Ex-Liverpool, Wrexham and Wales defender Joey Jones dies aged 70

Former Liverpool and Wales defender Joey Jones has died at the age of 70.

Jones played 100 times in a trophy-laden three years at Liverpool between 1975 and 1978, winning two European Cups, a UEFA Cup and a league title.

The Llandudno-born left-back earned 72 caps for Wales, starting and ending his career at Wrexham after spells at Anfield, Chelsea and Huddersfield.

Liverpool paid tribute to Jones, saying in a statement: “Liverpool FC is deeply saddened by the passing of Joey Jones. The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Joey’s family and friends at this sad time.”

Jones’ former Wales team-mate Mickey Thomas posted on X: “This morning I lost my best friend and soul mate, Sir Joey our memories will never fade – Today my heart is broken. Love you Sir Joey RIP. My condolences are with Janice and all the family.”

Jones’ contribution to Liverpool was immortalised in the ‘Joey ate the frogs legs, made the Swiss roll, now he’s munching Gladbach’ banner revealed by fans at the 1977 European Cup final victory over Borussia Monchengladbach.

The banner was in reference to victories over St Etienne and Zurich in the quarter and semi-finals.

With Wrexham, Jones won the Welsh Cup and helped the club reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in 1974.

A post from the club on X read: “Wrexham AFC are devastated to learn of the passing of Club legend Joey Jones. A true Club legend, on and off the pitch, with time for everybody he met, Joey will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”

There were also tributes on X from former Liverpool stars Jamie Carragher and John Aldridge and Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney.

Aldridge wrote: “What a lovely man and an inspirational full back who gave his heart and soul in a red shirt and for all the clubs he played for! Our thoughts are with Joey’s family! I’m a lucky man to have met him many times.”

A statement on the FAW website described Jones as “an iconic figure who defined a generation for the fans of Liverpool, Wrexham and Cymru”.

“Despite his humble nature off the field, Jones will go down in history as one of the best defenders of his generation for what he achieved with Liverpool, but it was his dedication to the game, his no-nonsense style and his genuine love for the clubs that he represented that will forever endear him to the fans, and how they appreciated that he was so much like them with his desire just to play football,” continued the statement.

Following his playing career, Jones was youth and reserve coach at Wrexham, while he took charge of the first team on a caretaker basis in 2001.