Ron Yeats, Liverpool 'colossus' and European Cup winner, dies aged 86

In the words of Bill Shankly, a ‘colossus’ in club history, the Scot died on Friday night at the age of 86, having sadly suffered with Alzheimer’s in recent years.

Former Liverpool captain Ron Yeats has passed away at the age of 86.

The Scot, who was part of Bill Shankly's great Reds team of the 1960s, had been suffering with Alzheimer's in recent years.

Yeats, a defender, joined the club from Dundee United in July 1961 and quickly became a key figure in Shankly's fledgling revolution at Anfield.

The Scot helped lift the club out of the doldrums of an extended spell stuck in the Second Division.

"Walk around him," the manager told the media when Yeats was unveiled that summer. "He's a colossus."

As so often, Shankly was right.

During his debut campaign in 1961-62, Yeats made 41 league appearances as promotion was finally secured.

And within two seasons he and his teammates were raising aloft the top-flight title.

Such was his impact and influence, just months after his arrival on Merseyside he was appointed captain - a role he would go on to fulfil for eight further full seasons.

Yeats was once more a mainstay as the Reds finished four points clear of Manchester United in 1963-64 to add the sixth championship success in LFC history.

Perhaps the most indelible image of his playing career at Anfield occurred the following year, with Yeats the man to climb the steps at Wembley and collect the FA Cup for the first time.

The above is the detailed content of Ron Yeats, Liverpool 'colossus' and European Cup winner, dies aged 86. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!