George Best, Manchester United, 1968 European Cup Winners' Medal 'Coupe Des Champions Européens' winners gold medal awarded to Best when Manchester United became the first English team to win the European Cup 18ct gold, the obverse with raised lettering 'COUPE DES CLUBS CHAMPIONS EUROPEENS' below raised football and blue and red enamel flag emblem, the reverse inscribed 'VAINQUEUR 1968' and stamped 'PEKA' and '0.750', with ring suspension 14g, 2.8 x 2cm Footnotes: THE 1968 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP MEDAL OF GEORGE BEST: his most treasured possession, and the performance which capped his Ballon d'Or winning season. In 1961 Matt Busby the Manchester United manager received a telegram from his scout Bob Bishop: I have found you a genius. Northern Irishman Bishop had discovered a 15-year-old George Best and despite early homesickness Best settled at the Club, made his debut two years later, and was to establish himself in football's top tier in rapid fashion. Dismissed as too small and light by others, as Lionel Messi was to be in recent years, his all-round skills - speed, balance, dribbling, finishing and the temperament for the big occasion - have become legendary. A 'one man show' in the words of fellow Club and countryman Sammy McIlroy, 'Everything came naturally to him; left foot, right foot, shoot, head, tackle.' All this on pitches that are a far cry from today's pristine surfaces and against opposition that would think nothing of trying to injure him. 'To score a goal like his in a European Final is a dream come true.' Best had helped United to the League Title in his debut season and the Club won again in 1966-7. The following year they went on their triumphant run in European competition. Early rounds saw the side in Malta, Yugoslavia and Poland before they faced six-times champions Real Madrid at the formidable Bernabéu stadium. Taking a one goal lead from Old Trafford, one of Best's finest goals according to teammates, they drew 3-3 in Spain with Best supplying the assist for the equalizer which sent Manchester through to the final. This match was held at Wembley on 29 May against Benfica, previous Champions twice in the 1960s. 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. The lead lasted only 22 minutes before Jaime Graça scored for Benfica and it remained 1-1 until the whistle, forcing the match into extra time. It was Best who broke the deadlock three minutes later: picking up the ball 25 yards from goal, he broke into the penalty area, sold the goalkeeper a dummy and rolled the ball into an empty net. His goal seemed to deflate Benfica who conceded a third a minute later, before Bobby Charlton rounded off the win which claimed the Cup. United's win was the first by an English team in the European Cup, and a feat not to be repeated for almost another decade. In the midst of this European run, Best was awarded the Football Writer's Player of the Season award and he rounded off the season with none other than the Ballon d'Or. At the age of 22 he had won the League title, the European Cup and the European Player of the Year. Despite this, Best's sister Barbara is quoted as saying that 'out of all of George's treasure trove of soccer awards the most important thing was his 1968 European Cup Winners' Medal'. Nicknamed the Fifth Beatle after a tremendous early performance in Portugal, Best swiftly became known for his wit, personality and good looks alongside his footballing skills. Though fiercely competitive he was ready to mentor young apprentices; from a traditional background he was ready to buck authority and, though committed on the pitch, he had a devil-may-care attitude off it. It added up to his being a magnet for both press and fans and one of the first celebrity footballers. Provenance: Executors of George Best's estate; Bonhams Chester, Sporting & Golf Memorabilia, 20 October 2010, lot 304; UK private collection. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing