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| April 1966: Liverpool footballer, Tommy Smith |
Former Liverpool captain Tommy Smith has died at the age of 74.
The Anfied legend had been battling dementia and had been suffering from ill health.
Affectionately known as ‘The Anfield Iron’, Smith spent 18 years as a player with the Reds and is one of the most influential figures in the club’s history.
The tough tackling midfielder captained his boyhood club and made 638 appearances in total - the eighth in the all-time list at Anfield.
Playing under both Bob Paisley and Bill Shankly, Smith helped Liverpool to four league titles, two FA Cups and the 1977 European Cup - in which he scored against Borussia Monchengladbach in Rome.
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| Tommy Smith, Ian Callaghan and Phil Neal parade the European Cup in 1977 |
His daughter Janette Simpson told the Liverpool Echo: "Dad died very peacefully in his sleep shortly after 4.30pm today at Green Heyes Nursing home in Park Road, Waterloo, Crosby.
“I was on my way to see him when he passed a couple of minutes before I arrived.
“Dad was only in here since the end of January and prior to that had been living in a care and sheltered accommodation complex for three years in Maghull.
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| Smith with Liverpool manager Bill Shankly in 1973 |
“He had been growing increasingly frail and suffering from a variety of ailments over the last three months especially.
“We are obviously all devastated."
Liverpool released a statement expressing their sadness.
"Liverpool Football Club is deeply saddened by the passing of club legend Tommy Smith.
"Smith, who gave almost two decades of remarkable service to the club and was affectionately nicknamed the ‘Anfield Iron’ by supporters, has died at the age of 74.
"Born in Liverpool in 1945, he made 638 appearances for the club between 1960 and 1978, scoring 48 goals and winning nine major trophies, as well as captaining the Reds for three years.
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| Tommy Smith in action for Liverpool |
"Smith was a key part of the Liverpool team that won the FA Cup for the first time back in 1965, with Bill Shankly as manager.
"Twelve years later, with Bob Paisley at the helm, he would head in an iconic – and crucial - goal to help the club win its maiden European Cup by defeating Borussia Monchengladbach in the final in Rome.
"In all, Smith lifted four league titles, a European Cup, two FA Cups and two UEFA Cups during his time with Liverpool."
Smith was diagnosed with Alzheimer's five years ago and previously cared for his wife Susanne who passed away from the same condition at 71.
Tommy is survived by Janette, son Darren and four grandchildren, Matthew, William, Jessica and Imogen.
