Tommy Smith, the former Liverpool captain who was instrumental in helping the club to both domestic and European victory in the 1960s and 1970s has died at age 74.
Winning four league titles, Smith had an 18-year career at Liverpool as he was very well known as the “Anfield Iron.”
In the European Cup final, Liverpool faced Borussia Monchengladbach for the cup. He scored as Borussia Monchengladbach fell to a 3-1 defeat, making Liverpool win the trophy for the first time.
Liverpool said that they were “deeply saddened” by his death.
Smith made 638 appearances for the Reds between years 1960 and 1978. However, he had battled with dementia and some other ailments during his later years.
Janette Simpson, his daughter, told the club website on Friday: “Dad died very peacefully in his sleep shortly after 4.30pm today at his nursing home.
“He had been growing increasingly frail and suffering from a variety of ailments over the last three months especially.
“We are obviously all devastated.”
Roy Evans and former Liverpool manager paid tribute to Smith who was his best man at his wedding.
Evans told BBC Radio 5 Live, “It’s a big loss and I know he’s not been very well for a year now. He was a great guy; he helped me through my career.
“He was a normal guy. We had a lot of fun together. He used to look after me when I first came to Liverpool. We’d go out and have a couple of beers.
“On the pitch, he was very physical, but he was also a very good footballer. He was a leader. There will be a lot of very sad people tonight.”
Kenny Dalglish, former Liverpool midfielder also said that Smith helped him settle in when he moved in from Celtic to Merseyside in 1977.
“Smith was a fantastic servant. He was a great advert for Liverpool football club. It’s very sad to see him go, but his memories will be there forever.
Jamie Carragher also tweeted that “Smith was one of the club’s all-time greats.” A statement echoed by Peter Moore, Reds chief, and also ex-striker Michael Owen saying he was a “legendary player”.
Mark Lawrenson, former Liverpool defender said on BBC Radio 5 Live, “He was a Liverpool great, a really good player and a beautiful striker of the ball. He played in the midfield and in the defence, and he took no prisoners.
“Tommy was a leader of men. Just to be able to play three positions in an outstanding team was great.
“All he ever wanted to do was play for Liverpool and the reason he played so many games was that he played injured. He really was a Liverpool legend in every single way.”