George Best's European Cup medal sells for £300k

Image caption, Manchester United legend George Best played for the club in the 1960s and 1970s By Stewart Whittingham North West Published 3 hours ago Football legend George Best's European Cup winner's medal has sold for more than £300,000 at auction. Best scored in the 1968 final as Manchester United beat Benfica 4-1 after extra-time at Wembley. The Northern Ireland international helped United to become the first English side to win the old European Cup, now known as the Champions League. Best's medal was sold for £305,200 by auctioneers Bonhams in London after it had been offered by a private collector. Best scored United's second goal in the final after he dribbled round the Benfica goalkeeper. The Red Devils' victory came 10 years after the Munich Air Disaster in which eight members of Matt Busby's team, known as the Busby Babes, were among the 23 killed. Image source, Bonhams Image caption, Manchester United won its first European Cup in 1968 At the same Bonhams auction, the shirt belonging to the British referee in the 1974 World Cup Final sold for £28,160. Referee Jack Taylor famously awarded two penalties in the game between hosts West Germany and Holland in Berlin. Taylor booked Dutch superstar Johan Cruyff for diving. West Germany won 2-1 to win the World Cup and beat the celebrated "total football" played by the Netherlands team of that era. Get in touch Tell us which stories we should cover in Greater Manchester Contact form Contact form Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook , external , X , external , and Instagram , external . You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. More like this story Five reasons why Best was a genius Published 19 May England World Cup winner's medal sells for £200k Published 9 December 2022