Terry Yorath, the former Leeds United and Wales midfielder and manager, has died aged 75 following a short illness, his family has confirmed.
Born in Cardiff, Yorath became a central figure in Don Revie’s Leeds side, making 199 appearances across a nine-year spell from 1967. He helped Leeds win the First Division title in 1974 and collected runners-up medals in the FA Cup, European Cup, and European Cup Winners’ Cup, cementing his place in the club’s golden era.
At international level, Yorath won 59 caps for Wales, captaining his country on 42 occasions. He later managed Wales and famously took them to the brink of the 1994 World Cup, only for a decisive final-qualifier defeat to Romania to deny qualification.
Yorath also played for Coventry City, Tottenham Hotspur, Bradford City, and Vancouver Whitecaps, before finishing his playing career with a single appearance for Swansea City.
After retirement, he moved into management, holding roles at Swansea, Cardiff, Wales, Lebanon, Sheffield Wednesday and Margate. He was player-coach at Bradford City on the day of the 1985 Valley Parade fire, one of English football’s darkest tragedies, which claimed 56 lives.
Yorath was the father of BBC Sport presenter Gabby Logan. His family life was marked by profound tragedy when his son Daniel died aged 15 in 1992 from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy while playing football at home.
In a statement, Yorath’s children said:
“To most he was a revered footballing hero, but to us he was Dad; a quiet, kind and gentle man. Our hearts are broken, but we take comfort knowing he will be reunited with our brother, Daniel.”
Leeds United said they were “devastated” by the news, while tributes poured in from across the football world, remembering Yorath as both a leader on the pitch and a respected figure off it.
