Former Liverpool captain Ron Yeats dies after suffering from Alzheimer's
Ron Yeats, a former leader of Liverpool, has passed away at the age of 86 after battling Alzheimer's disease in recent times.
On their website, the Anfield team paid homage to the Scottish defender, praising him as a "giant" who served as captain for over 400 matches in the 1960s.
They mentioned: "Our hearts go out to Ron's wife, Ann, as well as his family and friends during this very sad period."
The flags at all club locations will be lowered halfway as a sign of respect today.
The player joined Liverpool in 1961 after playing for Dundee United, and played a key role in helping manager Bill Shankly secure promotion from the second division.
Shankly praised him as a "giant" - he was sturdy and stood at 6 feet 2 inches - but also achieved legendary status at Anfield in the 1960s.
He assisted them in achieving victory in two premier league championships, the FA Cup in 1965, and three Charity Shield titles.
Out of his 454 games for Liverpool, he captained the team in over 400 matches, a record only surpassed by Steven Gerrard.
He continued his football career by playing for Tranmere Rovers, Stalybridge Celtic, Los Angeles Skyhawks, Barrow, Santa Barbara Condors, and Formby. Additionally, he had the opportunity to represent Scotland in 194 and 1965. He retired from professional football in the late 1970s.
Then, in the 1980s, he came back to Liverpool as the main scout and worked there for 20 years until he retired in 2006.
In January, Liverpool revealed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
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Liverpool FC shared Yeats' two greatest accomplishments at Anfield: "Two standout moments for me are when I led the team out of the Second Division after eight years and when I was chosen as captain. Both were incredibly proud moments for me."
That season, we were victorious in the league, winning by a margin of eight or nine points. It was a great achievement for our team. Additionally, I had the honor of being the first captain of Liverpool to lift the FA Cup, which is a moment I hold in high esteem.
I don't flaunt my achievements with medals on display, they are simply a reminder for myself.
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