George Best

From Rory to Sonia and Seán: who is Ireland’s greatest ever sportsperson?

We asked Irish Times readers to weigh in on who they thought was the greatest Irish sportsperson of all time - they didn’t disappoint us

Wed Apr 23 2025 - 19:23

Lisa Fallon: Manchester United’s lack of identity a long-term problem

Appointment of the next manager is crucial to fill the huge void not filled since Ferguson retired

Fri Mar 18 2022 - 06:00

Michael Walker: Rangnick’s problems seen by O’Farrell nearly 50 years earlier

Only Irish man to manage United faced the similar internal problems that beset the club

Sat Mar 12 2022 - 06:00

Former Ireland international and Man United manager Frank O’Farrell dies at 94

Corkman won nine caps and brought Leicester City to an FA Cup final in 1969

Mon Mar 07 2022 - 14:56

Austrian investor pays €15m for famed Dundalk hotel

Thomas Röggla adds Ballymascanlon House Hotel to portfolio of four and five star venues

Tue Feb 22 2022 - 15:44

Star turns: The brilliant Belfast boys who defied the sectarian tide

The Star of the Sea were a tight group of young lads before the Troubles tore them apart

Sat Feb 19 2022 - 06:00

Bestselling author Colm Keane dies aged 70

Former RTÉ broadcaster wrote 29 books, many with a religious theme

Sat Jan 22 2022 - 11:51

Steve Coronella goes to bat for Matt Christopher, a treasured childhood author

An Irishman’s Diary

Mon Jan 10 2022 - 19:18

Fallible, flawed, ethereal, genius: Remembering George Best - 16 years on

From Old Trafford to Windsor Park to Carnaby Street, the boy from Cregagh lit them all up

Sat Nov 27 2021 - 06:00

Time for United to build around Jadon Sancho and leave the past behind

Despite the bleak outlook left by the Solskjaer era, United’s future still looks promising

Wed Nov 24 2021 - 13:00

Barry Roche: The Cork tie that binds – bred in the bone

Come what may on Sunday, we are Cork and we are back

Mon Aug 16 2021 - 06:00

Michael Walker: Happy 75th George Best, the show’s still going on without you

The Belfast prince added to his legend off the field but on it he was a man of substance

Sat May 22 2021 - 07:00

Kevin Kilbane: Alan McLoughlin belonged to football

Former Ireland midfielder remembers his friend and colleague with whom he shared so much

Sat May 08 2021 - 06:00

The Ban: how the GAA came to rescind its prohibition on ‘foreign games’ 50 years ago

Fifty years ago in Queen’s University the GAA dropped its prohibition on other sports

Sat Apr 03 2021 - 06:00

Sideline Cut: It might just be easier to unite a country than to break up a dressingroom

Two international sides on a tiny island should tell onlookers everything about the Irish

Sat Mar 27 2021 - 06:00

Former England striker Frank Worthington has died aged 72

One of English football’s great mavericks he played for more than 20 clubs

Tue Mar 23 2021 - 10:46

What would Hans Keller have made of Neil Warnock and Pep Guardiola?

Michael Walker: In Music, Closed Societies and Football Keller defends individualism

Sat Jan 30 2021 - 09:00

Tommy Docherty: One of football’s greatest personalities and minds

Unconventional and outspoken, The Doc thrilled fans at Man United and beyond

Fri Jan 01 2021 - 16:22

Maradona and Jack Charlton among the sporting greats we lost in 2020

Pat Smullen, Kobe Bryant, Úna O’Connor, Harry Gregg, Kieran O’Connor all passed

Tue Dec 29 2020 - 06:00

Once in a blue moon: Cavan’s overnight success 15 years in the making

For proud Cavan supporters of a certain vintage, it was much, much longer than that

Sun Nov 29 2020 - 08:00

Solskjær believes Fernandes’s impact on United can be as great as Ronaldo’s

Manager says at United it is about the team and not individuals

Fri Nov 27 2020 - 18:50

Greenwood earns Man United vital point in Champions League chase

Young striker’s 17th goal of the season came after Paul Pogba’s first-half penalty blunder

Wed Jul 22 2020 - 20:18

Roy Keane retired this day 14 years ago ending an illustrious career

Cork native is regarded as one of the best midfielders ever to grace the English game

Fri Jun 12 2020 - 09:11

Sporting Poetry: Seeing far beyond the scoreboard

From George Best to Christy Ring, theirs is an eye that picks up things others do not

Sat Apr 04 2020 - 06:00

Giants in Green: Michael Walker’s greatest all-time all-Ireland XI

Our soccer columnist takes a look back on the footballing giants in green

Sat Mar 21 2020 - 07:00

Stoic Hannah Craig remaining serene in the face of adversity

After a difficult 2019, Irish slalom canoer accepts it’s likely her Olympic dream will this time be dashed

Thu Mar 19 2020 - 05:00

Harry Gregg: a reluctant hero and a revered shot stopper

Goalkeeper was an incredible embodiment of human spirit in adversity - a hero

Mon Feb 17 2020 - 07:51

Jimmy Greaves: A working-class hero who defined a generation

Knighthood would do little to burnish stellar reputation of former Spurs goal machine

Sat Feb 15 2020 - 06:00

Mary Hannigan’s (completely random) A to Z guide to the 2019 sporting year

From Brexit to Brolly, here is an alphabetical guide to the sports year that was

Sat Dec 28 2019 - 06:16

Manchester United’s celebrated academy set for new landmark

Academy with an eventful history is about to reach a 4,000th-match milestone against Everton

Fri Dec 13 2019 - 22:30

Tired, worn Old Trafford a symbol of United’s faded grandeur

Stadium was once a jewel but now it needs an urgent upgrade as their rivals lead the way

Thu Dec 12 2019 - 20:37

Remembering the night a 30-year-old George Best nutmegged Johan Cruyff

Derek Spence recalls the famous night when he netted a late equaliser against the very best

Sat Oct 05 2019 - 06:00

Michael Parkinson on George Best: ‘We became friends and that was it’

The broadcaster on his friendship with the footballer, the 'skinny kid' from Belfast

Thu Aug 22 2019 - 00:51

Sporting Travels: Man United v Chelsea, Old Trafford, August 11th

Getting there, tickets and accommodation: all you need to know for this season opener

Tue Jul 23 2019 - 06:00