Terry Yorath: Former Wales Captain and Leeds United Star Dies Aged 75
Terry Yorath, the former Welsh international who captained and later managed the Wales national football team, has died at the age of 75. As a player, Yorath was known as a combative midfielder and defender for Leeds United, becoming a regular from 1972 onwards under Don Revie and later Jimmy Armfield. He won a First Division title in 1973-74 and played in the 1975 European Cup final against Bayern Munich.
Yorath made 198 appearances for Leeds before moving to Coventry City as captain, and later to Tottenham Hotspur, concluding his top-flight career in 1981. Internationally, he earned 59 caps for Wales, 42 as captain, during a period of modest national success. As Wales manager from 1988 to 1993, he led the team to its highest-ever world ranking at that time, 27th, and came close to qualifying for the 1994 World Cup.
He later managed Lebanon, raising their ranking from 145th to 87th, and had managerial stints at Swansea City, Bradford City, Cardiff City, and Sheffield Wednesday, though these did not replicate his international success.
Born in Grangetown, Cardiff, Yorath initially played rugby at Cathays High School but excelled in football, representing Wales Schools before being signed by Leeds at 15. Despite early competition from Billy Bremner and Johnny Giles, he broke through in 1972 and featured in multiple European finals, often amidst controversy over refereeing decisions.
Yorath was also noted for his bravery off the field, helping save spectators during the 1985 Bradford fire, sustaining an injury in the process. His coaching career began at Bradford as a player-coach, before he moved into management, achieving promotion with Swansea City and later revitalizing the Wales national team.
He endured personal tragedy when his eldest son, Daniel, died at age 15 in 1992, a loss that eventually contributed to the end of his 1971 marriage to Christine Kay in 2007. Yorath is survived by three children from that marriage: Gabby, Louise, and Jordan.
Terence Charles Yorath, footballer and manager, born 27 March 1950; died 8 January 2026.