KING OF KINGS

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

- by DAVID WALKER

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-ever 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 the chances are they'll answer: "King Denis."

It's not just United fans who idolised the Scottish striker. Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager who became an Old Trafford legend in his own right, named Law as his all-time favourite footballer.

Fergie said: "Denis was a fantastic character, one of the great characters you get in football who absolutely loved the game.

"He was a magnificent player. I have 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.

"For me, he epitomised everything a Scotsman is about. He was daring and courageous, he had that bravado about him and he had style. He was a truly fantastic footballer."