MARADONA GREAT BUT GEORGE BEST

'Ballerina' who weaved way into our hearts

- BY IAN PARKER

"HE was a phenomenon because he was doing stuff that nobody else did.” Gerry Armstrong never hesitates when asked to name the best player he ever shared a pitch with.

“I played with John Barnes and Glenn Hoddle and a lot of great players,” said the former Tottenham and Northern Ireland forward.

“I played against Diego Maradona. I played against some of the great stars, but George Best was unique.”

Best, who died at just 59 on November 25, 2005, has a special place in football history. He mixed a singular talent with the best and worst excesses of celebrity and, finally, a fatal addiction to alcohol.