The fact that Denis Law will always be held in high esteem by fans of both Manchester United and Manchester City shows just what a unique figure he was.
The former Scotland star’s passing at the age of 84 in January 2025 prompted heartfelt tributes from across the football world, including the two clubs in England where he spent the most memorable times of his esteemed career.
After developing at Huddersfield Town and seeing possible transfers to United and Liverpool fall through, Law signed for Man City in 1960 for a fee of around £55,000, which was a British record at the time. He returned to City before he retired, scoring an infamous backheel goal at Old Trafford on the last day of the 1973/74 season, when United were relegated. Law did not celebrate the goal that, in his mind, had sent his old team down (other results meant United’s fate was sealed anyway) and prompted pitch invasions that later saw the game abandoned.
An icon who will be dearly missed by so many ❤️ pic.twitter.com/NiU0vD8bv0
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 17, 2025
But that derby winner, cherished by those of a sky blue persuasion, did little to tarnish his legacy on the red side of the city. In truth, it’s unlikely that anything could; not for nothing is he still known today as “The King of the Stretford End”.
Law’s achievements under Sir Matt Busby, playing alongside George Best and Bobby Charlton, went beyond trivial matters like getting relegated by your local rivals.
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Who were the United Trinity?
The “United Trinity”, or “United Holy Trinity” is a name given to the team’s star trio of the 1960s: Denis Law, George Best, and Bobby Charlton.
🔴 Denis Law (1940-2025)
🔴 Sir Bobby Charlton (1937-2023)
🔴 George Best (1946-2005)Man United’s ‘Holy Trinity’ has finally been reunited in the next life… ❤️🙇♂️
Their legendary legacy will forever live on at Man United, Old Trafford and beyond. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/P8CD0fHYeJ
— United In Focus (@UnitedInFocus) January 17, 2025
Charlton, a goal-scoring midfielder of great renown, signed for United as a 15-year-old and became one of the fabled “Busby Babes” — the group of youngsters who progressed to become key parts of the first team under Busby’s management. It was this team that was decimated by the Munich Air Disaster of 1958, in which eight United players were killed and Charlton survived after being helped from the wreckage by teammate Harry Gregg.
Law, a striker whom Busby had tried to sign at least twice previously, joined United in August 1962 after excelling for Torino in Italy. At this stage, United were still rebuilding the team following the tragedy of Munich: Law’s return of 29 goals in 44 games, including in the FA Cup final victory of 1963, was even more impressive given the team finished in 19th in the league and only narrowly avoided relegation.
But Law’s performances, plus the cup win, were signs that a potentially special team was developing. In September 1963, a good-looking and prodigiously gifted 17-year-old winger named George Best made his league debut at Old Trafford. In the reverse fixture in January 1964, Law, Best, and Charlton all started a United game together for the first time. All scored in a 4-1 win. The “Trinity” was born.
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Did Law, Best and Charlton win the Ballon d’Or at Man United?
In the years that followed, the trio were at the heart of an exciting, attack-minded United team that won two First Division titles and the club’s first European Cup in 1968, 10 years on from Munich. Between them, Law, Best and Charlton scored 665 goals in 1,632 games across all competitions, and each of them won the coveted Ballon d’Or — Law in 1964, Charlton in 1966, and Best in 1968 — underlining their status as three of the greatest footballers in the world. It remains the only time that three players have won the award while playing together for the same team, and only Cristiano Ronaldo has won it since as a United player.
Beyond the statistics, the trio were recognised for the entertainment they provided when they played together — even when they did not always get along. Former teammate Paddy Crerand recalled: “Right away, you could see the great chemistry between them. Great players know how to play together. However tough the match was, you always knew Bobby could unleash one of his strikes from God-knows-where, Denis would make something out of nothing inside the box, or George would just do something magical.”
The trinity was broken up when Law, struggling with injuries by this time, left United for City in 1973. Charlton called time on his United career in the same offseason, and Best left a year later.
Where is the Law, Best and Charlton statue at Old Trafford?
A statue commemorating Law, Best and Charlton was unveiled outside Old Trafford in 2008, 40 years on from their European Cup success. The work of sculptor Philip Jackson, it stands outside the stadium’s east stand and depicts the three players standing shoulder to shoulder, appearing to salute their old boss: Busby is immortalised in bronze on the other side of the walkway, beneath the light-up letters spelling out the name of the club he transformed.
Best, Law, Charlton.
The United Trinity will live forever 🖤 pic.twitter.com/iEF69SN0K1
— centredevils. (@centredevils) January 17, 2025
Best had died three years earlier at just 59 after a long spell in hospital, during which Charlton and Law were among the last people to visit him. Charlton died in October 2023, aged 86, after battling dementia. Law had also been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in August 2021.
