Denis Law the last of Man Utd’s Holy Trinity, a legend immortalised in stone who Busby called football’s ‘most exciting’

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Denis Law the last of Man Utd’s Holy Trinity, a legend immortalised in stone who Busby called football’s ‘most exciting’
Author: Martin Lipton
Published: Jan, 17 2025 19:49

HE was the last survivor of Manchester United’s “Holy Trinity”. A legend, remembered in stone, his hand thrust skywards as he stands for ever beside his two pals, in front of the ground he graced for so long. And now that Denis Law has joined George Best and Bobby Charlton in death, a shadow will hang over the club.

 [Mandatory Credit: Photo by Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock (3148466a) Football - 1971 / 1972 First Division - Crystal Palace 1 Manchester United 3 United's Denis Law celebrates one of his two goals at Selhurst Park C Palace 1 Man Utd 3 Sport]
Image Credit: The Sun [Mandatory Credit: Photo by Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock (3148466a) Football - 1971 / 1972 First Division - Crystal Palace 1 Manchester United 3 United's Denis Law celebrates one of his two goals at Selhurst Park C Palace 1 Man Utd 3 Sport]

Like his two greatest colleagues, “The Lawman” was not born in Manchester. His first steps were in Aberdeen and United were his FOURTH club - after Huddersfield, Manchester City and Torino. Where Charlton and Best both joined United as 15-year-olds, Law was 22 and already a seasoned international - indeed, caretaker Scotland boss Matt Busby gave him his debut in 1958.

 [EM8351 Denis Law of Manchester United.]
Image Credit: The Sun [EM8351 Denis Law of Manchester United.]

But from the moment he walked through the United door, after a British record £115,000 move from the Turin club, he was at home. Law scored after just seven minutes of his debut, a 2-2 home draw with West Brom, the first of 237 goals in 404 United games - a total only exceeded by Charlton and Wayne Rooney.

 [GBJY7C Manchester United's Denis Law (second r) fires his team's third goal past Arsenal goalkeeper Jim Furnell (r, diving), watched by teammate David Herd (c) and Arsenal's Ian Ure (l) and Frank McLintock (second l)]
Image Credit: The Sun [GBJY7C Manchester United's Denis Law (second r) fires his team's third goal past Arsenal goalkeeper Jim Furnell (r, diving), watched by teammate David Herd (c) and Arsenal's Ian Ure (l) and Frank McLintock (second l)]

Busby later recalled: “When I signed Denis I knew that we had the most exciting player in the game. “He was the quickest-thinking player I ever saw, seconds quicker than anyone else. “Denis had the most tremendous acceleration and could leap to enormous heights to head the ball with almost unbelievable accuracy and often the power of a shot.

 [2XGDAP8 The United Trinity, George Best, Denis Law, Bobby Charlton, Old Trafford, Statue, Manchester United, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom, Euro]
Image Credit: The Sun [2XGDAP8 The United Trinity, George Best, Denis Law, Bobby Charlton, Old Trafford, Statue, Manchester United, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom, Euro]

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