George Best in February 2004. File picture / Reuters
LONDON - Soccer great George Best was in intensive care yesterday with a "serious but improving" kidney infection.
The 59-year-old former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star, who underwent a liver transplant three years ago because of heavy drinking, is in the private Cromwell Hospital, west London.
His physician, Dr
Roger Williams, said Best had "flu-like symptoms" and an infection that may have been caused by drugs he has taken since his transplant.
Dr Williams said: "He is serious but improving, with the emphasis on improving. The infection has caused him to be severely ill, but he is certainly responding to treatment and we hope to move him out of intensive care in the next 24 hours.
"Certainly all the signs suggest that he is responding to treatment."
Best's agent, Phil Hughes, also described his condition as poor but improving.
He said: "George is in and out of consciousness. He is aware of people going in there but very short of breath. I think it'll be a while but he'll pull through."
Best's son, Calum, was asked about his father's condition while leaving the hospital. "He's OK. He's stabilised," he said.
Best has been in and out of trouble for years. In 1984 he served two months in jail for drink-driving. In 2004, he was banned from driving for 20 months. In March 2000, Best collapsed from serious liver damage. He was hospitalised with pneumonia in February 2001 and, two months later, had anti-alcohol pellets implanted in his stomach.
Then in July 2002 he had a liver transplant and, although being told never to drink again, he drifted back to his old ways.
During his playing career with Manchester United, he helped the club win the European Cup in 1968.
He left Old Trafford aged just 26 and wound down his playing days in the North American Soccer League.
Best has written and spoken openly about his playboy lifestyle, which has also made him a regular feature in Britain's tabloids.
He once famously said: "I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered."
Four months ago, Best was arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman who feared he was about to attack a former girlfriend.
- NZPA
