'You will always be my footballing hero'

SIR Rod Stewart's floral tribute note summed up the grief of generations of football fans as they said goodbye to Denis Law: "You are, and always will be, my footballing hero."

- Chris Riches

Dubbed "The King" at Old Trafford, Law was one of the greatest stars in Manchester United's history and the club's third all-time top scorer with 237 goals in 404 appearances from 1962 to 1973.

The Scottish striker died last month aged 84, the last of the iconic United Trinity: Sir Bobby Charlton died aged 86 in 2023 and George Best passed away in 2005 at 59.

As stars of the game entered Manchester Cathedral among 750 guests for Law's funeral, his hearse slowly passed the Theatre of Dreams and its statue of Law with arm aloft between his pals Best and Charlton.

Of hundreds of floral tributes taken to the cathedral and laid outside Old Trafford, one that struck a chord with Scotland fans was sent by Celtic supporter Sir Rod, 80 - its Saltire design a tribute to Law's joint-record 30 goals in 55 Scottish internationals by the only Scot to win the Ballon d'Or.

Aberdeen-born Law began his career with Huddersfield Town and also had two periods with United's rivals Manchester City, again in a 10 shirt, plus a spell in Italy with Torino.

He was sold for a British record fee three times during his career. His family revealed the had five father of died after a "tough battle" with Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, saying he was "finally now at peace".

Paying tribute at the funeral, exUnited boss Sir Alex Ferguson declared: "He would fight his granny for a goal. He had so much courage. A skinny guy standing by all those big defenders.

"Trying to place Denis in the pantheon of all-time greats is a challenge. But it is made easier by Pele.