Best 'comfortable' after operation and due to leave intensive care
The former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star was said to be "comfortable" in intensive care at the Cromwell Hospital, west London.
An official statement from consultant surgeon Nigel Heaton and consultant physician Professor Roger Williams said: "Mr George Best's condition has improved steadily overnight and he is in a very satisfactory state at present."
The doctors were "very pleased with his progress" and would be reviewing him further, they said.
"Mr Best is comfortable, and recognising family and staff, and will remain in the intensive care ward for the rest of the day."
Prof Williams said Best was expected to leave intensive care today.
"His condition improved late last night," he said. "Many surgical problems anticipated clearly haven't come to much."
Patients usually spend another seven to 14 days in hospital after the operation.
Mr Heaton said it was a difficult operation but Best, 56, was now doing well.
"It took longer than normal," he said. "This operation usually takes around five to six hours but it took around eight hours. Liver transplantation can be quite difficult."
It was important that the body did not reject the organ, he said. "The early signs are that it is working well."
Best would have survived three to 12 months without the liver transplant, he said, and had been waiting seven to eight months for a suitable liver.
Best had an 88% chance of being alive in a year, he said, adding that the longest surviving patient lived for about 30 years after the operation.
The former soccer star should remain teetotal, he added.
Best disclosed last year that he was considering a transplant after staying sober for 12 months the criterion for a place on the waiting list.
Since the start of his ordeal, the soccer legend has received thousands of letters of support including more than 1,000 get well messages posted on an internet site. Site host AOL delivered the messages to Cromwell Hospital. Best's agent Philip Hughes, who accepted them on his behalf, said: "George is overwhelmed by the thousands of messages of support he has received.
"The public have been amazing, not just with the e-mails and messages but also with the amount of flowers.
"It's too early to say how soon George will be out of hospital and back working again but he will be guided by the doctors."
