Remembering Emlyn Hughes, the Liverpool football legend

Remembering Emlyn Hughes, the Liverpool football legend

Grace Waruguru
November 15, 2023 at 4:10 PM

It is said that we should give honour where it is due, and Emlyn Hughes undoubtedly earned his before he departed. The British professional football legend was among the top Liverpool players between 1967 and 1979. Hughes' memory lives on in the football books even after his death. This article highlights his career and personal life, and what led to his demise.

Emlyn Hughes
Emlyn Hughes poses with the FA Cup trophy at Anfield in Liverpool, England, in August 1974. Photo: Harry Ormesher (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Emlyn represented his national team for 11 years but only appeared in one World Cup (1970). He served as F.C Liverpool's captain, leading the club to three league titles and an FA Cup victory. What is Emlyn Hughes remembered for? Keep scrolling and discover all about the football legend and his impressive legacy.

Emlyn Hughes' profile and bio summary

Full name

Emlyn Walter Hughes

Nickname

Crazy Horse

Date of birth

August 28, 1947

Zodiac sign

Virgo

Died

November 9, 2004

Age

57 years old (At the time of death)

Nationality

English

Place of birth

Barrow-in-Furness, England

Ethnicity

White

Religion

Freemason

Father

Fred Hughes

Marital status

Married

Spouse

Barbara

Children

Emlyn Jr. and Emma Lynn

Profession

Professional footballer

Position

Defender, midfielder

Emlyn Hughes' background

what did Emlyn Hughes die of
Emlyn Hughes gestures during the Division 2 match between Rotherham United and Chelsea F.C. on October 31, 1981 in Rotherham, England. Photo: Hugh Hastings (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Emlyn Hughes (aged 57 years old at the time of his death) was born in England on August 28, 1947. He was the son of Fred Hughes, a former professional rugby player active in the 1940s. As a young boy, Emlyn played rugby and football but specialized in the latter and pursued a career in the sport.

Emlyn Hughes' death

What happened to Emlyn Hughes? The football icon passed away on November 9, 2004, at his home in Dore, Sheffield.

How old was Emlyn Hughes when he died?

The British footballer was 57 years old when he died. The Crazy Horse, as he was popularly known, left a legacy of enthusiasm, energy, and bravery.

What did Emlyn Hughes die of?

According to online sources, Emlyn succumbed to a brain tumour that had been diagnosed in 2003. He underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy in an attempt to treat the condition, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Hughes was survived by his wife, Barbara, and their children, Emlyn Jr. and Emma Lynn.

Where is Emlyn Hughes buried?

where is Emlyn Hughes buried
Emlyn Hughes during the European Championship Qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland at Lansdowne Road, Dublin on October 25th, 1978. Photo: Bob Thomas (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Hughes' funeral service was held at the Sheffield Cathedral and led by The Dean of Sheffield, Very Reverend Peter Bradley. His body was laid to rest at Hutcliffe Cemetery, Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Is Emlyn Hughes' wife still alive?

Emlyn was married to Barbara, whom he met in 1967. She was 19 years old. According to mirror.co.uk, they met at a pub in Barrow-in-Furness while he was playing for Blackpool. She describes him as positive, ordinary, and well-mannered. They tied the knot in 1972. In her words, his relationship was extraordinary;

I think it’s time we thought about getting married – everybody’s beginning to talk about us.

Barbara and her children have been frontline supporters of a fundraising drive known as Host for Hope: Game On for the Brain Tumour Research. The initiative raises funds and awareness of brain tumours to save more lives.

Where are Emlyn Hughes' children?

According to liverpoolecho.co.uk, Emma Lynn runs a marketing agency and resides in West London. Her brother, Emlyn Jr, is a finance manager based in Manchester. Emma is married to Dave, whom she married in 2004, months before her father's demise.

Emlyn Hughes' autobiography

Emlyn Hughes statue Anfield
Liverpool unveiled a statue of Bob Paisley carrying Emlyn Hughes on his back during a 1968 match at Anfield. Photo: Peter Byrne (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Emlyn published his autobiography, Emlyn Hughes Crazy Horse, in 1980. In the 176-page publication, he writes about his eventful career and personal life. After retiring from football, the English player transitioned to media. He is remembered for hosting Princess Anne during his BBC1 show, A Question of Sport. He broke protocol by hugging the princess when she appeared on his show, an incident that earned him global popularity.

Emlyn Hughes' statue at Anfield

In 2020, Liverpool F.C. unveiled a statue of former coach Bob Paisley carrying Emlyn Hughes on his back. The scene occurred in 1968 when Paisley carried the team captain, Emlyn, out of the pitch after suffering an injury. The deceased coach spent the better part of his career with Liverpool.

How many trophies did Emlyn Hughes win?

The renowned footballer made 62 appearances for England, 23 as a captain. He led the team to win numerous titles. Emlyn Hughes coined ''Liverpool are magic, Everton are tragic'' after winning the 1977 Euro Cup. Other career achievements include:

  • FA Cup - 1973.73
  • FA Charity Shield - 1974, 1976, 1977
  • Football Writers Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year - 1977
  • Office of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) - 1980
where is Emlyn Hughes buried
Emlyn Hughes was named the Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year in 1977. Photo: Evening Standard (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Is Emlyn Hughes still alive? The athlete's legacy lives on through his family and football fans. He played an integral role in Liverpool, setting a standard worth emulating by upcoming players. Eight days after his death, England players wore black arm bands during a match against Spain, marking the end of a life well lived.

READ ALSO: The top 20 Liverpool legends of all time

Sports Brief published an article listing the top 20 football legends. These individuals set the standard for the newer players thanks to their incredible achievements. Who are some of these players?

61-year-old James Rush tops the list. The English/Welsh player scored 346 goals in 660 games, a record yet to be broken. William Beveridge Liddell, also known as Billy Liddell, joined the club as a teenager in 1938 and retired in 1961. Check out the article above to see the Liverpool history-makers and their achievements.

Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.