Norman Hunter, the Leeds United legend, has died after a brave fight with coronavirus.
The 76-year-old, who played 726 games in 15 years at Elland Road, was admitted to hospital with Covid-19 earlier this month.
A Leeds spokesperson said the club was ’devastated’ at the sad news.
A club statement read: 'Leeds United are devastated to learn of the passing of club icon Norman Hunter at the age of 76.
'Norman was taken to hospital last week after being diagnosed with COVID-19 and despite continuing to battle and the best efforts of NHS staff, he sadly lost his fight earlier this morning.
'He leaves a huge hole in the Leeds United family, his legacy will never be forgotten and our thoughts are with Norman’s family and friends at this very difficult time.'
Hunter played 726 games in 15 years at Elland Road. In the great sides managed by Don Revie, he won First Division titles in 1969 and 1974, the 1972 FA Cup and League Cup and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup twice.
Only three Leeds players — Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner and Paul Reaney—- have made more appearances for the club than Hunter who, as one of the best centre halves of his era, also won 28 England caps.
None of those came at the 1966 World Cup, where he was behind Charlton and Bobby Moore, but as a squad member he was belatedly handed a winner’s medal in 2009.
Of course, Hunter’s place in footballing folklore goes beyond numbers and trophies.
While invariably rated as a footballer of the highest quality by those who saw him at Leeds between 1962 and 1976 and then for three years in the Bristol City side who reached the top flight, his reputation is generally tied to his uncompromising style.
He drew the nickname ‘Bites yer legs’ after a banner carried the message at the 1972 FA Cup final and famously got into a punch-up on the pitch in 1975 with Derby County’s Francis Lee — after the pair were sent off!
Hunter was born in Eighton Banks, Gateshead in 1943 and joined Leeds when he was 16 years old. He would make his debut for the Yorkshire club in 1962 and go onto form a defensive partnership with Jack Charlton that lasted a decade.
He was an integral component of Leeds' progression from the second to the first division, and rarely picked up injuries. In an age where sports science is nowhere near the level it is now, Hunter played over 50 games a season for nine seasons in a row. A remarkable feat.
He won his first League title in 1969, having won the League Cup in 1968 before clinching the FA Cup in 1972. A picture of Hunter leaping into the air following Allan Clarke's winner against Arsenal is enscribed in FA Cup folklore.
Hunter helped Leeds go on a 29-match unbeaten run at the start of the 1973-74 season, as the club went on to romp to their second League title in four years. His performances saw him clinch the first ever PFA Player of the Year award.
He featured in two European Cup finals for Leeds in the 1970s, where the club lost to AC Milan and Bayern Munich. In 1976, Hunter waved goodbye to Elland Road and joined Bristol City for £40,000.
He spent three seasons with The Robins, scoring four times over 122 appearances for the club before joining Barnsley where he ended his career as a player. He was also Barnsley manager between 1980 and 1984.