Manchester United hero Sammy McIlroy will remember his former team-mate Denis Law as one of football’s greatest ever finishers.
The man dubbed ‘The King’ spent 11 years at Old Trafford, his 237 goals in 404 appearances earning him a place in United’s ‘Holy Trinity’ alongside his great pals George Best and Bobby Charlton.
Ex-Scotland forward Law sadly passed away on Friday aged 84.
He won two League titles with United and was a member of their European Cup-winning side under Sir Matt Busby in 1968 when they became the first English club to lift the trophy. Law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in 2021.
Former Northern Ireland skipper McIlroy has cherished memories of Law showing his class on the Belfast man’s Old Trafford debut.
“Denis was an absolute legend, 100 per cent, one of the greatest strikers ever — no doubt about that,” said McIlroy.
“I trained and played with Denis, he was unbelievable. He was a fantastic man and great for me to see how he was in the dressing room, how he played and trained.
“He was a very sharp, witty man and just a fantastic player.
“In my debut at Old Trafford, after the Manchester City game, I played alongside him against Tottenham, we won 3-1, I scored one and Denis got two. One was an overhead kick which was just unbelievable.
“That was him, he could score any type of goal. He scored two fantastic goals that day on my debut at Old Trafford.
“The Holy Trinity were three world class players who will never be forgotten.
“Sadly they have passed away but the fans will never forget them.”
Law is the only player to have two statues dedicated to him at Old Trafford, one on the Stretford End concourse and the other as part of the ‘United Trinity’ outside the stadium alongside fellow greats George Best and Charlton.
McIlroy felt honoured to rub shoulders with Best, Law and Charlton when he first began training with Sir Matt Busby’s men in the late 1960s as a 14-year-old.
That world class trio had previously received the highest individual accolade in football, known then as the European Footballer of the Year award.
“George, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law were the three main men and they were all that I expected them to be,” said McIlroy.
“Denis was a striker who was electrifying and exciting. The Stretford End called him ‘The King’ and rightly so.
“I learned so much from him, he was sharp and brave, had a great one touch and awareness of the game, knowing where players were.
“He knew where to be in the box and scored some unbelievable goals including overhead kicks, scissor kicks, headers, he did everything — a complete striker.”
Manchester United said everyone at the club is mourning the loss of “the King of the Stretford End”.
They added: “He will always be celebrated as one of the club’s greatest and most beloved players.
“The ultimate goalscorer, his flair, spirit and love for the game made him the hero of a generation.
“Our deepest condolences go out to Denis’ family and many friends.
“His memory will live on forever more.”