Emlyn Hughes

Liverpool captain who lifted two European Cups and made 665 appearances for the club.

Emlyn Walter Hughes (28 August 1947 – 9 November 2004) was an English footballer. He started his career at Blackpool in 1964 before moving to Liverpool in 1967. He made 665 appearances for Liverpool and captained the side to three league titles, an FA Cup in 1974, two European Cups (the only captain to have lifted the trophy for the club twice), including Liverpool's first in 1977; and two UEFA Cups. Hughes was named the Football Writers' Player of the Year in 1977.

Quick Facts

Full name: Emlyn Walter Hughes
Height: 5 ft 10.5 in / 1.79 m
Born: 28 August 1947
Birthplace: Barrow-in-Furness, England
Died: 9 November 2004
Place of death: Sheffield, England
Position: Defender, midfielder
Total caps: 632

Lore & Background

After twelve years at Liverpool, where he earned the nickname 'Crazy Horse' for his energy and enthusiasm for the game, he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1979 where he completed a full set of English football domestic honours by winning the League Cup in 1980. In addition to Wolves, he later played for Rotherham United, Hull City, Mansfield Town and Swansea City. Hughes earned 62 caps for the England national team, which he also captained 23 times. After retiring from football, he worked as a media personality, mainly with the BBC. He was made an OBE in 1980 for his services to sport. Hughes died of a brain tumour, aged 57, in 2004. In 2026 Hughes was listed at number 17 in an official club poll of Liverpool's greatest players.

Reader's Guide

Emlyn Hughes was born in Barrow-in-Furness, the son of Fred Hughes, a Great Britain, Wales, Barrow, and Workington Town rugby league footballer. He began his professional career at Blackpool in 1964, making his debut as an inside forward, later playing at left-half. He joined Liverpool in February 1967 for £65,000, making his debut on 4 March 1967. He scored his first goal for Liverpool on 26 August 1967.

Hughes settled into midfield, earning the nickname 'Crazy Horse' for his energy and enthusiasm. He was versatile, filling in at left back and central defence. He made his England debut on 5 November 1969 against the Netherlands. He scored his only international goal against Wales in 1972.

Hughes was part of England's 1970 World Cup squad but did not play. He captained Liverpool to the 1974 FA Cup, the 1977 European Cup, and the 1978 European Cup. He was voted Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year in 1977. He left Liverpool in 1979 for Wolverhampton Wanderers, winning the League Cup in 1980.

He later played for Rotherham United, Hull City, Mansfield Town, and Swansea City. He was made an OBE in 1980 for his services to sport.

Did You Know?

Hughes made 665 appearances for Liverpool, not 657.
Hughes was appointed OBE in 1980 for his services to sport, not MBE for services to Association Football.