A true Scot – tributes paid to Denis Law following death aged 84

Denis Law has been described as a “true Scot” by former team-mate Alex Stepney as tributes poured in for the Manchester United and Scotland great following his death at the age of 84.

The Aberdeen-born striker won two league titles with United and was a member of their European Cup-winning side under Sir Matt Busby in 1968, alongside Stepney, when they became the first English club to lift the trophy.

Law, known as ‘The King’, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in 2021, and his family announced his death on Friday evening.

“He was a true character, really, that’s what it was all about,” former United goalkeeper Stepney told BBC Breakfast.

“He was a firecracker, he scored so many goals for Manchester United and whoever he was playing for. The defenders he came up against were all big and strong, but it didn’t bother him.

“He scored so many great goals with his head, he was tremendous. Anything around the 18-yard box, especially on the pitches we played on in those days, boom he was in.”

Law – who scored 237 goals in 404 appearances for United – is the only player to have two statues dedicated to him at Old Trafford, one on the Stretford End concourse and the other as part of the ‘United Trinity’ outside the stadium alongside fellow greats George Best and Bobby Charlton.

He also remains the only Scottish player to have won a Ballon d’Or, which he was awarded in 1964.

Stepney added: “We all had talents and they had a better talent in goalscoring because they were all forwards, like I said Ballon d’Or winners.

“They kept scoring the goals, but other players were scoring goals and that’s how we won what we did really.

“But he was tremendous, he was a true Scot. You had George (Best) who was Irish, Bobby (Charlton) who was English and he was Scottish, three Ballon d’Or winners, unbelievable.”

Law, who started his career at Huddersfield and also played for Manchester City and Torino, made his senior Scotland debut aged 18 in 1958 and was capped 55 times.

With 30 goals he remains joint record scorer for Scotland alongside Sir Kenny Dalglish, who also paid tribute.

“Thoughts are with Denis Law’s family. Thanks for the great memories. My hero,” said Dalglish, replying to Sky Sports’ tribute on X in which former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Law as “the greatest Scottish player of all time”.

Former United midfielder David Beckham also described Law as the “perfect gentleman”.

“Tonight we lost a true gentleman of the game… Our love goes out to Denis’s family,” Beckham posted in a story on Instagram.

“Our hearts are heavy tonight. A legend on the field but the perfect gentleman off…”

Former United and England captains Bryan Robson and Wayne Rooney were also among those to pay their respects.

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

“We have lost one of football’s giants both as a player and a gentleman. It’s incredibly sad,” he said in a column in the Daily Mail.

“Denis was more than just a fantastic footballer, he was a fantastic man. So generous with his time and everything delivered with that great sense of humour of his.

“He would always be in my greatest ever Manchester United XI. He was a player so many of his peers idolised and with good reason, that iconic image of him with his sleeves pulled down and the one-arm salute after scoring.

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

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

Ex-United striker Eric Cantona took to Instagram to pay tribute, saying: “Rest in peace Denis. You were one of those who helped me feel at home in Manchester United. Thank you my friend!”