Liverpool legend Ray Kennedy dies aged 70 following battle with Parkinson’s disease
‘RIP Ray, you’ll definitely never walk alone’: Players pay tribute to Liverpool legend Ray Kennedy as he dies aged 70, after a 35-year battle with Parkinson’s disease
Ray Kennedy, 70, has died following a 35-year battle against Parkinson’s diseaseThe midfielder, who played for Liverpool and Arsenal, was diagnosed in 1986Kennedy remains a legend at Anfield, where he was for seven-and-a-half yearsHe won three European Cups and five league titles playing under Bob Paisley
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Former Arsenal, Liverpool and England footballer Ray Kennedy has died at the age of 70 following a 35-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Kennedy was a member of the Arsenal team that won the First Division and FA Cup Double in 1971 and would go on to achieve astonishing success at Anfield.
At Liverpool, the midfielder won five more league titles and the European Cup on three occasions as part of their vintage team of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Legendary manager Bob Paisley described him as ‘one of Liverpool’s greatest players and probably the most under-rated.’
Kennedy won 17 caps for England but was never able to usurp Trevor Brooking in the side and retired from the international game in 1981.
He was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s when a player at Hartlepool in the twilight of his career and struggled with the illness for the rest of his life.
Ray Kennedy (right, pictured for Liverpool in 1980) has died after battling Parkinson’s disease
Kennedy (right, playing for Arsenal in 1971) died aged 70 after a 35-year battle with the disease
Kennedy spent seven-and-a-half years with Liverpool where he became a club legend
Today former players and teammates paid tribute to the passing of a footballing legend.
Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge tweeted: ‘Yet another magnificent Ex LFC star has passed away folks, Ray Kennedy what a player and lovely bloke who suffered so much with Parkinson’s disease for most of his life.
‘He will definitely never walk alone. RIP Ray.’
Ex Liverpool defender Phil Thompson tweeted: ‘More sad news with the passing of Ray ,what a great player and such a wonderful team-mate RIP pal YNWA.’
Piers Morgan wrote: ‘RIP Ray Kennedy. Arsenal double-winning star in 1971 and one of my first footballing heroes.
‘Went on to play for Liverpool & England. Fought a long courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Very sad news.’
And former Denmark international and Liverpool player Jan Molby tweeted: ‘RIP Ray Kennedy // Maestro #LFC #Legend’.
Ronnie Whelan, who played alongside Kennedy, wrote in tribute: ‘So sad to hear of the passing of my old team mate Ray Kennedy.
‘An absolute legend at both Arsenal and Liverpool. Learned so much by watching him play. RIP Ray.’
Meanwhile, Liverpool said in a statement: ‘We are mourning legendary former player Ray Kennedy, who has passed away at the age of 70.
‘The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool Football Club are with Ray’s family and friends at this sad and difficult time.
‘Rest in peace Ray, 1951-2021.’
Kennedy spent seven-and-a-half years at Anfield and made 393 appearances for the club, scoring 72 goals.
He arrived from Arsenal in 1974 but it coincided on the same day that Bill Shankly confirmed his exit from Liverpool.
Kennedy finished his Liverpool career with five league titles, three European Cups, a UEFA Cup, a European Super Cup and one League Cup.
Kennedy pictured in 1976 with the UEFA Cup (left), Community Shield (centre) and league title
Alongside Phil Thompson (left), Kennedy (right) celebrates winning the division title in 1980
Former Liverpool players John Aldridge, Thompson and Jan Molby led the tributes on social media while Piers Morgan described Kennedy as ‘one of my first footballing heroes’ at Arsenal
Liverpool and Arsenal held a testimonial match in his honour at Highbury in 1991.
Under Paisley, Kennedy thrived as a converted midfielder before leaving Anfield to have spells with Swansea, Hartlepool and Pezoporikos, of Cyprus, before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in November 1986.
Kennedy’s passing comes just two months after Liverpool mourned the death of iconic striker Roger Hunt, after he died aged 83.
A 1966 World Cup winner with England, Hunt established himself as one of Liverpool’s greatest ever strikers.
Back in March another Liverpool great in Ian St John died at the age of 82 following a battle with illness.
St John won two First Division titles under Shankly at Anfield in 1963-64 and 1965-66 and scored the winner in the 1965 FA Cup final.
