A football fan Wednesday paid more than 150,000 pounds for the European Player of the Year trophy awarded to George Best in 1968, a British auction house announced.

The trophy, awarded to Best the same year he won the European Cup with Manchester United, was sold for 167,000 pounds (278,000 dollars) to an anonymous British phone bidder described as "an avid football fan", Bonhams auctioneers said.

An English Footballer of the Year trophy, also won by Best in 1968, failed to reach the minimum asking price of 150,000 pounds and was returned to the former United and Northern Ireland star.

"It's sad that the second trophy did not sell as this is an important piece of football memorabilia," said

a spokeswoman for Bonhams.

"We will now have to speak to Mr Best to see what he wants to do."

Best, 57, has said he would use proceeds from the sale to buy a holiday home in Greece.

"I feel sheer pride when I look at them and I will shed a tear when they go, of course. It will be very emotional for me," he said ahead of the sale.

The auction comes only a few weeks after Best's 31-year-old wife, Alex, walked out on him following

reports he had started drinking again and was having affairs.

Best had a life-saving liver operation just over a year ago to help combat the damage done by years of alcoholism. He is also known to be a big gambler.

Best was one of the stars of the Manchester United team that won the European Cup in 1968 and a combination of talent and good looks made him Britain's first 'superstar' player.