Tommy Smith (soccer player, 1945)

Tommy Smith
Personnel
Surname	Thomas Smith
birthday	April 5, 1945
place of birth	Liverpool ,  England
date of death	April 12, 2019
Place of death	Liverpool ,  England
position	Defender
Men's
Years	station	Games (goals) 1
1962-1988	Liverpool FC	467 (36)
1976	→  Tampa Bay Rowdies  (loan)	17 0(0)
1978	Los Angeles Aztecs	12 0(0)
1978-1979	Swansea City	36 0(2)
National team
Years	selection	Games (goals)
1965-1968	England U 23	10 0(2)
1971	England	1 0(0)
1 Only league games are given.

Thomas "Tommy" Smith (born April 5, 1945 in Liverpool , † April 12, 2019 ibid) was an English football player . The defender was part of the then very successful Liverpool FC in the 1960s and 1970s . The temporary team captain in a central defensive position and as a full-back was characterized above all by a great duel strength.

Athletic career

Liverpool FC (1962–1978)

Tommy Smith joined at the age of 15 years on May 19, 1960 to that of Bill Shankly trained Liverpool and came nearly three years later, on May 8, 1963 on the last day of the season with a 5: 1 win over Birmingham City in Anfield for the first time in the professional team. In the following season, however, he did not play a league game and could therefore not contribute to winning the championship this season. Tommy Smith scored his first goal in the 3-2 defeat on August 29, 1964 against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park .

In 1965 Smith developed into a regular player at Liverpool FC and he played a decisive role in the club winning the FA Cup for the first time in its history . The team had been able to defeat Leeds United 2-1 after extra time in the final on May 1, 1965 . Contrary to common practice, Smith was given the number 10 jersey by Billy Shankly, which at the time was normally reserved for a somewhat lagging striker and could possibly have confused the opposing team a little. Winning the English league title in the 1965/66 season should bring Smith the first of four championship medals. Nevertheless, the season ended with a slightly bland aftertaste, as he and his team in Hampden Park lost the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup against Borussia Dortmund 2-1. If Smith had won this trophy at this point in time, he would have become one of the few football players who could win all three major trophies in European club football in view of his subsequent European Cup successes.

After the English championship title in 1966, Liverpool FC suffered a sporting drought. When finally in the 1969/70 season a disappointing defeat against Watford FC on Vicarage Road had to be accepted, Shankly decided on an extensive renovation and a significant rejuvenation of the team. Along with Ian Callaghan , Chris Lawler and Emlyn Hughes, Smith was one of the few "survivors" who, together with Alec Lindsay , Brian Hall and Ray Clemence, who had been promoted from the reserve team , put up the new scaffolding - and Steve Heighway , John Toshack (and later nor Kevin Keegan ) join the new team. Smith led the team from then on as captain and moved into the FA Cup final in 1971, which however was lost 2-1 to Arsenal . Two years later, Smith accepted his second English championship trophy as team captain and expanded the success to a " double " after Liverpool FC defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-2 in the final of the UEFA Cup .

Shankly later transferred the captaincy to Emlyn Hughes, mainly for disciplinary reasons, as Smith had previously complained about a disregard. Upon his return, Smith switched from the former central defensive position to the role of a full-back and rehabilitated himself in the favor of his coach. Still, it was Hughes who received the FA Cup trophy from Princess Anne on May 4, 1974 after Liverpool FC beat Newcastle United 3-0 in the final . In the game itself, Smith had previously prepared Kevin Keegan's third goal .

With the up-and-coming young talents Phil Thompson and Phil Neal as new alternatives in defense, Smith played a little fewer games from now on, although his contribution to winning another English championship and another UEFA Cup title in 1976 remained relatively large - in the championship he came to 24 appearances and he played in both UEFA Cup finals on the left-back. Smith then announced that the 1976/77 season would be his last season with Liverpool. He found himself on the bench for much of the 1977/78 season, but was able to return to the team after an injury to Phil Thompson during a 1-0 win against Newcastle United in March 1977, which was then again English champions. The defeat by Manchester United in the FA Cup final ensured that Smith was deprived of the opportunity for a " triple ", especially since the triumph in the European Cup in Rome was to follow only a few days later . In the final, Smith and his team faced Borussia Mönchengladbach again and Smith scored the 2-1 lead with a header - in the end Liverpool FC won 3-1.

Two days after the victory in Rome, Smith came to Anfield for his "testimonial match", where he was honored for his long service to the club in a kind of "personal benefit game". In front of 35,694 spectators, the game against a team composed by Bobby Charlton ended 9: 9. Mainly because of the recent positive impressions, Smith then postponed his previously announced resignation from Liverpool and extended his engagement for another year. Due to a foot injury sustained in a garden accident in April 1978, however, he had to end the season prematurely and thereby missed the successful title defense of the European championship cup in 1978 .

Swansea City (1978-1979)

After a total of 638 competitive appearances for Liverpool FC, Smith moved to the Welsh club Swansea City after a brief stopover in the NASL with the Los Angeles Aztecs . In his final season as an active soccer player, he led the team trained by his former teammate John Toshack to advance to the Third Division . A year after his appointment as Master of the British Empire , Smith resigned for good. It was noteworthy that despite his long membership in a Liverpool team that was successful across Europe, he was denied a career as an England international . After appearances in youth selections and the U-23 team, his first international match against Wales at Wembley Stadium on the occasion of the British Home Championship was his last in 1971 .

After active football and retrospect

Although Smith worked briefly as a youth coach at Liverpool FC, he largely retired from the football business after his active career. Due to his reluctance, he strengthened a certain legendary status in his own followers , which comes to light above all when lectures are given about the former "tough men" in English football. Smith, who was referred to as "Anfield Iron" during his career, was not only considered a tough two-man fighter, but also frequently fought verbal duels with the opponent and the referee on the field . Especially among companions who were also considered to be very physical, - including Jack Charlton , Norman Hunter and Ron Harris - the long-time Liverpool defender received great respect.

Smith temporarily owned a restaurant in Wigan called "The Smithy". His health had to take its toll on the way he played, and hip replacement surgery and worsening arthritis were just some of the mounting problems Smith later struggled with. He then lived secluded in the area of Crosby and regularly attended the games of Liverpool FC. In a recently published poll of the best Liverpool players of all time (“100 Players Who Shook The Kop”), Smith came in 25th. On June 6, 2007, Smith suffered a heart attack and had to undergo bypass surgery.

He developed Alzheimer's disease and has lived in a nursing home since before his condition worsened in early 2019. Tommy Smith died on April 12, 2019 at the age of 74 in his hometown of Liverpool. He left a son and a daughter.

successes

• European champion cup: 1977
• UEFA Cup winners: 1973, 1976
• UEFA Super Cup winner: 1977
• English champion: 1966, 1973, 1976, 1977
• FA Cup winners: 1965, 1974
• Charity Shield Winner: 1965 (shared), 1966, 1974

Web links

• Datasheet on LFChistory.net
• Profile on englandfootballonline.com
• Profile on nasljerseys.com

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Rest in Peace Tommy Smith on liverpoolfc.com (English)