Alex McLeish reveals invaluable Denis Law inspiration as he remembers 'absolute genius' for Scotland and Man Utd

The stairs that led to a Barrhead field were a far cry from Old Trafford or Wembley. But every time a young Alex McLeish watched Denis Law on TV that’s where he headed.

Whether it was Manchester United ’s victory in the 1968 European Cup Final or when Scotland became unofficial world champions by beating England a year before – he was mesmerised by the iconic striker. He would batter a ball against those stairs near his home pretending it was a set of goals. McLeish didn’t just idolise Law – he wanted to BE him. That’s why the news of his passing on Friday hit the former Scotland manager hard.

As a player, he scaled heights himself as a player for Aberdeen and his country. Along the way, he got to meet The Lawman either at Scotland squad gatherings, trips to Manchester to see Sir Alex Ferguson – or more recently at a charity dinner in the Granite City. McLeish says Law would be worth a fortune in today’s transfer market. But it’s the legacy he’s left and the influence he had on young players like himself that he reckons is invaluable.

Law lost his battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia at the age of 84. Incredibly, it was 57 years ago that he impacted McLeish’s life for the first time. He told MailSport : “I remember watching Denis at Wembley in 1967 with Scotland when we won 3-2 then a year later winning the European Cup with Man United.

“I’d have been eight or nine years old at the time and lived in Barrhead. I’ll never forget running out of our house after those games. We had a big set of stairs that led up to the field where me and my pals would play football.

“But before we got there, you had to go up these stairs. On the way, we’d make a goal out of the stairs. And I remember immediately after