One of the greatest - Alex Ferguson leads tributes at funeral of Denis Law

Alex Ferguson led the tributes to Denis Law as the football community paid their final respects to ‘the King’ in Manchester.

An exquisite footballer and a brilliant man, the much-loved former Manchester United and Manchester City forward died aged 84 on January 17th.

Law remains the only Scottish player to have ever won the Ballon d’Or and no man has scored more goals for the national team.

Kenny Dalglish is joint top with him on 30 goals and was among the mourners as Law was remembered in the heart of the city on which he left an indelible mark.

Former boss Ferguson was one of many United stars past and present at Tuesday’s funeral and paid a heartfelt tribute during the service inside Manchester Cathedral.

“Denis Law was one of the greatest players at Man United,” he said. “Doesn’t matter what time, all the time.

“Part of the Holy Trinity with Sir Bobby (Charlton) and George (Best) at a club that has nourished many greats and stars as far back as Sir Matt Busby’s days, who cemented our history as we know it today.

“Trying to place Denis in the pantheon of the great players is made easier by Pele. Pele was asked was there any British player who could play for the Brazil team. He said without equivocation, Denis Law. It was a fantastic tribute when you consider what a great player he was.”

The hearse made its way into the city centre from Old Trafford, where hundreds of fans congregated as the funeral cortege passed a ground where Law’s success saw him immortalised in two statues.

One of those looms over the East Stand forecourt, with Law stood with his right arm aloft between fellow United greats Best and Charlton. That ‘United Trinity’ statue faces one of former manager Matt Busby.

Law’s daughter Diana Buckley – one of