.png)
3 hours ago
1
Sir Alex Ferguson led the tributes to Denis Law as football greats paid their final respects to “the King” in Manchester on Tuesday.
An exquisite footballer and a brilliant man, the much-loved former Manchester United and Scotland forward died aged 84 last month. Law remains the only Scottish player to have won the Ballon d’Or and no man has scored more goals for the national team. Sir Kenny Dalglish is joint top with him on 30 goals and was among the mourners as Law was remembered in the heart of the city on which he left an indelible mark.
Ferguson was one of many United stars past and present at Tuesday’s funeral and paid a heartfelt tribute during the service inside Manchester Cathedral. “Denis Law was one of the greatest players at Man United,” he said. “Doesn’t matter what time, all the time. Part of the Holy Trinity with Sir Bobby [Charlton] and George [Best] at a club that has nourished many greats and stars as far back as Sir Matt Busby’s days, who cemented our history as we know it today.
“Trying to place Denis in the pantheon of the great players is made easier by Pelé. Pelé was asked was there any British player who could play for the Brazil team. He said without equivocation, Denis Law. It was a fantastic tribute when you consider what a great player he was.”
The hearse made its way into the city centre from Old Trafford, where hundreds of fans congregated as the funeral cortege passed a ground where Law’s success saw him immortalised in two statues. One of those looms over the East Stand forecourt, with Law stood with his right arm aloft between Best and Charlton.
Law’s daughter Diana Buckley – one of his five children – hopes there is now a new team in heaven. “There is an Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman – don’t worry, this isn’t going to be a bad joke,” she said towards the end of a beautiful tribute to her father. “They’re all up there in heaven, reunited, smiling down, and I’d like to think they’ve started a team with all the others. Sir Matt is at the helm and mum’s making them all a cup of tea.
“Dad has certainly left a legacy, and hopefully his character and contribution to football will inspire future generations. As a father, grandfather and father-in-law, he will be remembered for his unconditional love, his generosity and for just being fun and we will miss him.”
Bagpipes played as the proud Scotsman and Aberdonian’s coffin was carried into the packed funeral, where there was a mixture of prayers, hymns and readings on top of further tributes. At the end of the hour-long service, Sir Rod Stewart’s rendition of Angel echoed around the cathedral.
United’s current head coach, Ruben Amorim, captain Bruno Fernandes, and long-serving defender Harry Maguire were among those in attendance, as were women’s team manager Marc Skinner and captain Maya Le Tissier. Chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox were there, as were many of Law’s former teammates, including Alex Stepney, Willie Morgan and Brian Kidd. “He was just a wonderful person,” said Kidd. “Very humble. I’ll never forget him, the ‘Lawman’. It’s a sad time.”
Law also played for Manchester City and Mike Summerbee, a former teammate there, was also in attendance. United, however, had the strongest representation at the funeral. Wayne Rooney, Bryan Robson, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ruud van Nistelrooy were all there, as was Peter Schmeichel. “There are probably five names that go through Manchester United’s history and he’s one of those names,” Schmeichel said. “He was the King.”
