The King, the Lawman, Denis The Menace… Call him what you like. To me he was simply... class

18 Jan 2025

Daily Record

JIM BLACK PAYS TRIBUTE TO HIS FRIEND AND HERO

Pele claimed that law was the only non-national who could have played for brazil

DENIS LAW played with his jersey outside his shorts and his heart on his sleeve.

He may have developed an unusual accent that was a mix of Oxford English and Scots, lampooned by comedians, but he never completely lost his Aberdeen twang – or love of country.

I first encountered Denis as a young journalist and I remained in awe of a player many regard as the finest to represent his country.

The King, the Lawman, Denis The Menace … call him what you like, the man was quite simply a class individual.

After years of brief encounters and telephone interviews, I had the good fortune to get to know Denis up close during the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

He was there in his role as a radio commentator while I was representing my newspaper.

They say that you shouldn’t meet your heroes for fear of being disappointed. But spending time socialising in Denis’ company was a delight. After years spent marvelling at the skills of a slightly built man who seemed to be able to hang in the air and who was blessed with the heart of a lion the way he courageously refused to back away from hatchetmen, I was intrigued to discover another side to Denis. Full of mischief and inclined to harmless schoolboy-type pranks, Denis was a bundle of fun and a great storyteller who rarely had a bad word to say about anyone. Denis remains Scotland’s joint-top scorer with Kenny Dalglish with 30 in 55 internationals and you can bet every one of those goals meant the world to him. Pulling on a dark blue jersey added an extra dimension to Denis’ game to the extent Pele claimed that Law was the only nonnational who could have played for Brazil. The late, great Jim Baxter also discovered just how passionate his team-mate was when it came to playing against England. After refusing to watch the World Cup final the previous year, preferring to play golf in the knowledge he’d never hear the end of it if England won, Denis was on cloud nine when Scotland led 3-1 against the Auld Enemy at Wembley in April 1967.

Having scored the opening goal and generally run England’s 11 World Cup-winners ragged, Denis was desperate to pile on the agony. Regrettably, Baxter was of a different mind.

Slim Jim preferred to showboat with the ball in an effort to humiliate and embarrass the opposition but he earned a series of rebukes from his frustrated team-mate who was desperate for more goals.

Scotland emerged victorious despite Geoff Hurst adding to Jack Charlton’s opener.

For all that Denis will be remembered for his goalscoring exploits – 227 in 485 domestic games – I was surprised to learn he never set out to fill the striker role.

He explained: “I regarded myself as an inside-forward, a midfielder, really, but Sir Matt said he wanted me to play up front and that was that. But I never really enjoyed playing that position.”

After football Denis worked in radio and television, established a charity Legacy Trust, collected honorary degrees from the Universities of Aberdeen, St Andrews and Robert Gordon’s and was in constant demand to make public appearances. An inaugural inductee into English football’s Hall of Fame in 2002, Denis was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to football and charity, and, in 2017, he received the Freedom of his home city.

He also overcame prostate cancer with the support of his wife of many years, Diana and his five children. But not even Denis was immune from the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia after a diagnosis in 2021. Sadly, Denis was mortal after all.

But a true national treasure, Denis will go on being talked about for generations to come.

Only a select few from the world of sport are immortalised in the form of a statue. Incredibly, Denis has three. Two stand at Old Trafford including one of Denis alongside Bobby Charlton and George Best dubbed “The Holy Trinity”.

But the crowning glory came in 2021 when a life-size likeness of him with his arm raised aloft in celebration of his ‘67 Wembley goal was unveiled in the heart of his beloved Aberdeen.

It is inscribed Denis Law “Legend” on the front of the plinth. Enough said, really.

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King of the Stretford End say Man U aces

18 Jan 2025 - Daily Record

By ALAN MARSHALL

FORMER Manchester United captains Bryan Robson, Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney led tributes to “fantastic man” and “great footballer” Denis Law following his death.

Law won two titles with Manchester United and is adored by the Old Trafford faithful who regard him as a club legend.

Law won the Ballon d’Or in 1964 while at United – the only Scottish player to do so.

United great Robson, who worked with Law in an ambassadorial role for the club, called the Scot a “fantastic man”.

He said: “We have lost one of football’s giants both as a player and a gentleman. It’s incredibly sad.

“Denis was more than just a fantastic footballer, he was a fantastic man.

“So generous with his time and everything was delivered with that great sense of humour of his.

“No one could represent what Manchester United stood for better than him. Full of flair on the pitch and a gentleman off it.”

Former England captain Rooney posted on X: “Legend. Thoughts with all Denis’ family and friends.”

Neville added on Instagram: “A great footballer and a great man. It’s a privilege and an honour to have spent time in your company. The King of the Stretford End.”

Joe Jordan, who played with Law at the 1974 World Cup, said: “Denis was a special player and to lose someone like him will affect an awful lot of Manchester United fans.

“A proper icon for his ability on the field to score goals but he had a special edge to him, not just as a player but as a person.

“Denis Law is one of the greatest players to ever play for Scotland.”

And the SFA paid tribute to a “true great”.

In a post on the Scotland team’s X, they added: “We will not see his likes again.”

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Fergie and Kenny: He was a hero

HE reigned supreme as the original, undisputed King of Old Trafford.

In his Sixties heyday, when Manchester United were the first club to boast three players crowned as European Footballers of the Year, Denis Law was the ultimate superstar. Yes, he had alongside him in that unrivalled Holy Trinity, Bobby Charlton and George Best. Charlton can lay claim to being England’s greatest footballer. Best, the mercurial, creative genius was the most naturally gifted of all.

Yet ask most United followers from the Sixties to name their favourite player and chances are they will answer: “King Denis.”

Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager who became an Old Trafford legend in his own right, named Law his all-time favourite footballer.

Fergie said: “Denis was a fantastic character, who absolutely loved the game.

“He was a magnificent player. I’ve always said that he was my hero as a player and he has to be the best Scottish player of all time.

“I idolised him. When I first met him I was so excited. It was at a game in Paris, he had played in the first half and we went for a cup of tea afterwards.

“He epitomised everything a Scotsman is about. He was daring and courageous, he had that bravado about him and he had style. A truly fantastic footballer.”

Law was so proud a Scot he went to play golf rather than watch England win the World Cup in 1966.

He was a brave, flamboyant goal-scorer with one of the greatest celebrations in the game – right arm raised, cuff clutched to his wrist and his forefinger pointing skywards. The pose in the statue that honours him, Charlton and Best outside Old Trafford.

Some opponents would claim Denis put the devil into the Red Devils. That’s another reason why he was the fans’ favourite.

Bobby Charlton once said: “What the fans loved about Denis was his incredible aggression and selfbelief. There was always a gleam in his eye. They never made a big centrehalf who could induce in Denis a flicker of apprehension. One of the most amazing things I witnessed was his decision to take on big Ron Yeats, once described by Liverpool manager Bill Shankly as the ‘New Colossus’.

“Denis barely came up to the man’s shoulders but he was in his face throughout the game, chivvying, needling, always at the point of maximum danger.”

Bobby’s brother Jack, the tough Leeds centre-back, had many shirt-ripping setto’s with Law and said: “I used to hate playing against him although I always regarded him as a good pal.

“I’ll never forget going for a cross and, as I went to volley the ball clear, Denis diving over me and heading it into the net. I kicked Denis in the mouth. I really walloped him, not deliberately though.

“I remember Denis lying on the deck, blood everywhere. I was standing over him as he started to come to. He looked up at me and smiled: ‘Did I score big fella?’”

Kenny Dalglish is the joint record scorer with Law for Scotland and grew up worshipping the great man.

Dalglish said: “Denis was my hero when I was a kid. I loved the way he played, the way he scored goals, and the way he celebrated. I wanted to be just like him.

“I was fortunate enough to play with him when we were in the same Scotland squad at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany.

“Denis was a great help to me. He was also a very humble man.”