Highly skilled on the football pitch

George Best has died at the age of 59. His lifestyle ended his career suddenly. Later on his health also became a problem and he suffered an addiction to alcohol. He had a liver transplant in 2002 but began drinking again soon after. This report from Kevin Gearey:

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Best was named European Footballer of the Year, and the young man dubbed "the fifth Beatle" took football into the realms of showbiz. But at just 26, with the headlines by now all about his sex and drinking exploits, he announced his retirement. His comeback appearances with other clubs were swiftly curtailed by his drinking, which continued after his second wife left him and after his liver transplant.

Those who saw George Best, the footballing genius, will revel in the memory, but will also regret that his career and life ended so sadly and prematurely:

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do his bidding
do exactly what he wanted it to

dubbed "the fifth Beatle"
(he was so popular that he was) unofficially named as the fifth person in Britain's most popular 4-piece pop band, The Beatles

the realms of showbiz
the world of entertainment, for example film, music and fashion

exploits
using things or taking part in activities in a much more extreme way than other people would (for example, drinking a lot more and much more often than other people)

retirement
the formal stopping of a particular type of work, here, playing football

comeback appearances
return from retirement to play football again

swiftly curtailed
very quickly ended

his liver transplant
his own diseased liver was removed and replaced with a healthy one from someone who had died

revel in the memory
enjoy remembering his football skills very much

prematurely
before the natural and proper time

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