Denis Law: The Legendary Manchester United Striker
Meeting Denis Law in 2011, he surprised me with an unexpected confession: "I never really wanted to be a goal scorer."
"I was always hesitant about this role. I initially started as an inside-forward, and I relished the opportunity to be part of the whole game," he shared. However, Sir Matt Busby had other plans for him and urged him to focus on scoring goals.
Denis Law took Sir Matt's advice, becoming the most successful striker in Manchester United's history. Jimmy Murphy, Sir Matt's assistant, eulogized Law by saying, "If you had to send someone out to score a goal to save your life, there could only be one man, the Lawman."
At Manchester United, Law scored 236 goals in 393 games, placing him third on the club's all-time scoring list behind Bobby Charlton and Wayne Rooney. Law set club records for most goals in the FA Cup (34) and in Europe with 28 goals in 33 games.
There are only four statues at Old Trafford, with Law featured in two of them. Outside the stadium, Law stands alongside George Best and Bobby Charlton, while inside, he is the only individual player with a statue.
Law remained humble despite his accolades, saying the title of "King of the Stretford End" was embarrassing. Work-class Manchester lads were drawn to the energetic and abrasive Denis Law, who always gave his all on the pitch.
Charlton described Law as having "electricity," with sparks flying off him as he sought opportunities to score goals. Law was not afraid to take on defenders, who often used aggressive tactics against him, even if it meant diving into tackles if it would result in a goal.
Born into a family of seven children from humble backgrounds, Law began his career at Huddersfield, Manchester City, and Italian side Torino before joining Manchester United in 1962 for a British record fee of £115,000.
Law's impact was immediate, scoring seven minutes into his debut and finishing as United's leading scorer with 29 goals in his first season, which culminated in a FA Cup victory. Law continued to score prolifically in subsequent seasons, earning the Ballon d'Or in 1964.
Injuries began to take a toll on Law towards the end of his career, and he eventually retired in 1975. Law continued to maintain close ties with Manchester United, returning for games and occasionally casting a glance at the statue of himself, Sir Bobby Charlton, and George Best outside the stadium.
Denis Law's prolific goal-scoring abilities in Manchester United's colors attracted the attention of sports businesses, leading to numerous endorsement deals.
In the world of football business, Law's name is synonymous with success, his goal-scoring prowess leaving an indelible mark on the sport's financial landscape.
