on 5 july 2007, he joined coventry city for a fee of £650,000 decided by a tribunal, with the fee increasing were coventry to gain promotion to the premiership by 2010. following a cheekbone fracture at the end of 2008, best took his place in the team wearing a protective mask. his return led him scoring three goals in successive matches and consequently gaining a reputation for wearing a "besty" mask, even after he had recovered from his injury and earning the nickname "zorro". his distinctive mask became somewhat of a talisman for coventry city fans, many of whom took to wearing similar masks in the stands as a tribute to best. on 3 october 2009 he was named championship player of the month for september.