “After the game, I caught the eye of the Dutch coach, Jan Zwartkruis. He gave me the most cold stare I’ve ever witnessed. Perhaps I shouldn’t have told him before the game that Best was nothing to worry about”.
#1 by Jurgen on November 15, 2011 - 14:05
Awesome story. Real shame there’s no video, that would’ve been brilliant.
#2 by Franco on December 24, 2011 - 03:53
Best is one of a very very few players that ever lived that can be compared to Cruyff on ability, they were very similar in a lot of ways in the way they ran at players, controlled the ball, could use both feet equally well & could head the ball, the difference for me between the 2 was that Cruyff was a much better team player, he understood tactics & strategy better.
I like both guys, 2 of my favourites but for me Cruyff was better than Best… & not many could say that, not many at all.
#3 by burke on March 15, 2012 - 14:33
Franco i think your wrong in your comment cruyff had a much better team around him but best had nothing but himself best was the best…
#4 by dan on December 14, 2012 - 15:44
@ Burke
Sorry mate, Cruyff WAS the reason the team around him was so good. He was the master tactician, visionary and motivator on the pitch, as well being sublime in his own right. That’s what sets the really really world-class payers apart form the rest, and is the reason only those in the British Isles regard Best as among those and the rest of the world doesn’t.
#5 by Rimbaud on February 1, 2013 - 12:11
In fact, the story itself rather proves that Johann Cruyff was the better footballer. Or at least the one you’d rather have on your team…
#6 by Steve-o on February 5, 2013 - 23:20
Which of the two nutmegged the opposition goalkeeper in the European Cup Final before coolly slotting the ball into the empty net?