Looking back: Sporting stars who passed away in 2021

Gulf News takes a look back at sporting celebrities who died in 2021. Ian St John, 82, Liverpool and Scotland forward: The Liverpool star helped Bill Shankly’s side win their first FA Cup in 1965 and went on to play for the Reds 425 games. ‘The Saint’ was also capped 21 times for Scotland before making a career as a pundit alongside Jimmy Greaves on the ITV show ‘Saint and Greavsie’.

Jimmy Greaves, 81, England striker and Tottenham’s record goalscorer: Sadly, St John’s co-host Greaves also passed away last year. The former Chelsea, AC Milan, Spurs and West Ham forward scored 44 goals in 57 games for England and was a member of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad. he also holds the record for most goals in the English top flight at 357.

Roger Hunt, Liverpool and England striker, 83: Affectionately known as ‘Sir Roger’ by the Liverpool faithful, Hunt was also part of the Wembley Wizards that won the Jules Rimet trophy in 1966. Scored 285 goals in 492 Liverpool appearances.

Ron Flowers, 87, England and Wolves midfielder: The third member of Alf Ramsey’s World Cup-winning squad to die in 2021, Flowers was a Wolves legend in the 1950s and 60s

Bertie Auld, 83, Celtic ‘Lisbon Lion’: Auld was part of the Celtic team that lifted the European Cup in 1967 — the first British club to claim the trophy — and also won five Scottish league titles, three Scottish Cups and four League Cups

Walter Smith, 73, Rangers, Everton and Scotland manager: Smith won 21 trophies over two stints as Rangers manager — including seven or the club’s famous nine-in-a-row run in the 1990s.

Frank Worthington, 72, Leicester and England striker: Worthington made more than 200 appearances for the Foxes and also had successful periods at Bolton, Birmingham City, Southampton, Leeds United and Sunderland

Colin Bell, 74, Manchester City and England midfielder: Bell made more than 50 appearances for City between 1966 and 1979, scoring 153 goals. He was also capped by England 48 times

Ray Kennedy, 70, Liverpool and Arsenal midfielder: Kennedy won the First Division and FA Cup double with the Gunners in 1971, before moving to Anfield and won five league titles and three European Cups

Peter Lorimer, 74, Leeds United’s record goalscorer: Scotland’s Lorimer was one of Leeds’ most celebrated stars, scoring 238 goals in more than 700 appearances, winning two league titles, the FA Cup and League Cup

Paul Mariner, 68, Ipswich and England striker: Mariner helped Bobby Robson’s Ipswich win the 1978 FA Cup and 1981 UEFA Cup. He also played for Arsenal and Portsmouth and made 35 appearances for England

Glenn Roeder, 65, legendary player and manager: The former Watford, West Ham, Newcastle and Norwich also played for Leyton Orient, Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle, Watford and Gillingham

Gerd Muller, 75, Bayern Munich and Germany striker: Muller was a legendary striker for club and country, scoring the goal that won the 1974 World Cup. He also scored 547 goals in 594 competitive games during 15 seasons at Bayern

Murray Walker, 97, Formula 1 commentator: The voice of F1 began commentating in 1949 and carved out a career that spanned almost 70 years

Frank Williams, 79, Formula 1 team founder: The Williams F1 team founder managed to mould the team into a true contender in the elite motorsport, winning nine Constructors’ Championships and seven Drivers’ Championships

Sabine Schmitz, 51, Only woman to win the Nurburgring 24 Hours: Schmitz famously claimed the touring car 24-hour race at the 14-mile Nurburgring Nordschleife twice in the 1990s before becoming a regular on the TV show ‘Top Gear’

Ted Dexter, 86, England and Sussex cricket captain: All-rounder ‘Lord Ted’ played 62 Tests for England and was made captain from 1961 to 1964. Later became chairman of selectors for England

Ray Illingworth, 89, Former England cricket captain, coach and administrator: Illingworth made his England debut in 1958 and went on to become a commentator and England’s chairman of selectors

John Dawes, 80, Wales and Lions rugby union captain and coach: Dawes is the only man to have been captain and coach of both Wales and British & Irish Lions. Claimed the 1971 Five Nations Grand Slam before leading the Lions to their one and only series win over New Zealand

John Pullin, 79, England rugby union captain: Pullin led England in the late 1960s and 70s, leading the men in white to wins over New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in 1972-73

Lee Elder, 87, First black golfer to play in the US Masters: Elder made history at the Masters in 1975. He went on to play at Augusta five more times from 1977 to 1981

Andy Fordham, 59, World darts champion: Andy Fordham won the BDO championship in 2004 after missing out in the semi-finals four times. Made the headlines for massive weight loss later in life

Marvin Hagler, 66, World middleweight champion: Hagler dominated middleweight boxing for almost from 1979, winning 62 of his 67 fights

Leon Spinks, 67, World heavyweight champion: 1976 Olympic champion Spinks became world heavyweight champ with a famous split-decision over Muhammad Ali in one of the biggest boxing upsets of all time