Denis Law obituary: 1940-2025
Everyone at Manchester United is mourning the loss of Denis Law, the darling of the Stretford End, who has passed away, aged 84.
He was idolised by United fans of all ages, but particularly by those who every home game squeezed into the heaving, swaying mass of humanity that was the Stretford End during the 1960s.
Remarkably, he is the only man to have two statues dedicated to him at Old Trafford – one on the Stretford End concourse, the other as part of the United Trinity statue overlooking the stadium’s forecourt where he’s immortalised alongside fellow greats George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton. Both stand as testament to one of the Reds’ truly legendary figures.
The ultimate goalscorer, his flair, spirit and genuine love for the game made him a hero of a generation and he revelled in the nickname ‘The King’. His reign as a player lasted for 13 years.
Denis Law | Made In Aberdeen
FILM | This is the definitive story of Denis Law, aka The Lawman and King of the Stretford End...
Law’s journey to Old Trafford followed a long and winding road. Starting off at Huddersfield Town in 1955, he signed for Manchester City for a British record fee in 1960 and moved to Torino, in Italy, the following year.
He didn’t take to Italian football and, one year later, Matt Busby enticed him back to Manchester – this time to play in the red of United. By that point, he was an international regular, having been handed his first Scotland cap in 1958, at the age of 18.
A goalscorer in the 1963 FA Cup final as United defeated Leicester City 3-1, it was his sixth of the tournament. He was just getting started. Thirty goals in 41 games, in the following season, saw him finish as United’s top scorer again as the Reds won league titles in 1965 and 1967.
Devastatingly, injury deprived him of a place in the 1968 European Cup final side. Law was recuperating in a Manchester hospital, following an operation on his injured knee, as his team-mates were defeating Benfica, 4-1 after extra-time at Wembley. The following day, he had a bedside visitor – Matt Busby, along with the European Cup.
The United side of the time struggled to match the highs of Wembley and, with Tommy Docherty installed as the new manager and the rest of the 'United Trinity' – Best and Charlton – now departed, Law rejoined Manchester City on a free transfer in July 1973.
The final goal of his career came towards the end of the infamous derby match when his backheeled shot gave City victory and compounded United’s already confirmed relegation. This touch was his final one in league football as he asked to be substituted immediately, cutting a forlorn figure as he left the field, mobbed by invading Reds. Denis later talked about this incident, admitting: “I have seldom felt so depressed as I did that weekend.”
Denis Law: United icon
GalleryA collection of iconic images of arguably United's greatest-ever striker.
He retired from football after the 1974 World Cup finals in West Germany, where he made the last of his 55 appearances for Scotland, having scored a record 30 goals – an achievement he shares with Kenny Dalglish. He also held the record for the most FA Cup goals (41) before it was passed by Ian Rush in 1996.
While his tenacious style often fell foul of referees – he once sat out a pair of month-long suspensions in the space of a year – he played football the way fans would have played if they had his limitless talent, combining the spectacular with the impudent.
His great friend George Best described him as: “Up there with the all-time greats. Electric. As a bloke and as a pal he’s different class.”
United fans around the world will echo those sentiments, as we mourn one of the all-time greats.
POSITION
Forward
COUNTRY
Scotland
DATE OF BIRTH
24 Feb 1940 (Aberdeen)
JOINED
11 Jul 1962
UNITED DEBUT
17 Aug 1962 v West Bromwich Albion (Home, Old Trafford) League
LEFT UNITED
30 Jun 1973