Ex-Liverpool Captain, Coach Ronnie Moran Dies At 83; Steven Gerrard And More Pay Tribute

Ronnie Moran, a former captain and coach for Liverpool, died Wednesday morning at the age of 83 after a short illness.

Liverpool Legend Ronnie Moran Dies At 83; Tributes Pour In

Dozens of tributes from the Premier League club’s former and current players and coaches alike have poured in since then.

Moran’s son Paul announced his death early Wednesday. Moran was known as “Mr. Liverpool” for his outstanding contribution to the team’s success for nearly 50 years.

Moran made his debut with Liverpool at the age of 18 in 1952, and 40 years later went on to coach players like 39-year-old former defender Jamie Carragher, among others.

The legend served many positions during his 49 years with the club, including player, coach, captain, reserve-team coach, first-team coach, physiotherapist and caretaker manager. In his 16-year playing career, he made 379 appearances for Liverpool, during which he won the First and Second Division titles. Moran also played a very influential role at Anfield behind the scenes as Liverpool won four European Cups, 13 league championships, five FA Cups, five League Cups, two Uefa Cups and one European Super Cup.

Moran ended up working for or alongside nine Liverpool managers— from George Kay to Roy Evans— and he was first invited onto the team’s coaching staff by Bill Shankley in 1966.

Among the notable former and current Liverpool stars who paid homage to Moran on Wednesday were Carragher, former team captain and academy coach Steven Gerrard, and current midfielder and captain Jordan Henderson. 

“There are a lot of legendary figures involved at Liverpool football club in the history,” Carragher said on Wednesday. “Ronnie Moran would be close to number one. The managers, the four or five great managers that started with Bill Shankly, Ronnie Moran was a big part of that.” The former Liverpool defender also tweeted: “The man who decided at 18 I should play centre back before anyone else had even thought of it. Thank you Bugsy!”

He also tweeted the following message:

Gerrard posted the following on his Instagram page:

“RIP Ronnie Moran . Gave me some great advice over the years . The reason our club has a fantastic history is because of people like him. My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.”

Henderson also posted his tribute on Instagram, citing Moran as an inspiration.

“The reason being captain of Liverpool Football Club is such a huge honour is because legendary figures like Ronnie Moran held it before I did,” Henderson wrote.

“I wasn’t lucky enough to work with Ronnie but I had the great fortune of being in his company on the occasions when he came to Melwood to walk around the training pitch and although we all regarded him as a true great, he was as humble and down to earth as anyone you could ever come across.

“I know I speak for all of the current players when I say that we are all deeply saddened by Ronnie’s passing and the greatest tribute we can pay to him is to give everything we’ve got for Liverpool Football Club just as he did each and every single day during the 49 years he spent here. YNWA.”

The “YNWA” at the end refers to the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” which is a favorite tune Liverpool fans sing, especially at major tournaments. The song comes from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel. 

Liverpool’s current manager, 49-year-old German Jurgen Klopp, also praised Moran, calling the late legend a “role model.”

“I am sure nobody can, or will, forget him,” said Klopp. “It’s a sad day, but on the other hand it is a day where everybody thinks about him and thinks about his very, very special story. I had the honor of meeting him last year around the League Cup final.

“Obviously I am not from Liverpool, I am not from England, and so I needed a little bit of help but when I heard about this very special story then it was really nice to meet him. It was a big honor for me.”

Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan, who is currently on loan at Burnley, tweeted: “Gutted to hear that Ronnie Moran has passed away. A true footballing man who gave me great advice. RIP #YNWA.”

Clearly, Moran’s memory will live on in many current and former Liverpool members’ hearts.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 15: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) (NO SALES) In this handout image provided by Liverpool FC, former player and manager Kenny Dalglish (C) and former captain and coach Ronnie Moran (R) attend the 24th Hillsborough Anniversary Memorial Service at Anfield on April 15, 2013 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives took part in the service at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium to mark the 24th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. A total of 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi final against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Liverpool FC via Getty Images)