Former Liverpool and Wales defender Joey Jones dies at the age of 70

Liverpool is deeply saddened to announce the passing of former player Joey Jones at the age of 70.

CLUB OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Liverpool FC is deeply saddened by the passing of Joey Jones, aged 70.

A league, European Cup and UEFA Cup winner with the Reds, the Welshman made exactly 100 appearances for the club during the second half of the 1970s.

The tough-tackling left-back was signed from Wrexham by Bob Paisley as a 20-year-old during the summer of 1975 and featured on 14 occasions in all competitions during his debut season.

He unfortunately missed out on a league winner’s medal by just one match, with his 13 appearances in the top flight insufficient to qualify at that time, though was on the bench for both legs of the UEFA Cup final win over Club Brugge.

Any personal disappointment was forgotten in the following campaign as Jones made the position his own, clocking up 59 games in a hugely memorable season.

Paisley’s charges successfully defended their championship crown – Jones played 39 of 42 fixtures – while simultaneously making history as the first Liverpool team to lift the European Cup.

The defender was involved throughout the run to the final and started in Rome as Borussia Monchengladbach were beaten 3-1 to clinch Old Big Ears.

Jones’ contributions to a journey that had seen the Reds eliminate Saint-Etienne and FC Zurich in preceding rounds were amusingly summarised on a banner that has taken a legendary place in LFC folklore.

“JOEY ATE THE FROGS LEGS,” it read. “MADE THE SWISS ROLL, NOW HES MUNCHING GLADBACH.”

There might have been a treble for Joey and his teammates too, but they were edged out 2-1 by Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

Jones’ attitude and commitment had long earned him the affection of the Liverpool supporters and he reached a century of games in January 1978. He also scored three goals while at the club.

Later in the same year, having been displaced in the Reds’ XI, he said farewell to Anfield and returned to Wrexham for a second spell.

Joey subsequently spent time with Chelsea and Huddersfield Town before wrapping up his playing career with a third Wrexham stint.

He also represented Wales at senior international level more than 70 times.

The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Joey’s family and friends at this sad time.

RIP Joey Jones, 1955-2025