Sir Rod Stewart's touching goodbye to 'The King' of football Denis Law

Stars including Sir Alex Ferguson, Bryan Robson and Wayne Rooney astatine the ceremonial (Image: Getty Images)

On Tuesday, paying tribute astatine the ceremonial packed with 750 guests, legendary ex-United brag Sir Alex Ferguson said: "He would combat his granny for a goal. He had truthful overmuch courage. A skinny feline lasting by each those large defenders.

"Trying to spot Denis successful the pantheon of all-time greats is simply a challenge. But it is made easier by Pele.

"He was asked if determination was a British subordinate who could get successful the [great] Brazil team. He said Denis Law - which is simply a fantastic tribute. He loved Scotland and helium loved beating England.

"He erstwhile lined up earlier a crippled against England. He loved Nobby Stiles and Nobby worshipped him. Nobby came bounding down the passageway and wished Denis each the best.

"Denis gave him a withering look and fto disconnected a volley of maltreatment Nobby ne'er forgot."

One of Law's heartbroken daughters Diana Buckley led tributes to her "inspirational" father, who contempt being calved with show problems, had the idiosyncratic spot to execute greatness.

She said: "Despite each beingness threw astatine this skinny, squinty-eyed boy, helium looked adversity successful the oculus but didn't blink."

Referring to her father's erstwhile teammates and chap United legends Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best, she said: "There's an Englishman, Irishman and a Scotsman successful eden smiling down.

"I'd similar to deliberation they've started a squad with each the others and mum connected the sidelines making them a cupful of tea."

Ms Buckley told however erstwhile Law was increasing up, his begetter worked 5 days a week and determination wasn’t overmuch worldly wealthiness but his upbringing was "emotionally rich" - and shot became his passion.

She said helium would play shot with friends successful the thoroughfare "even erstwhile determination wasn't an existent ball", learning to play "with 1 oculus closed" owed to his squint.

Current United manager Ruben Amorim joined fans, dignitaries and figures from the footballing satellite for the work - alongside squad players specified arsenic Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire.

Manchester United's Harry Maguire leaving Manchester Cathedral (Image: PA)

Sir Rod Stewart's ceremonial bouquet enactment summed up the grief of generations of Manchester United and City fans arsenic they said goodbye to Denis Law: "You are, and ever volition be, my footballing hero."

Dubbed 'The King' astatine Old Trafford, Law was 1 of the top stars successful Manchester United's past and the club's 3rd all-time apical scorer with 237 goals successful 404 appearances from 1962-1973.

The Scottish striker was the past subsister of the iconic 'United Trinity', with legends Sir Bobby Charlton - who died aged 86 successful 2023 - and George Best, who passed distant successful 2005 aged 59.

And arsenic the greats of the crippled entered Manchester Cathedral for his funeral, the hearse dilatory passed the Theatre of Dreams - and the celebrated statue of Law with limb aloft, betwixt his pals Best and Charlton.

Hundreds of bouquets were brought to the cathedral and laid extracurricular Old Trafford, but 1 that struck a chord with Scotland fans was sent by Celtic supporter, Sir Rod Stewart, 80.

The bluish flowers, successful tribute to Law's 30 goals successful 50 internationals and the lone Scot to ever triumph the Ballon d’Or, came with a enactment that read: "You are, and ever volition be, my footballing hero."

Born successful Aberdeen, Law began his vocation with Huddersfield Town, besides had a spell successful Italy with Torino and was capped 55 times for his state - his 30 goals making him Scotland's associated apical scorer of each time.

He was sold for a British grounds interest 3 times during his vocation and doubly played for City - wearing the aforesaid fig '10' garment helium wore astatine United.

But past period his household revealed the father-of-five had died aged 84 aft a "tough battle" with Alzheimer's illness and vascular dementia and said helium was "finally present astatine peace."

Flowers sent by Sir Rod Stewart astatine Manchester Cathedral (Image: PA)

Denis Law with George Best (Image: Mirrorpix)

Denis Law signs for Manchester City (Image: Mirrorpix)

The coffin of Manchester United, Manchester City and Scotland guardant Denis Law leaving ceremonial (Image: PA)

Old Trafford icons Brian Kidd, Alex Stepney and Willie Morgan were among Law’s erstwhile United team-mates astatine the funeral, arsenic was erstwhile City team-mate Mike Summerbee.

Bryan Robson, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Pete Schmeichel and Ruud van Nistelrooy were others astatine the service.

Retired goalkeeper Stepney, 82, suggested present Law has been reunited with Charlton and Best they'll beryllium "picking the team!" successful heaven.

Bryan Robson, 68, added: "Everyone had their peculiar infinitesimal with him."

Ex-United guardant and chap Scot Brian McClair, 61, told however Law gave him immoderate tongue-in-cheek proposal erstwhile helium archetypal came to play astatine Old Trafford successful the precocious 80s.

McClair, who antecedently played for Motherwell and Celtic, said: "Denis said to maine ‘Don’t people hat-tricks due to the fact that they’ll expect that each game. Just people two’."

Outside the cathedral Sir Alex added that Law was "the champion Scottish subordinate of each time. He summarised a Scotsman, the warring element, helium could combat successful an bare house! An unthinkable quality being."

Brian Kidd, who won the European Cup with United successful 1968 and played alongside Law for respective seasons, said: 'When Denis won the Ballon d'Or successful 1964, I signed arsenic an apprentice for United.

"His humility was superb. You wouldn't judge helium was a superstar. Down to earth, specified a beauteous person. The Trinity epitomise what Manchester United is each astir - it's successful the soul. Great radical person been the backbone of the club."

The ceremonial took spot astatine Manchester Cathedral (Image: PA)

Outside the cathedral fans lined up to spot the coffin - which arrived successful a hearse with flowers that spelled 'Law 10' wrong - and wage their ain respects.

The ceremonial procession arrived astatine the cathedral to the dependable of bagpipes playing Flower of Scotland. Sir Rod Stewart's rendition of Angel was played arsenic the work ended.

United instrumentality John Bateman, 72, a erstwhile roseate grower, from Warrington, said: "I americium primitively from Yorkshire truthful erstwhile I moved, I went circular each the northbound westbound clubs looking for a section squad to support.

"I came to Old Trafford and saw Denis people 3 goals against Chelsea and the remainder is history. He was a large goalscorer and my favourite player. He was my all-time hero."

Wife Linda Bateman, 69, said: "I worked successful the nine store and helium erstwhile came successful for a publication signing. I walked into the brew country and helium was sat there.

"I rung my hubby consecutive distant to archer him who I was having a brew with! He was a existent gentleman."

Thomas McGuire, 75, said: "I met him a fewer times astatine after-dinner speeches. He was a large lad and ever had clip for you.

"He was a great, large footballer and a large goalscorer. One of the champion I person seen, without doubt. I erstwhile saw him people for goals successful a lucifer - each headers! He was truthful talented."

More than 1,000 fans besides gathered astatine Old Traford to applaud arsenic the cortege passed the stadium, pausing astatine the Trinity statue - earlier it travelled connected to Manchester Cathedral.

Black and achromatic images of Law stretched down the beforehand of the stadium's East Stand wherever a publication of condolence was unfastened and flags flied astatine half-mast successful representation of 1 of the club’s top ever.

The backstage aftermath was aboriginal held astatine Old Trafford.