International Patron - George Costacos

Sharing the "Best" Name

Many have shared the "George Best" name but only one man has a special tale to tell on how he acquired it.

The story begins in Greece with a young boy called Georgios Constantinos Costacos. At an early age Georgios was affectionately shortened to "Georgie" by his mother Antonia and then again to "George" at the English school where he attended.

A national teen champion in gymnastics with a double scholarship, George left Athens with his parents' blessing and the assistance of the Fullbright Foundation, to study Physical Education in America. While accompanying a friend to an audition in New York, choreographer Susan Matthews recognized George's stage talent, snatched him of his course and literally threw him on stage for a show. Hence, George Costacos the stage star was born.

During rehearsals for his American stage debut George would pace nervously, mumbling "I want to do my best". "Best" became his nickname and he was often teased about it too: "Here comes Georgie Best!"

However, at that time, George had no interest in football and no knowledge of the football legend "George Best". It was only years later, when Greece won the Euro Cup in 2004 that he became enthused and a fan for life.

Back on that American stage, the theatre office assumed "George Best" was George Costacos' real name and put it on the program without checking. The name stuck but little did George know that it would soon become his official name right across America. During a trip to Greece he was informed that a leading American newspaper had run with the headline "George Best - off to Europe to write". There would be no turning back now and the way he was "baptised" is the stuff of showbiz legend, so he was advised to "keep the name". His well-meaning advisors did not follow football either. In further serendipity, George's representative at the performers union, was named Connie Best.

George grew into his "Best" name, as an inspiration to achieve his personal best. Having an inborn inclination to the perfectionistic classical Greek ideals, being an "A" student and studying with American interpretation master Ralph Proodian, George further proved his dedication with an abundance of glowing reviews for his performances and writings. Surprisingly enough, not one ever mentioned the synonimity with George Best "the football legend".

In fact, the first time George heard of George Best "the footballer" was years later, when English art director Jill Bell showed him George's famous photograph outside his London shop. Apart from that photo, he never looked into George's football career and never thought much about the name, except when trips to London produced interesting reactions every time he paid by credit card, or simply called himself by his full name. It made for a very memorable London "Cats" audition.

It wasn't until his website premiered that George really considered the name link, when emails from football fans arrived, expecting that www.georgebest.com would have led them to George Best "The Footballer".

Having felt a long-time desire to return to his family name, George found this the perfect catalyst to change his name back to Costacos, despite warnings that such a move was "not a good idea for someone established". Being in showbiz, George decided to do it "his way", on stage, and in front of the entire world again, at the New York premiere of his musical "Greek Gifts." The show tells George's rewarding journey to find the home that he was born, to reclaim his roots and his name. It became a critically acclaimed success.

Even though he had given up the "Best" name, George Costacos never tired from trying to contact "the" George Best to give him the georgebest.com domain name - sadly to no avail.

However, feeling a responsibility to guard the name from any possible misuse, George kept renewing the registration of the name year after year, hoping to somehow get in touch with George Best's family or an official estate. It was to prove a worthwhile exercise as, much to his delight, the Best family, on George's passing, made contact with him.

His joy at finally being able to hand over the domain name to the Foundation is best described in his own words:

"I am so pleased to do this for George and I know that even late, he will appreciate it. He knew better than me, that it's a big responsibility to be in the public eye with a name like "Best", the critics waiting for you to trip every step of the way, with a punchline in every pocket. The George Best Foundation is a great and loving way to preserve his undying memory in our hearts. Having personally survived liver disease, my feelings about the mission of this Foundation are very strong.

.....And for you Georgie,

I never knew you lad, but the day I found out about you from a silent photograph, I felt like I had found a bit of me. You personified my aim to be my own best. You won my heart and all our hearts forever. I returned to George Costacos. You'll hear my song as I've heard yours."

The Foundation are delighted that George Costacos has been so relentless in his quest to find the true home for www.georgebest.com and are proud to welcome him as the "International Patron". Find out more about George Costacos on his website at www.georgecostacos.com.