Soccer legend George Best was tonight said to be “doing very well” as he
underwent a liver transplant operation at Cromwell Hospital in London .
The former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star went into theatre this morning. The operation is expected to last 16 hours.
Best (56), who has a history of alcoholism, has been waiting for a suitable donor for several months.
The former Manchester United and Northern Ireland player revealed last year that he was considering a transplant operation after staying sober for 12 months - the criteria for a place on the waiting list.
He cut out alcohol and had Antabuse tablets inserted into his stomach to keep him on the wagon after he was warned just one more drink could kill him.
But his liver was not recovering from the decades of abuse.
He won the European Cup with United in 1968 and played 37 times for Northern Ireland.
PA