Denis Law, the last of Manchester United’s Holy Trinity, dies

The Three Musketeers, a literary human reference, were four. But the “Holy Trinity”, a divine football reminder, were, in fact, three in Manchester United: Bobby Charlton, George Best y Denis Law. Three Ballon d’Ors. The first two having already died, the third has just physically disappeared. They were perishable in the real world, but immortal in the mythological world of football. The “Holy Trinity” has a statue outside OId Trafford.

Denis Law was Scottish, born in Aberdeen, where he died at the age of 84. He came into the world in a humble and large family of fishermen. He got his first boots, a gift from a neighbor, when he was 15 years old. He had recently lost his cognitive faculties and, according to his family’s statement, “he is now at peace.” He formed an iconic trio with Charlton and Best, one of the greatest of all time in any team in any country.

Fast, dribbler, technical and brave in a time of ‘terrible’ defenses, he was a 10 scorer, the third highest in the history of the always prolific United (237 goals), after Wayne Rooney (253) and Charlton himself (249). With Scotland, with the ‘Tartan Army’ he scored 30 goals, the same as Kenny Dalglishin 55 games. Associated with the best history of United and sir Matt Busbywas European champion in 1968, twice in the League (1965 and 1967), once in the FA Cup (1963) and twice in the Super Cup (1965 and 1967).

He won the Ballon d’Or in 1964, ahead of Luis Suarez y Amancio. The only Scot to achieve it. He had started his career at modest Huddersfield Town. Lanky, lanky, far from the strong archetype of the British footballer of the 1950s, he did not attract attention. Instinct saved him Bill Shanklythen manager of the club. But he did not move to Liverpool, but, briefly, to Manchester City, where he scored 21 goals in 44 games. And from there to Torino for 110,000 pounds, a record for transfers from the Premier to soccer.

He bolt prevailing in Italy prevented him from shining. He returned to England in 1962, but not to City, but to United, which was trying to recover from the air tragedy of 1958. With the Busby Boys reached the top. After 11 years with the Red Devilscrossed the local border to return to City in his last year as a professional. United, the club of his life, was close to relegation to the First Division, the second category of football on the Islands.

And because of those things of fate, it was up to Law to send him to the catacombs. His back-heel goal condemned him. Head down, he didn’t celebrate and hung up his boots after that game. There has never been a better nor, also, a sadder moment.