The legendary former Manchester United striker Denis Law and the only Scottish player to win the Ballon d’Or passed away on Friday at the age of 84. 

The Law family said in a statement via the club: “It is with a heavy heart that we tell you our father Denis Law has sadly passed away. He fought a tough battle but finally he is now at peace.” 

The family added: “We would like to thank everyone who contributed to his wellbeing and care, past and much more recently… We know how much people supported and loved him and that love was always appreciated and made the difference. Thank you.”

 

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Denis Law’s legacy 

Known as “The King,” Denis Law was the final member of United’s “Holy Trinity,” which also included Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best. The Scottish forward scored 237 goals in 404 games during his more than ten-year tenure at Old Trafford. 

Because of his outstanding play on the field, United won the First Division title in 1965 and 1967, as well as the FA Cup in 1963 where he scored in the final against Leicester City. Despite missing the team’s historic 1968 European Cup victory because of knee surgery, Law was an integral part of his team’s journey to become the first England club to win the coveted cup. 

Law was also awarded the Ballon d’Or in 1964 after scoring a club-record 46 goals for the Red Devils during the 1963-64 season, 11 goals in seven appearances for his country, and a goal for the Rest of the World team against England in the Football Association Centenary match at Wembley in 1963. 

After the 1974 World Cup finals in West Germany, he retired from playing football. In 2003, he was crowned the greatest Scottish football player of all time, and in 2002, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.

Law then disclosed his diagnosis of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in 2021.

The European governing body UEFA paid tribute to the footballer, saying: “On behalf of European football, we are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Denis Law. One of Scottish football’s true greats, he was a Ballon d’Or winner in 1964 before lifting the European Cup with Manchester United in 1968. Rest in peace, Denis.”

In another social media post, Manchester United shared: “Everyone at Manchester United is mourning the loss of Denis Law, the King of the Stretford End, who has passed away, aged 84. Our deepest condolences go out to Denis’s family and many friends. His memory will live on forever more.”

Source: CNN