He stands there triumphant, impudent, magnificent, right arm raised high in trademark fashion, at the gable end of Provost Skene’s House in the city centre of his beloved Aberdeen.
Belligerence in bronze, inviting all to take inspiration from his own journey from impoverishment to immortality as he points his index finger, most appropriately, to the heavens.
In less celebrated parts of town – in Garthdee, Northfield, Torry, Tillydrone and Kincorth, to name but a few – young people of all ages gather under his image and the banners bearing his name to take their own steps towards a brighter future. To know that it’s fine and natural to look upwards to the stars as well.
The Denis Law Legacy Trust run all manner of free-to-access programmes across the Granite City from weeknightly get-togethers promoting sporting and creative activities to an academy based on personal and professional development and a project aimed at supporting the families of prisoners in HMP and YOI Grampian.
In the words of the charity, who have Denis’ oldest son Gary as a trustee, they exist to offer positive destinations to those from disadvantaged communities.
And, in the Lawman, who passed on Friday at the age of 84, there could not be a better example to follow in terms of aiming high, taking your chances and trusting yourself no matter the obstacles in your way and the limitations your background may endeavour to foist upon you.
Law represented Scotland at the 1974 World Cup and is the nation’s joint-top goalscorer
Law celebrates scoring in a 2-2 draw with England in 1965, and he was always proud to play for his country
It’s not just those kids running around outdoor pitches in the North East that should view Law, whose spirit lives on through them, as the embodiment of all they wish to be, though. That extends to an entire nation.
Law was, is, surely everything us Scots like to think of ourselves as. The humble underdog who can be king. A man of the people. No respecter of reputations. Brave as a lion. Naturally aggressive. Quick-witted. Indomitable. Unstoppable. A groundbreaker, capable of anything when harnessed the right way.
And despite everything, the Ballon d’Or in 1964 or his contribution to Manchester United’s 1968 European Cup win, make no mistake. Nothing meant more to him than wearing the dark blue.
Sir Alex Ferguson was invited north in November 2021, shortly after his idol had revealed he had been diagnosed with dementia, to unveil that bronze statue of Law that stands just off the Marischal Square area of Aberdeen – fingers gripping the cuff of the raised arm as he wheels away after scoring against England at Wembley in 1967, the personal highlight of his stellar career.
His words that day summed up the man as well as any could.
‘I think the statue definitely captures him. The only thing is that I don’t see him wiping his nose on his sleeve,’ quipped Ferguson.
‘I think Denis epitomises a Scotsman. He showed fantastic courage at 15 years of age to go down to Huddersfield. Not many have the courage to do that kind of thing.
‘He also epitomised the Scotsman in that he would start a row in an empty house. Six foot three centre-halves didn’t bother him.
‘In my opinion, and in many people’s opinion, he was the greatest Scottish player of all time, without question.’
The story of Law’s rise from poor beginnings, born in 1940 as the youngest of seven to trawlerman father George and mother Robina at 6 Printfield Terrace, has formed the basis of the rich eulogies of this weekend. Shortly, in addition to a mural in the city, there will be a Heritage Trail that paints a picture of his formative years.
Law didn’t have proper shoes until he was a teenager. He wore glasses and played football with one eye closed to negate the effects of a squint.
Denis Law’s statue takes pride of place in the heart of Aberdeen
Law with fellow Manchester United legends Bobby Charlton and George Best
Spotted by the brother of Huddersfield manager Andy Beattie, a fellow Aberdonian, he underwent an operation to correct the problem, passed down through the family, after leaving home to sign for the Terriers.
Less discussed, though, is the role the great Bill Shankly, no stranger to hunger himself as a child, played in his development there. Shankly was on the coaching staff – later to take over as manager – and took it upon himself to look after the boy he described as ‘a skinny little whippet’.
‘There was a cafe not very far from the ground and I needed feeding up,’ recalled Law. ‘He would pay for the cafe to feed me. He was just like a father, really.’
The luxury of even getting a regular breakfast was one of the first things that struck Law about this new life of opportunity.
‘We were in digs,’ he said. ‘It was fantastic because, for the first time, really, I was getting some food – a bit of bacon and egg in the morning, and it was absolutely delightful.’
Shankly wanted to take Law, then 18, to Liverpool when he left in late 1959. The Anfield club couldn’t afford the transfer, though, and he went to Manchester City for a British record fee of £55,000.
‘When he left, it was just the end of the world,’ confessed Law.
Already, though, Law was exhibiting all the skills that would make him a bona-fide superstar. He was so much more than just a goalscorer.
His favoured position was actually inside-forward. He covered ground, battled with centre-halves. He also had this ability – five foot nine and a bit or not – to hang in the air for headers.
‘It is debatable if anyone was better than him,’ said Shankly later in life. ‘Maybe (Tommy) Lawton could get up higher because he was a bigger man. All the rest of the cunning tricks and the tricks that would cause trouble, Law knew them. He knew them when he was a boy.’
Law also blazed a trail in moving abroad when it was hardly fashionable, going to Torino for a year in 1961. It was there he showed some of the imperfections us Scots have too.
At the end of an infamous night out, team-mate Joe Baker clipped the kerb and flipped the car taking Law and his brother Joseph home. It marked the end of Baker’s time. Law would leave the following summer, standing his ground and refusing to move to Juventus.
‘I enjoyed everything about Italy,’ said Law. ‘I was single at the time. There were nice ladies, nice food. I liked the wine and the beer was good. The only thing I didn’t like was the football.’
A Scotland jersey was placed outside Old Trafford on Saturday, showing what Law meant to Scots as well as Manchester
Law was also a proud family man, who was married to his wife Diana (right) for over 60 years, and they had five children together
Sir Matt Busby rescued him from the hell of catenaccio to take him to Old Trafford and the rest is history. His enjoyment of a pint while being one of the best players in the world just adds to his legend along with the record 30 goals for Scotland and the 237 in 404 appearances for United before ending his career back across Manchester at City.
Law went on to work as a carpet salesman before carving out a career in broadcasting, showing a natural charm that existed seamlessly with his reputation as a private individual, devoted to wife Diana and his five children.
As Mark Williams, chief operating officer of the Legacy Trust, admitted when we chatted yesterday, his organisation has plenty to work with in terms of inspiring others. And there is plenty of work to do.
‘We want to make sure we make a real contribution to the legacy of Denis in the city and make sure what he stood for remains,’ he said.
‘He was a proud Aberdonian and is a great example to everyone of what can be achieved despite any barriers that may exist. The challenges for young people are different now, but he is such an incredible role model.’
Law is someone to look up to, all right. And that likeness standing tall in his home city exists as a representation of just how anyone, no matter their start in life, can prosper and excel and become their own special kind of royalty – a message as relevant to these times as those in which a little, bespectacled boy from a humble wartime background made a promise to himself to let no one and nothing hold him back.
Rising star Igamane can be much better than Morelos
Hamza Igamane need pay no attention to comparisons this week with former Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos. He can be much better than that.
Igamane, although 22, is still only months into his first season in proper, professional football after moving to Scotland from Morocco and is already carrying the Ibrox club on his shoulders.
Much like, as someone on social media pointed out this week, little Amad Diallo down at Manchester United, whom Rangers come up against on Thursday, of course, on Europa League business.
Ianis Hagi was asked to align Igamane’s talents with those of Morelos during the week. There’s no question both enjoy the physical side of the game, a necessary trait to succeed in the SPFL Premiership.
Hagi also described them both as natural goalscorers. To these eyes, though, Igamane possesses the potential to be much more clinical than the errant Colombian and to progress further in the game.
Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane has been the star attraction at Ibrox this season
Igamane has more potential than former Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos
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Morelos did score goals at HJK Helsinki and at Rangers. Plenty of them. Yet, he never came across as a terribly clean striker of the ball and the less said about his overall attitude at times, the better.
Igamane, with 13 goals this season and 12 in his last 14 appearances, is really showing the cold, merciless eye of the assassin. Off the field, he seems to have his head right too.
Cyriel Dessers’ quotes this week certainly give the distinct impression he senses his tea’s out thanks to Igamane’s rise. And not before time.
Where Igamane can go remains to be seen. There’s no question, though, that Rangers have found a hugely exciting talent from an unlikely source in him.
It’s maybe natural to draw parallels with Morelos, but that’s a pretty low bar to aim for. This is a bloke who did well to put himself in the shop window in the lightly-regarded leagues of Finland and Scotland and then blew it, falling off the face of the map at a poor Santos in Brazil and being loaned out to Atletico Nacional back where he started in Colombia.
Igamane seems the type to grasp the thistle in a more single-minded manner. And where better for him to showcase his abilities to a wider audience than on the platform of Old Trafford in a few days’ time.
Do something there and he might just be the fellow to get Rangers’ infamous ‘player-trading model’ properly up and running after all this time.
