| One of the greatest and most famous soccer | | | | not turn out how he had expected. He did not speak |
| players that Britain has ever produced is Denis Law; | | | | Italian of course and Italian football was defensive |
| aka "the King". | | | | and cynical, not to say actually brutal and violent. |
| Denis Law was a genius in front of goal, who during | | | | During this time though he was playing well enough |
| the 1960s -- the Beatles era -- was the darling of | | | | that he represented the Italian League select, a |
| Manchester United. There, his adoring fans christened | | | | fantastic honour for a foreign player. He was also |
| him "the King". | | | | voted the best foreign player in Italy by the Italian |
| He had all the attributes required of a truly great | | | | press. However, he was not really happy there and |
| striker; fantastic acceleration, great vision, spacial | | | | was glad when Manchester United's legendary |
| awareness, two feet -- he could control and shoot | | | | manager, Matt Busby, came to his rescue in the |
| with either, prodigious leaping and heading ability, | | | | Summer of 1962. |
| bravery and, although he was a slim guy, he could | | | | Law signed for Manchester United for another record |
| look after himself! | | | | transfer fee, this time of 115,000 British Pounds. By |
| During his career he represented not only Scotland | | | | now he was truly one of the most famous soccer |
| (55 caps), but the Italian League XI, the Rest of | | | | players on the planet. And this was to be the start |
| Europe XI and a World XI. He was also voted | | | | of a golden era for both Law and Manchester United. |
| European Footballer of the Year in 1964. | | | | During his time at United and playing alongside the |
| Law was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1940, where | | | | likes of George Best, Bobby Charlton, and Paddy |
| he turned into a fine schoolboy footballer. | | | | Crerrand, he scored 160 goals in 222 games. In 1973, |
| Unfortunately his home team Aberdeen did not | | | | after 11 years at United Law signed once again for |
| recognise his talents early enough, for he was | | | | Manchester City. Although his best playing days were |
| whisked away to Huddersfield Town when he was | | | | behind him at the age of 33, he was still more than |
| barely 15 years old. He played his first professional | | | | good enough to play for a top English team. Not only |
| game for them at the tender age of 16 in 1956, he | | | | that, he was playing well enough to be chosen for |
| was that talented. | | | | Scotland in the 1974 World Cup! |
| By the time he was 19, he was already a young goal | | | | However, after representing his beloved country in |
| scorer of immense talent having been called up to | | | | those 1974 World Cup Finals, Denis Law retired from |
| the Scottish national team at the age of 18. Big clubs | | | | football, turning down offers to play in countries all |
| like Arsenal, Chelsea, Glasgow Rangers, West | | | | over the world. |
| Bromwich Albion, Everton and Manchester City were | | | | For those of you too young to have even heard of |
| all showing a keen interest. After much deliberation | | | | Denis Law, ask your father or grandfather. He was |
| he went to Manchester City in 1960 for a then | | | | an absolute goal scoring genius who lit-up every |
| record transfer fee of 55,000 British Pounds. He only | | | | game he played in. And the million dollar question: |
| stayed at City for a year or so, but managed to | | | | Would he have survived in today's game? You bet |
| score 19 goals in 37 league appearances, an excellent | | | | he would. Genius is genius no matter what the era. |
| scoring rate considering City were battling relegation | | | | Denis Law richly deserves the title of "one of the |
| for most of his time there. | | | | most famous soccer players" in the history of the |
| That scoring rate impressed no less than Torino of | | | | game. |
| Italy who Law joined in 1961, but in truth things did | | | | Long live the King! |