LISBON: ENGLAND'S GEORGE BEST RETURNS TO INTERNATIONAL SOCCER AT A TESTIMONIAL MATCH FOR RETIRING PORTUGUESE STAR, EUSEBIO.

Record ID: 191423

  • Title: LISBON: ENGLAND'S GEORGE BEST RETURNS TO INTERNATIONAL SOCCER AT A TESTIMONIAL MATCH FOR RETIRING PORTUGUESE STAR, EUSEBIO.
  • Date: 27th September 1973
  • Summary: 1. CU Geogre Best massaged 0.11 2. Black player Pan to Charlton Bros. 0.16 3. SCU Gordon Bnks (former UK Goalis) 0.19 4. SV Banks Leads team onto field 0.27 5. CU Eusebio 0.32 6. SV George Best practising 0.40 7. SV Eusebio onto field receiving gift (3 shots) 1.00 8. SV George Best zoom out team lines up 1.05 9.
  • Embargoed: 12th October 1973 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LISBON, PORTUGAL
  • Country: Portugal
  • Reuters ID: LVA8C9NCWTDCTHTFVULTE1NFFXXW
  • Story Text: The English soccer star, George Best, returned to international football in Lisbon, the Portuguese capital on Tuesday (September 25th) in a testimonial match for the Portuguese star, Eusebio, who has announced his retirement.

    Best, who's 27, came out of retirement last month, and offered to play with his former club team, Manchester United. Best played for only 45 minutes in the testimonial match between a World Eleven of internationals, and Eusebio's former team, Benfica. Best showed his old form, and won loud acclaim from the crowd of 45,000.

    Eusebio, who has played with Benfica for thirteen years, will join the ranks of the greatest soccer internationals with such players as Pele of Brazil, Mathews of England, and Puskas of Hungary. Benfica was reported to have paid Eusebio almost 58,000 pounds sterling (approximately $145,000 US) for a new contract in 1969.

    The former British international, Gordon Banks, Kept goal for the World Eleven in the first half of the match. Banks, who's 34, lost most of the sight in his right eye in a car accident ten months ago, and announced his retirement last month. He played 73 times for England's international side.

    The World Eleven also included England's Charlton brothers, Bobby and jack, who came out of retirement as team managers for the match, and the West German, Uwe Netzer, who now plays for Real Madrid.

    The match ended in a 2-all draw. None scored both goals for Benfica against Gordon Banks. Keits of France, and Seeler of West Germany scored for the World Eleven.

    SYNOPSIS: The English soccer star, George Best, returned to international football at Lisbon, on Tuesday in a testimonial match for the Portuguese star, Eusebio, who has announced his retirement. The former England international goalie, Gordon Banks, who was partially blinded in a car crash last year, played for the first half. Banks, who is 34, led the World Eleven against Eusebio's club, team, Benfica.

    Eusebio, who has played for Benfica for thirteen years, will join the ranks of the world's greatest soccer players. He described George Best as one of the best forwards in the world.

    Eusebio was given a gift from the international players before the match started. He was reported to have received almost fifty-eight thousand pounds sterling for a new contract with Benfica in 1969.

    The World Eleven line-up included the former English internationals Bobby and Jack Charlton, and the West German, Uwe Netzer, who now plays for Real Madrid. The match ended in a two-all draw. None scored both goals for Benfica, against Gordon Banks. Keita of France and Seeler of West Germany scored for the World Eleven. A crowd of forty-five thousand turned out for the all-star match.
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