How humble Denis became the 'King' of Old Trafford

FEW BRITISH footballers have ever matched Denis Law's capacity to inspire hero worship. To the faithful at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United where he performed many of his greatest deeds, he was known simply as "the King". To the followers of his native Scotland, he brought the national team to new heights of competitiveness.

- Leo McKinstry

Even someone as rugged as Sir Alex Ferguson, his fellow Scot, admitted that in the '60s: "Denis Law was my hero as a player. I idolised him." That kind of reverence was based partly on his dazzling skills as a player, including his electric pace, his uncanny awareness in the penalty box and his astonishing athleticism.

"No other player scores as many miracle goals as Denis. He is the quickest-thinking player I have ever seen," said Sir Matt Busby, who brought him to Old Trafford in 1962 from the Italian club Torino for a British record fee of £115,000. The unprecedented sum was worth it.

During his 11 years at the club, he scored 237 goals in 404 appearances, playing up front alongside those two other legends, George Best and Bobby Charlton, as part of probably the greatest forward line in history. He also scored 30 goals in 55 games for Scotland which still stands as the record aggregate more than 50 years after he retired.