Liverpool FC legend Ron Yeats dies aged 86 after battle with Alzheimer’s Disease

Ron Yeats, the legendary former captain of Liverpool, has passed away at 86 years old. It was revealed in January that he had been suffering from Alzheimer’s.

The club released a statement saying, “Liverpool FC is mourning the passing of legendary former captain Ron Yeats. The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Ron’s wife, Ann, all of his family, and his friends at this incredibly sad time. Yeats was described by Bill Shankly as a ‘colossus’ in club history.”

As a show of respect, the flags at Anfield and Liverpool’s training grounds will be lowered to half mast.

In 1964 and 1965, Yeats was awarded two caps for Scotland. Prior to joining Liverpool in 1961, he started his career at Dundee United. In addition, he spent time playing in the American Soccer League and for Barrow and Stalybridge Celtic.

The former Scotland defender was a member of Shankly’s Liverpool team that won the Second Division in 1962. Yeats went on to win three Charity Shields, two FA Cups, and two top flight titles, making Liverpool one of the most successful clubs in the nation.

Prior to becoming a player-manager for Tranmere in 1971, he participated in 454 games. Only Steven Gerrard has made more appearances as captain than him with over 400. Before ending his playing career in 1977, Yeats briefly returned to England and worked at Formby and Rhyl. He returned to Liverpool in 1986 and stayed on as chief scout until his retirement in 2006.

Regarding his greatest achievements at Anfield, Yeats once said, “There have been two of them. Being the captain that took the club out of the Second Division after eight years was a very, very proud moment.”

“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.”