Ron Yeats dead aged 86: Liverpool announce death of legendary former captain who led the Reds to their first FA Cup and was hailed as a ‘colossus’ by Bill Shankly

Liverpool have announced the death of their legendary former club captain Ron Yeats at the age of 86.

The Premier League side confirmed Yeats had passed away on Friday night having suffered with Alzheimer’s in recent years. 

The Scottish defender joined Liverpool from Dundee United in 1961 and was made club captain months after his arrival.

Yeats helped Liverpool earn promotion from the second division in his debut season and became a key figure of Bill Shankly’s era at the club.

He made 454 appearances for Liverpool during his decade as a player, placing him 22nd on the club’s all-time list. 

More than 400 of those were as captain, with only Steven Gerrard has worn the armband for the Reds on more occasions. 

Yeats, top, led Liverpool to their first FA Cup success in 1965 against Leeds United at Wembley

Yeats captained Liverpool to the First Division title in 1964 and 1966, as well as winning the FA Cup in 1965.

Liverpool beat Leeds United 2-1 after extra time, with Yeats becoming the first Reds captain to led his side up the Wembley steps to lift the FA Cup.

Yeats told the Queen ‘I’m absolutely knackered’ during the trophy presentation.

He was the unfortunate scorer of an own goal as Liverpool suffered a 2-1 extra time defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the 1966 European Cup Winner’s Cup final.

The defender was capped twice by the Scotland national team during his time at Liverpool, which came to an end in 1971.

Yeats moved to Tranmere Rovers where he served as player manager, before spells with Stalybridge Celtic, Los Angeles Skyhawks, Barrow, Santa Barbara Condors and Formby.

He returned to Liverpool in 1986 and became the club’s chief scout, a role he held until 2006.

As Liverpool chief scout, Yeats was credited with urging the club to sign Sami Hyypia

Yeats was credited with the signing of Finland defender Sami Hyypia, who he urged the club to sign after watching him play in the Netherlands for Willem II.

Hyypia, who signed for £2.5 million, was part of Liverpool’s Champions League winning squad in 2005.

‘It has to be one of the best bits of business we’ve done over the years,’ Yeats later said of the deal. ‘I didn’t have a role in suggesting any fees between the clubs, but when I was told about how little money Liverpool had spent on Sami, I nearly fell off my chair.

‘It was a steal – a bargain – and the kind of deal Liverpool had set up in the 60s and 70s when they were signing unknown players like me for little money and giving them a chance on a bigger stage.’