Photo caption: Charles Mackenzie (L) from Mackenzie Portugal, who assisted the Law family while in the Algarve, with Denis Law (R)

On 17 January, the family of Denis Law announced the death of the former football player, sharing an emotional and grateful message. The former striker, and the only Scot to win the Ballon d'Or (1964), died at the age of 84 after a long illness.

“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. 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,” said the Law family in a statement.

Manchester United, the team that Law played with for 11 years and where he scored 237 goals in 404 appearances, said in a statement: “Everyone at Manchester United is mourning the loss of Denis Law, the darling of the Stretford End.

“To describe Denis as one of Manchester United’s, and football’s, all-time greatest players doesn’t seem sufficient an accolade. This son of an Aberdonian fisherman, who went on to perfect the art of scoring goals, attained a status in the game that very few have gone near to matching.

“He was idolised by United fans of all ages, but particularly by those who every home game squeezed into the heaving, swaying mass of humanity that was the Stretford End during the 1960s.

“Remarkably, he is the only man to have two statues dedicated to him at Old Trafford – one on the Stretford End concourse, the other as part of the United Trinity statue overlooking the stadium’s forecourt where he’s immortalised alongside fellow greats George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton. Both stand as a testament to one of the Reds’ truly legendary figures.

“His great friend George Best described him as: “Up there with the all-time greats. Electric. As a bloke and as a pal he’s different class.”

“United fans around the world will echo those sentiments, as we mourn one of the all-time greats”.

Author

Originally from the UK, Daisy has been living and working in Portugal for more than 20 years. She has worked in PR, marketing and journalism, and has been the editor of The Portugal News since 2019. Jornalista 7920

Daisy Sampson