Manchester United legend Denis Law has revealed that he has been diagnosed with “mixed dementia” and wants to be open about his health and condition.
Law, who turned 81 earlier this year, said he is already experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, which have caused him distress but are keen to address the situation while he still can.
In a lengthy statement shared by the club, Law said: “I’m at the point where I feel I want to be open about my condition. I have been diagnosed with “mixed dementia”, which is more than one type of dementia, in my case, this is Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. This has been an extremely difficult year for everyone and the long periods of isolation have really not helped.
“It is an incredibly challenging and problematic disease and I have seen many friends go through this. You hope it will not happen to you, even joking about it while ignoring the early signs because you do not want it to be true. You get angry, frustrated, confused and then worried, worried about your family, because they are the ones dealing with it.
“But it’s time to deal with this, excuse the joke. I recognize how my brain deteriorates and how my memory avoids me when I do not want to and how this causes me distress in situations beyond my control. I understand what’s going on and that’s why I want to address my situation now while I can, because I know there will be days when I do not understand and I hate the thought of it right now.
“I know the road ahead will be hard, demanding, painful and ever-changing and ask for understanding and patience because it will not be an easy journey, especially for the people who love you the most.”
Law said it does not want people to be ” sad if I forget places, people or dates because you have to remember that I enjoyed all those memories’ ‘and added that he considers himself lucky to have experienced a’ loving and supportive family, a great career doing what I loved and getting paid to do it, and lifelong friends.
He continued: “I have good days and bad days and aim to take every day as it will adapt my lifestyle accordingly,” he went on to explain that he will no longer be able to sign shirts and memorabilia as he did before over years.
Law said he is “trying to be positive” and wants to continue watching United matches at Trafford, as well as trying to continue his engagement with the “Denis Law Legacy Trust”.
Law scored 237 goals in 404 Man Utd matches between 1962 and 1973 / Keystone / Getty Images
Law’s daughter, Di, completes the challenge “The Thames Bridges Trek” on September 11 to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society and a link is included in his statement so fans can donate.
Law was born in Aberdeen and began his senior football career with Huddersfield at the age of 16 and went on to Manchester City for a British record fee of £ 55,000 in 1960. The following year he went to Turin for £ 110,000, a record fee involving a British player, but returned to England in 1962 to join Manchester United for another record fee, this time £ 115,000.
Law immediately helped United win their first trophy since Munich’s 1958 air disaster in the form of the FA Cup in 1963 and scored at least 24 goals in all competitions during six of his first seven seasons at Old Trafford. His total of 46 goals in 42 games in the 1963/64 campaign is still a club record for goals in a single season and helped the Scots win the Ballon d’Or.
His relationship on the field with Bobby Charlton and George Best are legendary things and the trio is immortalized in statue form outside the front of Old Trafford.
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