Liverpool’s top former captains
By Ethan Lowe
Ron Yeats
Appearances – 454
Games as captain – 417
Goals – 16
Shankley himself describe Ron Yeats (alongside Ian St. John) simply by saying “They were the greatest signings and they were the beginning of Liverpool.” The tall centre-half, son of a butcher who was raised to be as strong as an ox, was signed by Shankley who had 100% faith this player could propel Liverpool into the first division.
Ron Yeats earned the armband quickly, given Shankley’s fondness of the player, and went on to lift Liverpool’s first FA Cup trophy in the clubs 73-year history. “It was an emotional time getting the cup from the Queen. In fact I just wanted to throw it into the crowd, to the Liverpool supporters,” Yeats said. “We won it now. Lets share it between us.”
Yeats brought real success to this football club, and helped get them to the level we’re at today. Without him, who know how long it might have taken to reach the heights our club has. He brought trophies, but most importantly his leadership helped our side climb the ranks and make a real name for ourselves.
The powerful beast of a defender is widely regarded as one of the best in his time, and until 2006 served the club as a scout. He loved our club as a player, and severed it even once he’d stopped kick the ball about.
“Big Ronny is the best centre-half I have ever seen,” goalscoring legend, Roger Hunt, said in 1974. “With him in the team and at his best, we used to think we were unbeatable. In the air he was great. Some people used to think he was weak on the ground, but I never saw anybody give him a chasing. He was the right man for captain.”
Next: Number 1