Best’s medals, trophies for sale

A COLLECTION of medals and trophies awarded to footballing genius George Best are going under the hammer.

Belfast-born Best became a hero at Manchester United before his life-long battle with drink prematurely ended his glittering career.

Among the items up for sale is Best’s European Cup winner’s medal from 1968. He scored one of the goals in the game that saw United triumph 4-1 over a Benfica team that included Eusebio and the medal is estimated to make between £90,000 and £120,000 (€105,636 and €140,855).

Best’s very public decline and often messy private life ensured he stayed in the headlines long after he hung up his boots.

The sale also includes a replica of the European Cup medal which was made for Best, who died in 2005, when he briefly lost the original.

The Professional Footballers’ Association had it made and it was modelled on the medal awarded to fellow United star Bobby Charlton.

Also up for sale is the 1968 English Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year trophy, which is estimated to sell for between £75,000 and £100,000.

The sale includes a Faberge egg made to commemorate Best’s part in the European Cup triumph. It is one of only 68 produced and has been estimated at between £15,000 and £20,000.

The sale is at Bonhams auction house in Chester on October 20.