Liverpool legend Emlyn Hughes dies

Emlyn Hughes, one of the greatest English footballers of the 1970s, has died after a long illness.

Fifty-seven-year-old Hughes passed away at his Sheffield home in the early hours of this morning, 16 months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Hughes will be remembered chiefly for captaining Liverpool to unprecedented domestic and European success in the mid-70s. After being signed by Bill Shankly in 1967, Hughes led the Reds to four league championships, two European Cups, two UEFA Cups and an FA Cup.

Hughes, who earned the nickname 'Crazy Horse' due to his energy and enthusiasm for the game, also captained the England side during an 11-year international career which saw him win 62 caps.

Liverpool Chief Executive Rick Parry said: "Our deepest sympathies go out to wife Barbara, children Emma and Emlyn junior, and the rest of the family at this sad time."

The club will be holding a one-minute silence in honour of Emlyn before Wednesday's Carling Cup tie against Middlesbrough at Anfield.

Wolves, the club Emlyn moved on to in 1979, also paid tribute to the defender.

Caretaker boss Stuart Gray said: "Emlyn won virtually everything there is to win in the game - what he achieved with Liverpool was phenomenal. He had a winning habit and when he moved to Wolves he took the habit with him.

"It is a sad loss to the game. He was a great professional and servant to his clubs and his country."

The Barrow-born player also steered Wolves supporters to League Cup glory after a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

Flags at Molineux will be lowered to half-mast in tribute and the players will be wearing black armbands when they face Rotherham at the weekend.

After his retirement from the game, Hughes made numerous appearances as team captain on the BBC television quiz show 'A Question of Sport'.

(gmcg)