- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Bantam Press; First Edition edition (7 Nov 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0593051408
- ISBN-13: 978-0593051405
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.4 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 225,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
"Denis was the best in the business, he could score goals from a hundredth of a chance never mind half of one". George Best. In the 1960s, Denis Law was the King of Old Trafford. When it came to scoring goals, Law was the master, a mercurial genius. Loved by the fans because he always gave his all on the pitch, this fierce Scotsman fought for everything and was afraid of nothing. Having played for Huddersfield and Torino, Law joined United for a new British record transfer fee of #115,000 in August 1962. He scored two goals in his debut game and many more were to follow -160 of them in only 222 games over his first five seasons. Many of them were outrageous, some seemingly impossible, but everything was done with a confident arrogant style the fans found irresistible. Law won the European Footballer of the Year award in 1964 and captained Manchester United on several occasions, helping them win the league twice, in 1965 and 1967, as a member of the legendary trio of Best, Law and Charlton. His 55 Scotland caps include many a clash with England, most famously when they beat the then World Cup holders 3-2 at Wembley in 1967. This book tells the extraordinary story of an Aberdeen boy made good - from humble beginnings Denis Law reached the very pinnacle of soccer fame. Containing entertaining anecdotes about the likes of George Best, Matt Busby and Jimmy Greaves, Denis also lets us know in no uncertain terms his views on the modern game.
From the Back Cover
In the 1960s, Denis Law was the king of Old Trafford. A goal-scoring genius, Law attacked the game (and the occasional opponent) with a dedication and enthusiasm which held his legions of loyal subjects in devoted awe. The deadly triumvirate of Law, George Best and Bobby Charlton swept opposition from its path, and led Manchester United to win the FA Cup in 1963 and the League in 1965 and 1967.
Born in Aberdeen in 1940, Law played his first professional game for Huddersfield in 1956. He moved to Manchester City before being among the very first British players to play on the continent of Europe, joining Torino in 1961. It was in August 1962 that Law moved back to Manchester, this time to United, for a record transfer fee of o115,000. He immediately won the hearts of the Old Trafford crowd by scoring twice in his d'but game. Many more goals were to follow: 160 in 222 matches, many of them spectacular, all of them executed with Law's trademark panache.
Law was European footballer of the year in 1964 and went on to win 55 caps for Scotland. Many of these were titanic clashes with the Auld Enemy, England, including the now legendary 3-2 defeat of the then World Cup-holders at Wembley in 1967.
The King tells the story of an Aberdeen boy who rose to the very pinnacle of footballing excellence from humble beginnings. Packed with hilarious and revelatory behind-the-scenes stories and peopled by Law's fellow football legends like Matt Busby, George Best and Jimmy Greaves, Denis Law's book takes the reader back to the game's glory days. In so doing, we learn why, to his legions of fans, Denis Law was, and will forever remain, the King.
Born in Aberdeen in 1940, Law played his first professional game for Huddersfield in 1956. He moved to Manchester City before being among the very first British players to play on the continent of Europe, joining Torino in 1961. It was in August 1962 that Law moved back to Manchester, this time to United, for a record transfer fee of o115,000. He immediately won the hearts of the Old Trafford crowd by scoring twice in his d'but game. Many more goals were to follow: 160 in 222 matches, many of them spectacular, all of them executed with Law's trademark panache.
Law was European footballer of the year in 1964 and went on to win 55 caps for Scotland. Many of these were titanic clashes with the Auld Enemy, England, including the now legendary 3-2 defeat of the then World Cup-holders at Wembley in 1967.
The King tells the story of an Aberdeen boy who rose to the very pinnacle of footballing excellence from humble beginnings. Packed with hilarious and revelatory behind-the-scenes stories and peopled by Law's fellow football legends like Matt Busby, George Best and Jimmy Greaves, Denis Law's book takes the reader back to the game's glory days. In so doing, we learn why, to his legions of fans, Denis Law was, and will forever remain, the King.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Born in Aberdeen in early 1940, Denis Law was the youngest child in a brood of seven. Small, scrawny and with a severe squint, he somehow grew up to become one of the greatest footballers Scotland has ever produced. He is probably best known as a member of the great Manchester United team of the 1960s, where he played alongside, among others, Bobby Charlton and George Best. Law was the first of the three to be crowned European Footballer of the Year. Signed by the legendary Matt Busby from Torino in 1962 for a then-British record £115,000, he also won two League Championships (64/5 and 66/7) and the F.A. Cup (62/3) with United. He played 55 times for Scotland, and is his country's joint leading scorer with Kenny Dalglish with 30 goals. Unfortunately, he missed the European Cup Final in 1968 through injury.
Law, of course, played for both Manchester clubs. While United signed him from Torino, the Italian club had signed him from Manchester City. Indeed, after being given a free transfer by Tommy Docherty in 1973, he returned to City. Docherty claimed in his own autobiography that he thought 'The King' wasn't worried about how he played and had stopped trying. He decided to give Law a free transfer - Law only found out about this while watching the television in an Aberdeen pub with friends. While Alex Stepney, Law's former team-mate at United, described it as a great injustice and an insult, "The King" is a little more circumspect - though it is clear how disappointed he was.
The following year, 1974, Law is widely credited with scoring the goal that relegated Docherty and United to the Second Division. United would have been relegated anyway, because of results in other games. How Law felt, however, about what he'd done is as obvious from his writing as it was from the television coverage. He finished his playing career that summer - his last professional match was for Scotland in the World Cup Finals.
This book will probably be passed over by most people who don't support either Manchester United or City. In my opinion, that would be a mistake for anyone who follows football. It's a very easily read biography, if a little too diplomatic at times, but Law did more than enough in his career to keep the reader interested. He played for two of Scotland's greatest managers (Shankley at Huddersfield and Busby at United), was one of the first British players to move to Italy (this section of the book is worth its price alone) and played alongside the likes of Kopa, Puskas, di Stefano and Yashin in a 'Rest of the World' selection. At club level, he played alongside George Best - a genius on the pitch and equally as famous for his off-field antics. Best, oddly enough, is the only player to merit a full chapter.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
All Hail The King
26 Feb 2004
Born in Aberdeen in early 1940, Denis Law was the youngest child in a brood of seven. Small, scrawny and with a severe squint, he somehow grew up to become one of the greatest soccer players Scotland has ever produced. He is probably best known as a member of the great Manchester United team of the 1960s, where he played alongside, among others, Bobby Charlton and George Best. Law was the first of the three to be crowned European Footballer of the Year. Signed by the legendary Matt Busby from Torino in 1962 for a then-British record ?115,000, he also won two League Championships (64/5 and 66/7) and the F.A. Cup (62/3) with United. He played 55 times for Scotland, and is his country's joint leading scorer with Kenny Dalglish with 30 goals. Unfortunately, he missed the European Cup Final in 1968 through injury.
Law, of course, played for both Manchester clubs. While United signed him from Torino, the Italian club had signed him from Manchester City. Indeed, after being given a free transfer by Tommy Docherty in 1973, he returned to City. Docherty claimed in his own autobiography that he thought 'The King' wasn't worried about how he played and had stopped trying. He decided to give Law a free transfer - Law only found out about this while watching the television in an Aberdeen pub with friends. While Alex Stepney, Law's former team-mate at United, described it as a great injustice and an insult, "The King" is a little more circumspect - though it is clear how disappointed he was.
The following year, 1974, Law is widely credited with scoring the goal that relegated Docherty and United to the Second Division. United would have been relegated anyway, because of results in other games. How Law felt, however, about what he'd done is as obvious from his writing as it was from the television coverage. He finished his playing career that summer - his last professional match was for Scotland in the World Cup Finals.
I'd certainly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in soccer - even more so if you follow the game in England / Europe. It's a very easily read biography, if a little too diplomatic at times, but Law did more than enough in his career to keep the reader interested. He played for two of Scotland's greatest managers (Shankley at Huddersfield and Busby at United), was one of the first British players to move to Italy (this section of the book is worth its price alone) and played alongside genuine legends such as Kopa, Puskas, di Stefano and Yashin in a 'Rest of the World' selection. At club level, he played alongside George Best - a genius on the pitch and equally as famous for his off-field antics. Best, who played in the NASL with the LA Aztecs, is the only player to merit a full chapter.
Law, of course, played for both Manchester clubs. While United signed him from Torino, the Italian club had signed him from Manchester City. Indeed, after being given a free transfer by Tommy Docherty in 1973, he returned to City. Docherty claimed in his own autobiography that he thought 'The King' wasn't worried about how he played and had stopped trying. He decided to give Law a free transfer - Law only found out about this while watching the television in an Aberdeen pub with friends. While Alex Stepney, Law's former team-mate at United, described it as a great injustice and an insult, "The King" is a little more circumspect - though it is clear how disappointed he was.
The following year, 1974, Law is widely credited with scoring the goal that relegated Docherty and United to the Second Division. United would have been relegated anyway, because of results in other games. How Law felt, however, about what he'd done is as obvious from his writing as it was from the television coverage. He finished his playing career that summer - his last professional match was for Scotland in the World Cup Finals.
I'd certainly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in soccer - even more so if you follow the game in England / Europe. It's a very easily read biography, if a little too diplomatic at times, but Law did more than enough in his career to keep the reader interested. He played for two of Scotland's greatest managers (Shankley at Huddersfield and Busby at United), was one of the first British players to move to Italy (this section of the book is worth its price alone) and played alongside genuine legends such as Kopa, Puskas, di Stefano and Yashin in a 'Rest of the World' selection. At club level, he played alongside George Best - a genius on the pitch and equally as famous for his off-field antics. Best, who played in the NASL with the LA Aztecs, is the only player to merit a full chapter.
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