Wayne Rooney reveals Denis Law gave him goalscoring tips after handing him Man Utd’s No10 shirt in emotional tribute
WAYNE ROONEY has paid an emotional tribute to Denis Law by saying: Wearing your No 10 shirt was an honour.
Manchester United are mourning the ‘King of the Stretford End’, who died on Friday aged 84 after battling dementia.
Old Trafford will double as a shrine to the Scot before today’s home clash with Brighton.
There will be a minute’s applause for the man who scored 237 league goals for the Red Devils between 1962 and 1973.
Only two men have scored more for United: Law’s team-mate and fellow great Sir Bobby Charlton — and Rooney himself.
Rooney, a United goal machine from 2004 to 2017, recalled the moment he got Law’s iconic shirt.
He said: “Initially I was No 8 when I joined Manchester United but when Ruud van Nistelrooy left, Denis presented me with the No 10 shirt.
“That was a huge honour for me to have one of the club legends present me with that shirt — to wear that number was such a huge thing.”
Law famously scored against United for Manchester City in 1974 on the day the former European champions were relegated.
He had two short spells at City as well as turning out for Huddersfield and Italian outfit Torino.
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But it was United that always remained closest to his heart and he was a regular visitor to Old Trafford in retirement.
His family also felt the same way, with daughter Di becoming press officer during the glory days under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Rooney, 39, speaking to BBC Five Live, added: “He was always very helpful with lots of advice over the years. He was a great guy to speak to.
“When you join this football club you do a lot of learning about the history and Denis was certainly one of the main players.
“His daughter worked at the club so I became quite close with the family. Every time I met Denis he gave me good advice about scoring goals and tried to help me as much as he could.
“It was really sad when I heard the news so I want to pass on my condolences to his family as well. He was not just a football legend — a real family man has left us.”
Van Nistelrooy also paid tribute to Law, who was his neighbour when the Leicester boss played at Old Trafford.
He said: “I used to go round for coffee. Time just passed by talking about life, his career and football. It was just lovely.
“He was the most humble person you could ever meet for someone who has a statue outside Old Trafford. And he had the biggest heart.
“I could get some things off my chest and he had a great sense of humour, too. It was very helpful — and it was ever so special.”
Ex-United captain Gary Neville, 49, said: “I know he was Sir Alex Ferguson’s favourite player.
“I spent some time with him, which was a great privilege, and got to know him as a great gentleman with great humour but humble, carrying no arrogance about his career at all.
“My dad and my grandad went to Manchester United from the age of five and talked about Law, Best and Charlton, the three most famous players to have played for Manchester United.
“Denis was absolutely brilliant company. He was humble in his greatness — which is the best tribute I can pay him.”
Law was also involved in charity work in retirement and set up the Denis Law Legacy Trust back in 2012.
Neville added: “The work he did in terms of raising his voice about Alzheimer’s and prostate cancer.
“He was brave on the pitch, I know from what everyone has said that he didn’t mess around, but he was also brave off it. He will be sadly missed.”
Music legend Sir Rod Stewart also paid tribute to Law on Instagram, sharing a photo of them together, with the message: “Farewell my hero, rest in peace.”
Players and staff will wear black armbands for the Brighton clash, likewise the women’s team for tonight’s derby against Manchester City at the Etihad.
United chief executive Omar Berrada joined hundreds of fans at Old Trafford yesterday morning as flowers, flags and wreaths were laid.
Aberdeen-born Law is immortalised there in a statue alongside Sir Bobby and fellow legend George Best — United’s famous Holy Trinity.
He is the only Scot to win the Ballon d’Or, which he received in 1964.
Law is joint record scorer for Scotland with 30 goals in 55 caps.