Denis Law facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Denis Law
CBE

Law in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Denis Law
Date of birth	(1940-02-24)24 February 1940
Place of birth	Woodside, Aberdeen, Scotland
Date of death	17 January 2025(2025-01-17) (aged 84)
Place of death	Aberdeen, Scotland
Playing position	Centre forward
Youth career
1955–1956	Huddersfield Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1956–1960	Huddersfield Town	81	(16)
1960–1961	Manchester City	44	(21)
1961–1962	Torino	27	(10)
1962–1973	Manchester United	309	(171)
1973–1974	Manchester City	24	(9)
Total		458	(227)
National team
1959–1961	Scotland U23	3	(1)
1958–1974	Scotland	55	(30)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Denis Law (born 24 February 1940 – died 17 January 2025) was a famous Scottish footballer. He played as a forward, which means he was usually trying to score goals. His amazing career started in 1956 with Huddersfield Town.

After four years, he moved to Manchester City for a record fee of £55,000. This was a huge amount of money for a player back then! He only stayed there for one year. Then, Torino in Italy bought him for an even bigger record fee of £110,000.

Even though he played well in Italy, he found it hard to get used to life there. So, in 1962, he joined Manchester United for another British record fee of £115,000.

Law spent 11 years at Manchester United. He scored an incredible 237 goals in 404 games. This makes him the third highest goal scorer in the club's history! Fans called him The King or The Lawman. He was also part of the famous "United Trinity" with Bobby Charlton and George Best.

In 1964, Denis Law won the Ballon d'Or award. This award goes to the best football player in Europe. He is the only Scottish player ever to win it! He helped Manchester United win the league title in 1965 and 1967. They also won the FA Cup in 1963. He missed the 1968 European Cup final win because of an injury.

In 1973, Law left Manchester United and went back to Manchester City for one season. He also played for Scotland in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Denis Law played 55 times for Scotland and scored 30 goals. This is a record for Scotland, shared with another player. He also holds a Manchester United record for scoring 46 goals in one season!

Early Life and First Steps in Football

Denis Law was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He was the youngest of seven children. His family wasn't rich. They lived in a small flat. He often went barefoot until he was 12 years old. His first football boots were a second-hand birthday gift.

He loved football and supported Aberdeen. He would watch them play whenever he had enough money. He even turned down a place at a good school because it would have made him play rugby instead of football! He went to another school where he could play football. Even though he had a serious eye problem, he was a very promising player. He was even chosen to play for Scotland Schoolboys.

Club Career Highlights

Huddersfield Town

In 1955, when he was 14, a scout from Huddersfield Town saw him play. The manager wasn't sure about him at first. He thought Law looked "weak" and "puny." But they still signed him on 3 April 1955. While at Huddersfield, he had an operation to fix his eye problem. This made him feel much more confident.

Huddersfield was in the Second Division, which made it easier for Law to play. He made his first team debut on 24 December 1956. He was only sixteen! Manchester United tried to buy him for £10,000, but Huddersfield said no.

Manchester City

In March 1960, Law joined Manchester City. This move cost £55,000, a new British record fee. Manchester United had also tried to sign him, but City got him first.

He made his debut for City on 19 March, scoring a goal. In 1961, he scored two goals in a game that helped City stay in the top division. He once scored six goals in an FA Cup match against Luton Town. But the game was stopped before the end, so his goals didn't count! City then lost the replay. Even though he liked playing for City, he wanted to play for a more successful team.

Torino (Italy)

In the summer of 1961, Law moved to Torino in Italy. The fee was £110,000, a record for a British player. Life in Italy was very different. Players were treated like stars. But Law found the style of football difficult. Italian teams often played very defensively, which meant forwards didn't get many chances to score.

In February 1962, he was in a car crash with a teammate. Law was not badly hurt. By April, he wanted to leave Torino. He was sent off in a match, and he felt it was unfair. He decided to go back home to Scotland. He eventually signed for Manchester United on 10 July 1962. This was for a new British record fee of £115,000.

Even though his time in Italy was mixed, Law was voted the best foreign player there. He learned a lot about different cultures and medical care in sports. But he found the football too defensive and not much fun.

Manchester United

Years of Glory

Law on a statue at Old Trafford with George Best and Bobby Charlton. They are known as the "United Trinity".

Denis Law returned to Manchester and joined Manchester United. His first game for United was on 18 August 1962. He scored a goal after only seven minutes! United's team was still rebuilding after the Munich air disaster in 1958. They struggled a bit that season.

However, they did well in the FA Cup. Law scored three goals in a 5–0 win against his old club, Huddersfield Town. United reached the final against Leicester City. Leicester were the favorites, but Law scored the first goal. United won 3–1, and it was the only FA Cup final of his career. He also got married to his wife, Diana, that season.

In the 1963–64 season, Law scored many goals. He was chosen to play for a "Rest of the World" team against England at Wembley. He scored their only goal in a 2–1 loss. He said this was the greatest honor of his career. He scored 46 goals that season, which is still a club record today!

In the 1964–65 season, Law won the Ballon d'Or award. Manchester United also won their first league title since the Munich disaster. Law was the top scorer in the league with 28 goals.

The next season, Law hurt his right knee while playing for Scotland. He had already had an operation on that knee. This injury caused him problems for the rest of his career.

In 1968, United won the European Cup for the first time. But Law's knee injury was very bad, and he missed the final. He often had injections to help with the pain. But playing with the injury was causing long-term damage.

Later Years and Injuries

In the 1969–70 season, Law missed most of the games because of his injury. United finished eighth in the league. In April 1970, the club tried to sell him, but no one made an offer. So, he stayed at United.

United had a new manager, Frank O'Farrell, in 1971. They started the 1971–72 season very well. Law scored twelve goals, and they were at the top of the league. But their results got worse, and they finished eighth. Law's knee injury continued to bother him.

In the summer of 1973, after 11 years, Denis Law left Manchester United. He had scored 237 goals in 404 games. Only Bobby Charlton and Wayne Rooney have scored more goals for United.

Return to Manchester City

After leaving United, Law was offered a contract by Manchester City. He scored two goals in his first game back for City in the 1973–74 season. He played in 27 games that season.

In City's last game of the 1973–74 season, they played Manchester United at Old Trafford. Law scored a goal against his old team. He didn't celebrate the goal because he thought it might cause United to be relegated. However, other results meant United would be relegated anyway. Law walked off the pitch with his head down. The game was stopped early because fans ran onto the field.

Law had a contract for the 1974–75 season. But the new manager told him he would only play for the reserve team. Law didn't want to end his career like that. So, he retired from professional football in the summer of 1974. His last professional game was on 10 August 1974.

International Career for Scotland

Denis Law played for Scotland for the first time on 18 October 1958. He scored Scotland's second goal in a 3–0 win against Wales. He played in a match against England in 1961, which Scotland lost 9–3. He called it his "blackest day."

In 1963, Law was chosen for a "Rest of the World" team that played against England. He scored the only goal for the World team.

Law scored in Scotland's famous 3–2 win over England on 15 April 1967. This was less than a year after England had won the World Cup! Law said this win was even more satisfying than Manchester United winning the league that season.

Scotland reached the World Cup finals in 1974. This was their first time since 1958. Law was in the team and played in their first match against Zaire. Scotland won 2–0. He was disappointed not to play in the next games. Scotland didn't lose any matches, but they didn't make it to the next round. The game against Zaire was Law's last of 55 appearances for Scotland.

Denis Law holds the record for most goals scored for Scotland, with 30 goals.

Personal Life and Legacy

Denis Law met his wife, Diana, when they were teenagers. They got married in December 1962 and had five children. Their daughter, also named Diana, worked for Manchester United.

After he stopped playing football, Law often worked on radio and television. He would talk about games and present sports news. He was also a special guest on a TV show called This Is Your Life.

Statue of Denis Law at Aberdeen Sports Village.

In 2002, he was added to the English Football Hall of Fame. A statue of Law, George Best, and Bobby Charlton was put up at Old Trafford, Manchester United's stadium. He received special awards from universities in Scotland. The famous Dutch footballer Dennis Bergkamp was named after Denis Law!

In 2012, Law started the Denis Law Legacy Trust. This charity helps young people through sports and activities. It aims to reduce youth crime and promote health. A statue of Law was also put up at Aberdeen Sports Village.

In 2016, he was given a high honor called the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This was for his services to football and charity. In 2017, he received the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen.

In August 2021, it was announced that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Denis Law passed away on 17 January 2025, at the age of 84.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Honours

Manchester United

• Football League First Division: 1964–65, 1966–67
• FA Cup: 1962–63
• FA Charity Shield: 1965, 1967
• European Cup: 1967–68

Scotland

• British Home Championship: 1959–60 (shared), 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64 (shared), 1966–67, 1971–72 (shared)

Individual

• Ballon d'Or: 1964
• World Soccer World XI: 1964
• European Cup top scorer: 1968–69
• Football League 100 Legends: 1998
• PFA Merit Award: 1975
• Scottish FA International Roll of Honour (players with 50+ caps): inducted in 1988
• FWA Tribute Award: 1994
• Inaugural Inductee of the English Football Hall of Fame: 2002
• Scotland's Golden Player: Most Outstanding Player of the past 50 years by the Scottish Football Association (November 2003, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee)
• Scottish Football Hall of Fame: inducted in 2004
• PFA Team of the Century (1907–1976): 2007
• Freedom of Aberdeen: 2017

See also

In Spanish: Denis Law para niños

• List of footballers in England by number of league goals (200+)
• List of Scotland national football team captains
• List of Scotland national football team hat-tricks
• List of top international men's football goalscorers by country