LIVERPOOL FC have confirmed that their former captain Ron Yeats has died aged 86.
The legendary defender had been living with Alzheimer's disease for a number of years.
Scottish-born Yeats spent a decade at Liverpool captaining them to six trophies in the mid-1960s. He later had three years as player/manager at Tranmere Rovers in the 1970s.
Yeats was bought by Liverpool manager Bill Shankly in 1961 from United for a fee of around £20,000 and was immediately installed as captain.
When Yeats was signed, Shankly was so impressed with the physical presence of his new player that he told waiting journalists "The man is a mountain, go into the dressing room and walk around him". Shankly later described Yeats's arrival, along with that of striker Ian St John also in the 1961 close season, as the "turning point" as Liverpool began their quest to compete with — and beat — the best in England and in Europe.
Yeats lived up to the reputation and the nickname ("The Colossus") his huge frame gave him, playing at the heart of Liverpool's defence for a decade and winning the club's first major honours in nearly 20 years.
In 1972, Yeats was installed as player manager at Prenton Park. He strengthened Tranmere's connections with local rivals Liverpool by recruiting several former teammates such as St John, and bringing in Shankly in a consultancy role. This team saw one of the most memorable Rovers results of all time when, in a League Cup tie in 1973, Tranmere beat First Division Arsenal 1–0 at their former Highbury home.
Yeats served Tranmere Rovers for three years as player manager, playing 97 times and scoring five goals.
Yeats had a short spell playing for Stalybridge Celtic. He then served Barrow as player manager and also played in America.
In 1986 Yeats returned to Anfield as the club's chief scout responsible for delegating duties to the club's talent spotters. He remained in that role until his retirement in May 2006.
A statement from Liverpool Football Club said: "The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Ron’s wife, Ann, all of his family and his friends at this incredibly sad time.
"Flags across club sites will be lowered to half-mast today as a mark of respect."
A spokesperson for Tranmere said: "Everyone at Tranmere Rovers FC is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Ron Yeats.
"Ron spent three years with us as player-manager between 1971 and 1974, leading Rovers to our famous win over Arsenal at Highbury in the 1973 League Cup, one of the greatest results in the club’s history.
"Our thoughts are with Ron’s family and friends at this time."
Tranmere chairman, Mark Palios, said: “Ron was the guy who gave me my start and signed me professional. He was also instrumental in the career of so many more - Ronnie Moore, Bobby Tynan, Dickie Johnson, Steve Coppell, just to name a few. He was a motivational manager and still a tremendous player, as he showed at Highbury in 1973.
“A true colossus, as Bill Shankly called him. One of the good guys in football. He’ll be sorely missed, and my thoughts are with his family.”
Former Tranmere player manager John Aldrige was another paying tribute to Yeats who was capped twice by Scotland.
“Woke up today to the sad news of one of Liverpool football club’s all-time greats as a player and a captain, Ron Yeats,” former Reds forward Aldridge said.
“What a man. I’m honoured to have met him on many occasions.”
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