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RIP Emlyn Hughes - Liverpool Legend
Former England and Liverpool captain Emlyn Hughes has died at the age of 57.
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'Crazy Horse' as he was known was one of the best players of his generation, captaining both his club and country with great distinction.
Hughes had been fighting against a brain tumour in recent times, and had been undergoing treatment after an operation.
A Bill Shankly signing, Hughes played 650 times for Liverpool and won five league titles and two European Cups at Anfield.
The effervescent centre half was also a great servant to his country, amassing 62 England caps, and leading out the side 23 times as captain.
Hughes picked up the Footballer of the Year award in 1977, a tribute to the influence of the Barrow-in-Furness-born star.
Hughes was a real character both on and off the pitch, and later went on to star on television as a captain on Question of Sport.
The father of two was having regular radiotherapy on the tumour near his home in Sheffield, and the nature of the man meant he fought all the way against the problem.
Phil Neal was a club colleague of Hughes at Anfield and he paid tribute to the former England captain on Sky Sports News.
"He was special to us all," Neal said. "The Crazy Horse will be missed.
"His effervescent character and will to win every game rubbed off on all of us. He was a magnificent captain not just for Liverpool but England as well and we should never forget that.
"When I first came to Liverpool in 1974, he settled me in.
"He was effervescent and he was a great leader.
"He loved his Shanks (Billy Shankly) and missed him dearly. The pair of them had similar characteristics.
"His will to win, even in difficult circumstances away from home, with Emlyn around telling you that you could win, we often did.
"Nobody was more a winner than Emlyn.
"He had great support from Barbara and the kids and we have to send our condolences to his family, who will be suffering dearly. It will take us all long while to get over the loss of Crazy Horse.
"He was always bubbly and sparking and in all the time I have known him, he was never down.
"He was always effervescent and looking forward and it is so sad that he was made to battle at the end of his short life." |
RIP To a man I respected a lot, someone who endorsed many things that I saw growing up and appeared on TV too. A true gent and I'm shocked at the news 
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