Former Liverpool captain Ron Yeats has passed away at the age of 86.
The defender, who made 454 appearances for the club between 1961 and 1971, is the 22nd-most capped player in Liverpool’s history.
He captained the team in over 400 of those matches, second only to Steven Gerrard in terms of leading the Reds.
Yeats, affectionately called ‘Rowdy’ by fans, solidified his place in Liverpool’s history when he led the team to their first-ever FA Cup victory in 1965, defeating Leeds after extra time.
His death was confirmed by the club’s official website this morning, revealing that he passed away on Friday night after battling Alzheimer’s in recent years.
Signed by Bill Shankly in 1961 when Liverpool was still in the Second Division, Yeats helped the team secure promotion in his debut season and win the First Division title two years later.
Shankly’s praise for Yeats was legendary, once telling the press at his unveiling to “walk around him” due to his commanding presence.
After retiring as a player, Yeats returned to Liverpool in 1986 as the club’s chief scout, a position he held for 20 years, identifying talents like Sami Hyypia.
His 30-year contribution on and off the field cemented him as a towering figure in Liverpool’s history, forever remembered as the captain who delivered their first FA Cup triumph.
The Empire of the Kop extends its heartfelt condolences to Ron’s family and friends during this difficult time.
