Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed a touching bond with football legend Denis Law, visiting the latter up to three times a week at his care home before Law died aged 84 last Friday.
The iconic manager is expected to attend Sunday’s match at Old Trafford, where Manchester United will pay tribute to Law with a minute’s applause during their clash with Brighton.
Ferguson, aged 83, made the heartfelt visits to see his fellow Scot at his Cheshire home, which is close to his home in Goostrey, Cheshire East.
Law’s family confirmed his death on Friday evening, after a courageous three-year battle with dementia. He announced his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in August 2021.
Considered one of United’s Trinity, alongside George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton, Law is immortalized in statue form at Old Trafford. Often affectionately referred to as ‘The King’ by fans, his legacy in the game endures.
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Reflecting on their relationship, Ferguson once shared his admiration for Law as a player, recalling their first meeting during a match in Paris.
“Denis Law was my hero as a player, I idealized him,” Ferguson expressed. “When I first met him, I was so excited. It was at a match in Paris, where he played in the first half, and we went for coffee afterwards. I thought : ‘That’s it, I succeeded, I’m having a coffee with Denis Law!’”
Ferguson praised Law’s character, encapsulating the essence of his greatness: “To me he represented everything a Scot should be. He was bold and courageous, he had that brilliance, and he had style. He was a truly fantastic footballer.”
In an emotional statement, Law’s family expressed their sadness: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce that our father, Denis Law, has sadly passed away. He fought a difficult battle, but now he is finally in peace We would like to thank all those who contributed to his well-being and care, both in the past and more recently. We know how many people supported and loved him, and this love was always appreciated and. made a difference. Thank you.”
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Winner of the Ballon d’Or in 1964, Law’s impressive career at Old Trafford included winning the Champions League, two English Premier League titles and the FA Cup during his eleven seasons at the club.
He remains the third highest scorer in Manchester United’s history with 237 goals in 404 appearances and is Scotland’s joint top scorer with 30 goals in 55 caps.
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Law was a participant in the 1974 World Cup and is commemorated with a statue in his hometown of Aberdeen, where he was born on February 24, 1940.
His career included spells with Huddersfield Town, Manchester City and Torino in Italy.
Manchester United also expressed their condolences, saying: “Everyone at Manchester United joins us in mourning the loss of Denis Law, the King of Stretford End, who has passed away at the age of 84. With 237 goals in 404 appearances, he will always be celebrated as one of the club’s greatest and most loved players, the ultimate goalscorer, his flair, wit and love of the game made him a hero. generation. Our most sincere condolences to Denis’s family and his many friends.
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Denis Law is sadly the sixth member of United’s Champions League-winning squad under Sir Matt Busby to have suffered from dementia, joining the ranks of Sir Bobby Charlton, Nobby Stiles, Tony Dunne, David Herd and Bill Foulkes, all facing similar struggles before their demise.
