Gerry Byrne, England World Cup winner and one of the stalwarts of Bill Shankly’s legendary Liverpool team of the 1960s, has died aged 77.
Byrne wrote himself into Anfield folklore when he played 83 minutes of the 1965 FA Cup Final with a broken collarbone. Liverpool went on to win the Cup for the first time with victory over Leeds United.
One of the most courageous defenders to wear the Liverpool shirt, left-back Byrne joined his hometown club as a 15-year-old and spent his entire career on Merseyside, making 333 appearances for the Reds.
As well as The FA Cup, he won two League titles under Shankly and was a key component of the side that won Liverpool their promotion back to the top flight in the early years of the Scot’s reign.
Byrne will always be seen as one of the architects of the Anfield empire as part of Shankly’s first great side.
He was also a member of the World Cup-winning squad of 1966 under Sir Alf Ramsey.
FA Chairman Greg Dyke said: "I am saddened to hear of the passing of Gerry Byrne.
"I can still remember the way he helped Liverpool win the 1965 FA Cup despite suffering a broken collarbone early in the game.
"His determination to play on rather than leave his team down a man was remarkable.
"Of course, he went on to be involved with the 1966 World Cup squad underlining just how talented a player he was.
"My sincere condolences go to his family and friends."
