Law was then one of the most revered actors on the planet. And one of the most revered in his native land.
Scotland had no shortage of footballing icons in those days – the Lisbon Lions had just become immortal – but a certain day at Wembley in 1967 only added to Law’s legend.
By 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 crush them and he made no secret of it.
In a Scottish career that spanned 16 years and saw 30 goals in 55 games, it was a day that will live on forever.
That year, 1967, United won the championship 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 side winning the European Cup a decade after his Babes died in Munich.
He was injured for the semi-final and the final. His body was starting to weaken. Cortisone injections were needed more often to cope.
On the night of the final he was in a Manchester hospital recovering from knee surgery. Busby arrived at his bedside the next day with the trophy.
Law recovered, scoring 30 goals in 45 games in 1968-69, but United’s great strength was on the verge of collapse.
Busby left to be replaced by Wilf McGuinness. McGuinness left and was replaced by Frank O’Farrell. O’Farrell left and was replaced by Tommy Docherty.
The good times were over. And soon, Law would disappear too.
It hurt, there was no doubt about it. He joined City just as he was reaching the end of the road.
In City’s final match of the 1973-74 season, against relegation-haunted United at Old Trafford, Law scored with a backheel that gave City a 1-0 lead with nine minutes remaining.
United were relegated. The story has been told many times, in almost poetic terms, of how Law sealed the fate of the club he loved most, but he didn’t.
The results elsewhere meant they were decreasing regardless of what Law did, but it bothered him nonetheless. “I have rarely felt as depressed as I did that weekend,” he later said.
Law appeared in the World Cup in 1974 and started the season with City, but retired almost immediately on 10 August. His body had had enough.
His greatness was established long before he kicked his last ball and it will endure, through generations and forever.
