In what came close to a state funeral, Best's coffin was driven from the family's humble home to the splendour of Stormont, the Northern Irish parliament, with the people of the province giving the soccer legend one last round of applause as the hearse passed by.

Tears were shed along the route as fans from the working-class Protestant Cregagh estate and beyond said a final goodbye to their hero.

Former teammates, ex-wives, dignitaries, fans, admirers and ordinary Ulster folk were to say farewell for Best's final journey in a life that took him from the highs of international stardom to the lows of wanton -- and equally public -- alcoholism.

Best died aged 59 on November 25 from multiple organ failure, after suffering a series of health problems in a London hospital.

Considered the first "pop-star" footballer, Best brought Northern Ireland a dash of glamour and sporting wizardry as it descended towards sectarian bloodshed.

His was one of the rare cases where the Protestant and Catholic communities could find unity, in their admiration for the Belfast Boy.

Best is considered as being among football's greatest players, alongside the likes of Brazil's Pele and Argentina's Diego Maradona -- except in Northern Ireland.

"Maradona good; Pele better; George Best" read a flag at the end of Best's old street.

The Best family held a private ceremony at their small family home on the Cregagh east Belfast estate where Best honed his skills against the terraced house walls.

The funeral cortege left shortly after 10:00 am (1000 GMT) from the Cregagh estate, its Loyalist paramilitary murals painted over and flags taken down for the occasion.

Mourners lined the length of the three-mile (five-kilometre) route through east Belfast and up the long drive to Stormont.

Best's funeral is to be the first ever held in the Parliament Buildings.

The palatial legislature and parkland grounds were chosen to accommodate the large numbers wanting to pay their respects.

Just 300 guests squeezed into the cream-marbled Great Hall for the funeral, with the service being broadcast to an expected 30,000 people allowed in the Stormont grounds.

During the hour-long service, former United teammate Denis Law was to give a tribute, as was Best's sister, Barbara McNarry, and his doctor, Professor Roger Williams, who oversaw his 2002 liver transplant and eventual decline. Calum Best was to read the poem, "Do not stand at my grave and weep".

Best will be buried next to his mother, Ann, in the Roselawn cemetery in the Castlereagh hills overlooking east Belfast and the fields where he first shone as a footballer.

Best's alcoholism brought on a string of health problems which led to the liver transplant. He was back on the bottle within a year, however, despite having been told another drink could kill him.

Best made his professional debut for Manchester United in 1963, aged 17, going on to help the club become the first English side to lift the European Cup in 1968. In the same year he was voted European Player of the Year.

Dubbed "El Beatle", his playboy lifestyle involved an unquenchable thirst for alcohol and beautiful women.

He won 37 Northern Ireland caps before heavy boozing took its toll and he unexpectedly quit United for good at the early age of 28.

A sea of flowers, scarves, football shirts, cards and other tributes have been left by fans at United's Old Trafford stadium, at his father's home, Stormont and at those trademark Belfast murals dedicated to Best.