Roy Keane vs George Best: Who was better?

Two legendary Irish football players, both of whom enjoyed hugely successful careers in their own right. Today, we’re conducting the ultimate battle of Roy Keane vs George Best to reveal who was better…

It���s not an easy choice, pitting two Irish sporting legends against one another. But today we’re conducting the ultimate battle of Roy Keane vs George Best to reveal who was better…

Although their careers took place during different eras and they both focused on different styles of play, Keane and Best also enjoyed many similarities.

For example, both stars enjoyed successful careers with Manchester United, winning various high profile championships with the team.

Now, let’s get down to it and let the ultimate battle commence: Roy Keane vs George Best, who was better?

Roy Keane – plenty of impressive achievements

Roy Keane is a former professional footballer from County Cork. He enjoyed a professional career that spanned an impressive 18 years from 1989 until 2006, during which time he played for Cobh Ramblers, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester United, and Celtic.

Keane was a Central Midfielder known for his leadership, defensive skills, and tactical awareness, which helped lead his various teams to victory.

Perhaps most impressively, he joins Denis Irwin and Ronnie Whelan to claim the title of joint most successful Irish footballer of all time. During his club career, he won 19 major trophies, 17 of which were during his time at Manchester United.

He was even part of the team during Manchester United’s incredible treble-winning season between 1998 and 1999.

Some of his most impressive achievements in the game include seven Premier League Championship wins, four FA Cup wins, and one UEFA Champions League win. If you’d placed a football bet on the team while Keane was playing, the odds would certainly be in your favour!

Besides his stellar career with Manchester United, Keane enjoyed a successful international career as team captain for the Republic of Ireland.

Since his retirement as a player, he has taken over various roles such as manager, coach, and pundit. He was even inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.

George Best – one of the most iconic Irish players of all time

Born in Belfast in 1946, George Best was a Northern Irish professional footballer who also spent most of his club career at successful English team Manchester United.

Similar to Keane, Best enjoyed a long and successful playing career that spanned 21 years from 1963 to 1984. A Winger, he was known for his skillful dribbling and is remembered by many as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

During his incredible career, Best played for Manchester United for 11 years between 1963 and 1974. Some of his greatest achievements in the game include the European Cup win in 1968, two-time English First Division champion in 1965 and 1967, and the Ballon d’Or in 1968.

Similar to Keane, Best also enjoyed an impressive international career. He was capped 37 times for Northern Ireland, scoring an incredible nine goals, including what was perhaps the most famous goal of his career.

On 15 May 1971, during a match against England at Belfast’s Windsor Park, Best managed to kick the ball over the head of goalie Gordon Banks into the goal. However, much to the dismay of Northern Ireland fans, the goal was disallowed by referee Alistair Mackenzie.

An attacking player, known for his flair and creativity, Best scored an incredible 214 goals throughout his career. Rightfully earning him the renown as one of the greatest all-time players.

Boasting such an impressive legacy, Best was named European Footballer of the Year in 1968 and came fifth in the FIFA Player of the Century vote.

He was also shortlisted for BBC’s Sports Personality of the Century in 1996 and was an inaugural inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Roy Keane vs George Best – the ultimate Irish football battle

It’s almost impossible to say who was better between these two iconic Irish footballers. Both enjoyed hugely successful careers in their own right, and shared many similarities throughout their careers.

However, as the two played in different eras with differing external circumstances and roles as players, it’s really hard to say who was the better of the two.

With different styles of play – Best was an attacking forward while Keane was a defensive midfielder – it’s hard to draw a clear comparison between the two players’ styles of play.

When it comes to impact on the game, it’s clear to see that both Keane and Best proved hugely successful. Best remains an iconic figure in football history remembered for his skill and technique and huge number of goals while Keane is remembered for his impressive leadership.

When it comes to considering championship wins solely, many would argue that Keane is the superior player. Keane enjoyed an incredible 13 championship wins throughout his career while Best enjoyed only three.

However, many would argue that this statistic alone is an unfair way of comparing the individual players, as numerous other factors, such as the skill and cooperation of the wider team play a central role in this success.

Therefore, we don’t have a definitive answer for the question of who was better between Roy Keane and George Best. At the end of the day, this really comes down to personal preference and what you value when it comes to choosing the best player.

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