Former Liverpool skipper Ron Yeats has passed away at the age of 86 after battling Alzheimer’s disease in recent years.
In an homage on its official site, the Anfield club referred to the Scottish defender as a “giant” who served as captain for over 400 matches during the 1960s.
They stated: “The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Ron’s spouse, Ann, his entire family, and his friends during this profoundly sorrowful time.
“Flags across club locations will be flown at half-mast today to show our respect.”
Pic: PA
The defender joined Liverpool in 1961 from Dundee United and became instrumental for manager Bill Shankly in achieving promotion from the second tier.
Shankly described him as a “behemoth” – he was robust and stood 6 feet 2 inches tall – and subsequently became an iconic figure at Anfield throughout the 1960s.
He played a key role in securing two top-flight league championships, the FA Cup in 1965, and three Charity Shields.
Over 400 of his 454 appearances for the Merseyside club were as captain, a record only surpassed by Steven Gerrard.
He later represented Tranmere Rovers, Stalybridge Celtic, Los Angeles Skyhawks, Barrow, Santa Barbara Condors, and Formby, in addition to earning two caps for Scotland, before retiring in the late 1970s.
In the 1980s, he returned to Liverpool as chief scout, fulfilling that role for two decades before retiring in 2006.
Liverpool Football Club also mentioned Yeats reflecting on his most significant accomplishments at Anfield: “There have been two standout moments. Being the captain who led the club out of the Second Division after an eight-year hiatus was an immensely proud achievement.
“We clinched the league by eight or nine points that season, and following that, I was the first captain of Liverpool to lift the FA Cup, which is a source of great pride for me.
“I don’t wear my medals around my neck; they serve as personal reminders.”
This breaking news story is currently being updated, and further details will be released shortly.
Please refresh the page for the most complete version.
You can receive breaking news notifications on your smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. Additionally, you can follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest updates.
