LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool legend Tommy Smith, one of the key figures in the club's first golden era, died on Friday (April 12) at the age of 74.
Smith's no-nonsense performances at the heart of Liverpool's defence saw him nicknamed the 'Anfield Iron' during his 18-year spell on Merseyside.
Making 638 appearances for the Reds between 1960 and 1978, Smith won a host of medals as the club rose to prominence both domestically and in Europe.
Under the management of the great Bill Shankly, Smith helped Liverpool dominate for two decades.
Reflecting his tough style of play, Shankly once said of one of his favourite players: "Tommy Smith wasn't born, he was quarried".
Smith, who captained the club for three years, was one of the most influential members of the Liverpool team that won the FA Cup for the first time in 1965.
Twelve years later, with Bob Paisley at the helm, he would head a crucial goal as Liverpool won their maiden European Cup by defeating Borussia Moenchengladbach in the 1977 final in Rome.
In total, Liverpool-born Smith, who grew up in the shadow of Anfield before joining the club he supported as a boy, won the English title four times, the FA Cup twice, the European Cup once and the UEFA Cup twice.
Speaking to Liverpool's official website, Smith's daughter Janette Simpson said: "Dad died very peacefully in his sleep shortly after 4.30pm today.
"He had been growing increasingly frail and suffering from a variety of ailments over the last three months especially. We are obviously all devastated."
Smith left Liverpool for Swansea, managed by his old Reds team-mate John Toshack, in 1978, and helped them to promotion from the old Third Division.
He received the MBE for services to football and retired from playing in 1979.
A brief return to Anfield as youth coach preceded a career as an after-dinner speaker and newspaper columnist.
Smith suffered a heart attack in 2007 before being diagnosed with Alzheimers and dementia in 2014.
Smith's former Liverpool team-mate Phil Thompson told Sky Sports that his fellow defender was an 'icon'.
"I loved him from the Kop, because of his passion, commitment and never-say-die attitude," he said.
"He was an incredible figure who helped me out enormously. Liverpool Football Club owe this guy a debt of gratitude.
"To go on and play with him, rub shoulders with him, go into battles with him, he was iconic. He wanted and desired the points every week.
"Tommy was the epitome of what Bill Shankly demanded. He drove the team, he was incredible."
Former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish added: "He was a great advert for Liverpool Football Club, the way he conducted himself. His memories will be there forever."
Ray Clemence was one of the Liverpool goalkeepers who benefitted from Smith's defensive excellence.
"So desperately sorry to hear of the passing of Tommy Smith a real legend of the club. Honoured to play with him. Great captain and leader of men thoughts are with family and friends," Clemence said.
PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian captain Thiago Silva has been granted French citizenship, he announced on Twitter on Friday (March 15).. Read more at straitstimes.com.
PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship
Champions League final: Manchester United were linked with Mauricio Pochettino, but he thinks success will matter more at Tottenham than Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's heroes welcomed home by fans in Manchester
desdelabanda.com/2019/01/14/ole-gunnar-solskjaers-heroes-welcomed-home-by-fans-in/
Football: Spurs' Pochettino recalls how he cheered United counterpart Solskjaer's 1999 Champions League final goal However, he was regularly restricted to substitute appearances after Jose Mourinho replaced Van Gaal as manager later that year, and was often asked to play in a left-sided role, with Romelu Lukaku as the central attacker.
Pochettino: Spurs must 'trust the universe' for Champions
Marouane Fellaini Leaves Man Utd For China's Shandong "Manchester United can confirm that Marouane Fellaini has left the club on a permanent transfer," United said in a statement on
Marouane Fellaini leaves Man Utd for China's Shandong
Speed key for Socceroos to catch Chile on the hop, writes Harry Kewell. Harry Kewell, News Corp Australia. June 13, 2014 2:09am. Share this on Facebook Vidal is a key player, a box-to-box man
Arnie's search for taegeuk in his Socceroos squad
Despite recognising the fallen state of man and nature, Hopkins continued to believe in the salvation of Christ and the ultimate joy of being reunited with God. He succeeds in the end in recovering for himself a world like that of Eden before the Fall, an accomplishment which, despite all his protestations and efforts, Arnold never wholly achieves.
Gre in Literature Flashcards | Quizlet
Football: Qatar players cleared in eligibility row just before Asian Cup final against four-time champs Japan. Qatar's players warming up ahead of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup final football match
Football: Qatar players cleared in eligibility row just
22 1993, The Times, #64598, UK (en)_djvu.txt
Search the history of over 357 billion web pages on the Internet.
315381 10201276550382602 438502351 n - friendzone.fr
Feb 09, 2019 · The family of the missing pilot of the plane carrying the footballer Emiliano Sala have set up a fundraising page for donations to help restart a search for him. Sala's body was recovered from
Emiliano Sala's family says search for missing pilot must
Arsenal head coach Unai Emery believes Liverpool can match Arsene Wenger's 'Invincibles' and go through the Premier League season unbeaten. The Gunners travel to Anfield on Saturday evening
Liverpool can be Invincibles, says Emery - Punch Newspapers
"We are all tired after an amazing, crazy and unbelievable night," Pochettino told a news conference Spurs 'still in a dream' after Man City win, says Pochettino Home
Tottenham beat Man City in Champions League: 'We are still in
Latest Singapore News. Singapore: Crypto Exchange DragonEx Reports Hack of Both Platform, User Assets - Cointelegraph; Football: Singapore fall short in bid to qualify for AFC Under-23 Championship finals despite beating Mongolia 3-1 - The Straits Times
Pakistan national football team - Wikipedia
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 14, 2019, with the headline 'Coach tells Zaniolo to stay focused despite brace'. Print Edition | Subscribe
Coach tells Zaniolo to stay focused despite brace
Qatar not the favourites, says coach Sanchez, Football News
NEW DELHI: Delhi Dynamos will look to start their campaign on a winning note when they lock horns with FC Pune City in their Indian Super League season opener Wednesday. The Dynamos would look to
0 comments:
Post a Comment