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YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE . . . Liverpool legend Ronnie Moran (left) is seen here talking tactics with the club’s former coach Brendan Rodgers. Moran died yesterday at the age of 83 after a short illness.

LIVERPOOL. — Former Liverpool captain and coach Ronnie Moran has died, aged 83. Moran’s son, Paul, confirmed his passing yesterday morning after the Anfield legend suffered from a short illness. Writing on Twitter, Paul Moran said: “I am devastated to tell everyone on behalf of the family that my dad passed away this morning after a short illness.” Moran was known as one of the Anfield “Boot Room” originals, a small area located under the Main Stand at Liverpool’s home stadium where Bill Shankly’s coaching staff would gather after training or a match and discuss all things football, along with enjoying a drink together.

The “Boot Room” became a famous part of Anfield, with subsequent managers Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish choosing to keep it at the ground, along with Moran himself when he took over the role twice in a caretaker capacity in the early 1990s.

Moran made his Liverpool senior debut in 1952, and went on to make 379 appearances for the club, including more than 340 in the league. In fact, Moran played more than 350 games for the club and spent more than 30 years on the coaching staff at Anfield, including a couple of spells in caretaker charge of the first team.

Moran worked under nine different managers during his time in the dugout. He famously led Liverpool out at Wembley in the 1992 FA Cup Final while caretaker manager while Souness was recovering from surgery.

The Crosby-born defender won 44 trophies during nearly five decades with the club. A left-back in his playing days, Moran signed for Liverpool as a schoolboy in 1949 before turning professional in 1952 and making his debut in November that year.

He won seven major honours as a player, including leading the club to the Football League First Division title in 1963-64 and 1965-66 and the FA Cup in 1964-65 as captain.

After being offered a role on the backroom staff by Bill Shankly in the pre-season of the 1966-67 season, Moran was involved as the Reds won 11 league titles and four European Cups.

Working under Shankly, Moran was known as one of the “Bootroom Boys” alongside Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish and Reuben Bennett.

Moran was assistant to Roy Evans during much of his spell as manager of the club.

Moran was known as a hard task-master and placed emphasis on discipline but was widely loved by players and staff at Anfield, who came to know him as Mr Liverpool. A Liverpool statement yesterday illustrated the high regards in which Moran was held on Merseyside.

“Liverpool Football Club is deeply saddened by the passing of Ronnie Moran. Moran, one of the most influential figures in the club’s history, has died at the age of 83,” it read.

“Ronnie is fondly remembered for his 49 years of service to Liverpool, during which time he represented the club with distinction as a player, coach, physio, reserve-team coach, assistant manager and caretaker manager.

“The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool Football Club are with Ronnie’s wife Joyce, his children, family and many friends.”

When a book cataloguing his achievements was released last month a host of famous faces of the club’s past came to celebrate him, including Phil Thompson, Phil Neal, Alan Kennedy and Jamie Carragher.

And it was Carragher who led the tributes to Moran when news of his death broke yesterday.

“Very sad news with the passing of Ronnie Moran this morning, a legendary figure @LFC & learnt me & others an awful lot. R.I.P,” he tweeted.

Everton put the teams’ fierce local rivalry aside to pay tribute to Moran, with a Toffees statement reading: “We are deeply saddened at the passing of a Merseyside football great, Ronnie Moran. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.” — The Independent.