Former Liverpool captain Ron Yeats dies after suffering from Alzheimer's

7 September 2024, 10:21 | Updated: 7 September 2024, 13:46

Former Liverpool captain Ron Yeats has died at the age of 86 after suffering from Alzheimer's in recent years.

In a tribute on its website, the Anfield club described the Scottish defender as a "colossus" who played as captain for more than 400 games in the 1960s.

"The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Ron's wife, Ann, all of his family and his friends at this incredibly sad time," the statement said.

"Flag across club sites will be lowered to half-mast today as a mark of respect."

The defender signed with Liverpool in 1961 from Dundee United and helped manager Bill Shankly secure promotion from the second division.

Shankly described him as a "colossus" - partly because he was 6ft 2in tall, but also because he became a legendary figure at Anfield during the 1960s.

He helped them win two top-flight league titles, the FA Cup in 1965, and three Charity Shields.

More than 400 of his 454 games for the Merseysiders were as captain, a tally only beaten by Steven Gerrard.

He went on to represent Tranmere Rovers, Stalybridge Celtic, Los Angeles Skyhawks, Barrow, Santa Barbara Condors and Formby - as well as playing twice for Scotland in 1964 and 1965 - before hanging up his boots in the late 1970s.

In the 1980s he returned to Liverpool as chief scout, serving for 20 years before retiring in 2006.

In January this year, Liverpool announced he had been living with Alzheimer's.

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Yeats had said he had two great achievements at Anfield.

"Being the captain that took the club out of the Second Division after eight years was a very, very proud moment," Liverpool FC quoted him as saying.

"We won the league by eight or nine points that season and to follow that by being the first captain of Liverpool to lift the FA Cup is something I am very proud of.

"I do not go round with the medals on my chest, it is just there for me to say."

Former Liverpool stars have been posting tributes online.

A message on X from Jamie Carragher said he was "a giant of a man and a giant of a player" while another from Robbie Fowler said "RIP to the great man".

Another of Liverpool's former players John Aldridge described him as one of the club's "all-time greats as a player and a captain".

Ex-Scotland and Liverpool footballer David Speedie also posted a poignant message: "You'll Never Walk Alone Ron".