Joey Jones, the former Liverpool, Wrexham and Wales defender, has died at the age of 70. The left-back made 100 appearances for Liverpool during a trophy-laden three-year spell, winning two European Cups, a Uefa Cup and a league title.
Jones, born in Llandudno, earned 72 caps for Wales and played for Chelsea and Huddersfield Town before starting and ending his career at Wrexham. With Wrexham, he won the Welsh Cup and helped the club reach the FA Cup quarter-finals in 1974.
His former Wales teammate Mickey Thomas paid tribute on X, writing: '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.'
Jones was immortalised in a banner carried by Liverpool fans at the 1977 European Cup final, which read: 'Joey ate the frogs legs, made the Swiss roll, now he’s munching Gladbach.' The banner referenced victories over Saint-Étienne and FC Zürich. Jones said: 'I guess that’s why the fans identified with me because I’d give it my all and I was one of them.'
After retiring, Jones had a brief spell as Wrexham caretaker manager and returned as youth-team ambassador in 2021. Wrexham AFC said they were 'devastated' to learn of his passing, describing him as 'a true Club legend'. The Football Association of Wales called him 'an iconic figure who defined a generation'.
