It ranks among football's most famous and copied goal celebrations: right arm raised, the cuff of his shirt gripped in his hand and index finger pointing to the sky.It was typical of the flamboyant way Denis Law reacted to more than 300 goals in a career that featured stays at Manchester United and Manchester City, who meet on Sunday.
The last one he ever scored goal was an exception.
Yes, it was typically instinctive as Law back-heeled in a pass during a derby at Old Trafford.
And it came on the ground where he scored the majority of his club goals as he became a United legend in an 11-year stay that ended in 1973.
But, as all fans of the Manchester rivals are aware, this goal came in 1974, and was scored AGAINST United on the day they were relegated from the old First Division.
Law had joined City the previous summer after being freed by United, sowing the seed for a quite remarkable derby at the climax of the season. The story has passed into football folklore, yet warrants retelling again
The date was April 27 and United needed to win to have any hope of avoiding relegation.
The reasons they were in such trouble were obvious during a poor game of few chances until Francis Lee went on a diagonal run inside the United area in the 81st minute.
Lee crossed and, with three defenders around him, Law produced the back-heel that ensured United's pursuit of the two points available for a win at that time. .
Mike Doyle, the City skipper and renowned for his hatred of United, raced half the length of the pitch to celebrate, only to find Law quietly walking away with his head bowed.
The Scot believed he had relegated his beloved United, although results elsewhere meant that even a victory over City would not have rescued them.
That was little consolation for Law, who said later that he has rarely felt more miserable than he did on that Saturday evening.
He was substituted shortly after the goal and never played another League game. The final goal of his career was the only one he didn't want to score.
The game was abandoned before the end after United fans went on the pitch, but the result stood and United were down.
They were back within one season, however, and have gone on to dominate City to such an extent that the Sky Blues have finished above them in the table only once in the last 30 years - in 1991.
They are still below United going into the latest derby, but only goal difference separates them and City have played one game fewer.
Manchester now possesses two clubs with title ambitions and nobody is more delighted than Denis Law.
