Ron Yeats, former Liverpool captain and club legend, dies aged 86

Liverpool legend Ron Yeats, who captained the club to its first ever FA Cup victory in 1965, has passed away at the age of 86.

The Liverpool legend had been battling Alzheimer's disease for some time and died on Friday evening. A Liverpool club statement read: "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...

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

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"Flags across club sites will be lowered to half-mast today as a mark of respect." Yeats announced himself as a Liverpool great during his playing days, having been signed by Bill Shankley from Scottish side Dundee United in 1961.

The Scotland international joined the Reds in Division Two, where they had been languishing for seven years. Upon his arrival, Yeats was then appointed club captain, and helped guide the club to promotion and back into the top flight.

Yeats then once again helped reinstate Liverpool as one of the country's most dominant sides, as the Reds went on to win their first Division One title in almost 20 years in the 1963/64 campaign. Yeats played a huge role, scoring his first goal for the club in a victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, the side Shankley's team pipped to the title later in the campaign.

Nicknamed "The Colossus", Yeats then guided Liverpool to a maiden FA Cup victory, defeating Leeds United 2-1 at Wembley, with the captain given the honour of lifting the famous trophy into the air. The success continued a season later, as Liverpool added another Division One crown to their collection, once again under the leadership of Yeats.

Yeats eventually left Anfield in 1971, but this did not signal the end of his career with Liverpool. The former captain returned to the club in 1986, taking on the role as chief scout, before finally retiring 30 years later in 2006. Amid the announcement, tributes have poured in, in remembrance of Yeats.

"Woke up today to the sad news of one of Liverpool football clubs all-time greats as a player and a captain Ron Yeats what a man," former Liverpool striker John Aldridge tweeted. "I’m honoured to have met him on many occasions, What Ron and the family I’ve gone through the past eight years with his illness is unbelievably sad !! All our thoughts from the Ex Players are with his family !good night God bless Ron RIP."