Football crowds have honoured former Scotland, Manchester United and Manchester City striker Denis Law with a minute of applause before Saturday’s Scottish Cup games.

Tributes have poured in for Law, who died on Friday, aged 84. Born in Aberdeen, Law is the only Scottish player to have won the Ballon d’Or.

Nicknamed “The King” and “The Lawman”, Law spent 11 years at Old Trafford. His 237 goals in 404 appearances placed him third in United’s history behind Wayne Rooney and Bobby Charlton.

First Minister John Swinney said Law was a “great son of Scotland” who was in a “league of his own”.

“He was an incredible sportsman and one of our greatest goalscorers as a country,” he said.

“But despite all of the success Denis delivered on the football pitch, he remained a humble individual who contributed to enhancing the lives of others through his sporting legacy in the city of Aberdeen and countless other places.”

Veteran broadcaster Archie Macpherson said he was adored and respected by players and fans alike and gave Scotland’s national team “credence”.

Denis Law was capped 55 times for his country – his 30 goals making him Scotland’s joint top scorer of all time alongside Kenny Dalglish.

In 2021, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. His family said he fought a “tough battle” but was finally now at peace.

Macpherson, now 90, commentated on Scottish football for over four decades, including many of Law’s matches.

“I got to know him much better when he stopped playing because he got involved in broadcasting,” he told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland programme.

“They always sent Denis north of the border for the significant games and I literally travelled the world with him for European ties and also World Cups, particularly in Mexico.

“Consequently, because of the conversations we had, I felt I was almost a bosom pal, not just somebody who adored him as a punter – which I did.”

Law was 15 when he first signed for Huddersfield Town, and was transferred to Manchester City five years later in 1960 for £55,000.

A year later, he joined Italian side Torino for £110,000 but he found it difficult to settle in Italy and moved to Manchester United for £115,000 in 1962, before ending his career with City in 1974.

Law was part of the United team that became the first from England to lift the European Cup in 1968, although he missed the final through injury.

He was sold for a British record fee three times during his career.

Macpherson remembered watching Law play for the first time in 1961 for Scotland against Czechoslovakia and said his eyes were “glazed over by this man’s brilliance”.

The commentator said that when Law was capped for Scotland, it gave the team “credence”.

“With Denis Law in the team, you always felt he could score a goal,” he said.

“As a consequence, he was respected and also feared around the world no matter where we played.”

He added: “I don’t think there was a kid in Scotland, even a baby in nappies, who couldn’t imitate Denis’ spectacular congratulations and salutations to the terracing with his arm raised ramrod stiff in absolute triumph.”

The Sportscene presenter said he was later “starry eyed” to eventually work with one of his heroes when Law retired from playing and became a pundit.

“He was a super optimist, every time I was with him,” he said.

“Some great footballers sometimes have dark sides – he had none of that. He was a cheery optimist and that’s why the crowd loved him.”

Macpherson said fans adored the star player because of his playful and open personality, as well as his goal-scoring success.

“He always gave them what they wanted from him,” he said.

“I’ve seen him with bundles of people around him talking football in the street, talking as if he were their uncle or grandparent.”

He added: “When you’re talking about Denis Law and Scottish football, you’re talking about one of the great love affairs in the world of football.

“But even when he won awards around Europe, he was just simply a mate to all of the younger players in the team. They were absolutely inspired by him.”

Manchester United’s top goalscorer Wayne Rooney said Law was a “great guy” who had given him lots of advice over the years.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live how he felt “very fortunate” when Law presented him with the number 10 shirt, which he had worn in the 1960s, for the 2007-08 season.

“It was a huge honour for me to have one of the club’s legends present me with that shirt,” he said. “To wear his number for the football club was such a huge thing.

“It was really sad to hear the news of his passing and I want to pass on all my condolences to his family as well.

“It’s a sad moment that not just a football legend but a real family man has left us.”

After retiring from football, Law established the Denis Law Legacy Trust, which operates programmes and activities focused around community engagement and widening sporting participation.

Chief operating officer Mark Williams said Law was a “man of the people”.

“The world is coming to terms with the loss of a really great man,” he said.

“Denis was an inspirational patron of the charity that was founded in his name to make a big difference here in Aberdeen, his home city.

You’ll never meet a more truly proud Aberdonian than Denis Law. He was very passionate about his community and where he came from.”

Eric Davidson, a fan who visited Law’s statue in Aberdeen the day after he died, said the footballer meant a lot to people in the city.

“When you’re playing football at primary school, all you wanted to be was the second Denis Law,” he said.

“He’s always remembered Aberdeen and he’s done a lot for the place. I just think he’s somebody who needs to be remembered.”

His wife Heather Davidson added: “He was an Aberdonian who made Aberdonians very proud.”

Denis Law’s first club, Huddersfield Town, called their former player an “immortal” of football.

They said: “A legend of not only our great club, but an immortal of the sport as a whole, he will be deeply missed and his memory cherished by us all.”

Manchester United said everyone at the club was mourning the loss of “the King of the Stretford End”.

They added: “He will always be celebrated as one of the club’s greatest and most beloved players.

“The ultimate goalscorer, his flair, spirit and love for the game made him the hero of a generation.”

Aberdeen, the team Denis Law supported all his life, said: “Everyone at Aberdeen FC is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Aberdeen-born football legend Denis Law.

“One of Scotland’s greatest ever players, his legacy will live on in the North-east. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

The Scotland national team called Law “a true great”, adding: “We will not see his likes again.”