Hugh MacDonald: Law's greatness was undeniable but it was his humility that inspired me most
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From pauper to king, from scuffles in the streets of Aberdeen to frenetic clashes at the top of world football, two episodes far from the glory of the playing pitch give an indication of Denis Law and his times. First, that spindly frame was never nourished by plenty in his childhood. He was the son of a fisherman. At an event in the Scottish Football Museum Hall of Fame, seven decades after his birth, he spoke quietly but movingly of the privations of such a life.
![[The Lawman represented his country at the 1974 World Cup, playing his part in a 2-0 win over Zaire]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/18/16/94242787-0-image-a-2_1737217991733.jpg)
Secondly, he was a footballer when players could be extraordinary stars but had to be connected to the ordinary world. ‘I had to earn a living,’ he explained in his autobiography when he told of his move to become a carpet salesman immediately on his retirement from the game. Thus Law, Scotland’s only Ballon d’Or winner, bowed gracefully to the realities of his life. And got on with it.
![[Law was part of Manchester United's Holy Trinity, alongside Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/18/16/94242815-0-image-a-3_1737218095316.jpg)
It is difficult to explain to younger generations precisely what Law meant to those who are now of pensionable age. We saw him fleetingly. He would feature on Match of the Day highlights, the annual game against England was televised live and that fixture at Hampden was attended eagerly.
![[The legendary forward received a CBE for services to football and charity in 2016]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/18/16/94242819-0-image-a-4_1737218157356.jpg)
But Law represented so much more than just sporting prowess. He was the acme of the young Scot who left home early seeking his fortune in another country. He was the prime example of that eternal story of the boy who becomes king by meeting and overcoming a series of challenges. His included eye surgery at an early age and withstanding the violence of the game of the sixties despite his obvious relative frailty.
