Law was one of the most revered players on the planet by then. And one of the most worshipped in his homeland.
Scotland didn’t lack football icons in those days – the Lisbon Lions had just become immortal – but a certain day at Wembley in 1967 just added to Law’s legend.
In inspiring a victory over the then world champions, he elevated himself to a new level. Law didn’t just want to beat England, he wanted to batter them into the ground and he made no secret of it.
In a Scotland career that lasted 16 years and brought 30 goals in 55 games, that was a day that will live forever.
That year, 1967, saw United win the league again, a mere warm-up routine for what was to follow in 1968.
Sadly, Law missed out on the glory of Wembley and the emotion of Busby’s team winning the European Cup a decade after his Babes perished in Munich.
He was injured for the semi-final and final. His body was beginning to fail. Cortisone injections were required more often to get him through.
On the night of the final he was in a Manchester hospital recovering from a knee operation. Busby arrived at his bed-side the day after with the trophy.
Law recovered, scored 30 in 45 games in 1968-69, but the great United force was about to unravel.
Busby left to be replaced by Wilf McGuinness. McGuinness left to be replaced by Frank O’Farrell. O’Farrell left to be replaced by Tommy Docherty.
The good times had gone. And, soon, Law would be gone, too.
It hurt him, no doubt about it. He rejoined City even though he was coming to the end of the road.
In City’s last game of the 1973-74 season, against a relegation-haunted United at Old Trafford, Law famously scored with a back-heel which gave City a 1-0 lead with nine minutes left to play.
United got relegated. The story has been retold many times, in almost poetic terms, about how Law sealed the fate of the club he loved the most, but he didn’t.
Results elsewhere meant they were going down regardless of what Law did, but it bothered him none the less. “I seldom felt so depressed as I did that weekend,” he said later.
Law went to the World Cup in 1974 and began the season with City, but retired almost immediately on 10 August. His body had had enough.
His greatness had been established long, long before he kicked his last ball and it will endure, through the generations and for all-time.
