Manchester United legend Denis Law honoured with statue in hometown of Aberdeen - The Athletic
The Scotland and Manchester United great, Denis Law, was honoured in his home town of Aberdeen this morning. Law, together with Sir Alex Ferguson, unveiled a statue in the city centre that captures Law in his trademark goal-celebration stance, right arm raised, finger pointing.
The pose was based on Law’s reaction to scoring against England at Wembley in 1967 and in front of his extended family Law pulled the cord on the unveiling and said: “I have to express how humbled I am. The city and people of Aberdeen have always meant so much to me.”
Ferguson added: “I think this statue captures him — although I don’t see him wiping his nose on his sleeve. He was a fantastic player and in my opinion, and in many people’s opinion, he was the greatest Scottish player of all time.”
Law, 81, is the only Scot to have won the Ballon d’Or, named European Footballer of the Year in 1964. He was the first of three United winners in the space of five years, with Bobby Charlton and George Best following. With them, Law formed a famous triumvirate under manager Matt Busby.
Law won the league, FA Cup and European Cup at Old Trafford. He spent eleven years at the club and he is most closely associated with United, though he signed twice for Manchester City and also played in Italy for Torino. His professional career began at Huddersfield Town, where he was managed by Bill Shankly.
Law joined Huddersfield as a 15-year-old. Invited for a trial in Yorkshire, Huddersfield’s manager Andy Beattie saw the child in front of him and later said: “The boy’s a freak. Never did I see a less likely football prospect — weak, puny and bespectacled.”
Law had a serious squint that affected other members of his family. He took off his glasses to play and would keep one eye closed. An eye operation soon after joining Huddersfield transformed his life and career.
Born in February 1940, Law was the youngest of seven children brought up in the Printfield area, about a mile from Aberdeen’s ground Pittodrie. His father, George, was a fisherman who had been in the First World War at 17 and was in the Royal Navy in the Second, part of a fleet making voyages to Murmansk.
Law was mainly brought up by his mother, Robina, and his older sisters in a house without carpets, central heating or television.
But he turned out to be a fierce, brilliant striker who was known as ‘The King’ to the Stretford End. The small boy grew into a hero who has now three unique statues in his honour, two at Old Trafford and one here on Upper Kirkgate. There is also a replica of this statue in another part of Aberdeen, but this central location is significant — Law is situated opposite the statue of Robert the Bruce.
“Aberdeen’s are still the first results I look for, along with my first club Huddersfield,” Law said in his autobiography.
The Denis Law Legacy Trust, an Aberdeen charity working effectively with children in the city, was behind the statue which is hoped to be a tourist attraction, as well as recognition of a local hero.
(Photo: Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
source: https://theathletic.com/news/manchester-united-legend-denis-law-honoured-with-statue-in-hometown-of-aberdeen/M8Z1vHnLEVJ2/
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