Ray Kennedy, the Liverpool legend and winner of three European Cups, dies at age 70. He had been battling Parkinson’s for 35 years.

  • Ray Kennedy (70) has passed away after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
  • This midfielder played for Arsenal as well as Liverpool.
  • Kennedy is still a legend at Anfield where he lived for seven-and a half years
  • Under Bob Paisley, he won five league titles and three European Cups. 











Ray Kennedy, a retired England and Liverpool footballer, died after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Kennedy, a member the Arsenal team which won the First Division Cup Double and FA Cup Double in 1971 would continue to enjoy remarkable success at Anfield.

As part of Liverpool’s vintage team in the 1970s and 1980s, the Liverpool midfielder was awarded five additional league titles as well as the European Cup.

Bob Paisley, the legendary Liverpool manager described Paisley to be ‘one Liverpool’s greatest player and perhaps the most underrated.

Kennedy earned 17 England caps but could not overtake Trevor Brooking. He retired from international football in 1981.

When he was a Hartlepool player in his twilight years of his career, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and continued to struggle with it throughout his entire life.

Ray Kennedy (right, pictured for Liverpool in 1980) has died after battling Parkinson's disease

Ray Kennedy, right (pictured in 1980 for Liverpool) died from Parkinson’s Disease.

Kennedy (right, playing for Arsenal in 1971) died aged 70 after a 35-year battle with the disease

Kennedy (right), who played for Arsenal in 1970, died after a 35 year battle with the disease

Kennedy spent seven-and-a-half years with Liverpool where he became a club legend

Kennedy was a Liverpool legend for seven and a half years.

John Aldridge was a Liverpool striker who tweeted, “Yet another spectacular Ex LFC star passed away folks. Ray Kennedy! What a player. Lovely bloke. He suffered from Parkinson’s disease for the majority of his life. He will never be alone. Ray, RIP. 

Former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson posted the following tweet after hearing the announcement: “More sad news about Ray. What a great player, such a fantastic team-mate RIP pal YNWA.”

Jan Molby, a former Liverpool and Denmark international player tweeted the following: “RIP Ray Kennedy // Mestro #LFC #Legend”

Piers Morgan, an Arsenal fan and television personality wrote “RIP Ray Kennedy.” Arsenal’s double-winning football star from 1971, and also one of my first heroes in football. 

Kennedy pictured in 1976 with the UEFA Cup (left), Community Shield (centre) and league title

Kennedy pictured 1976, with the UEFA Cup and Community Shield (left), as well as the league title

Alongside Phil Thompson (left), Kennedy (right) celebrates winning the division title in 1980

Kennedy celebrates his 1980 win of the Division title with Phil Thompson (left)

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

John Aldridge, Thompson, and Jan Molby were the former Liverpool players who paid tributes to Kennedy via social media. Piers Morison described Kennedy at Arsenal as “one of my very first footballing heroes”.

‘Went on to play for Liverpool & England. Fought a long courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. This is very sad. 

Kennedy was at Anfield for seven and a half years, making 393 appearances. He also scored 72 goals.

Although he was transferred to Arsenal from 1974, his arrival coincided with Bill Shankly’s announcement of his resignation from Liverpool.

Kennedy ended his Liverpool career winning five league titles as well three European Cups and one League Cup.  

Kennedy excelled under Paisley as a convert midfielder, leaving Anfield in order to play spells for Swansea and Hartlepool before being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. 

Kennedy (right, pictured in 1978) joined Liverpool the same day Bill Shankly revealed his exit

Kennedy, right (pictured in 1978), joined Liverpool on the same day that Bill Shankly announced his departure

Two months ago Liverpool mourned the death of Roger Hunt, one of their finest ever strikers

Liverpool’s greatest striker Roger Hunt died in February. 

In March, Liverpool icon Ian St John passed away at the age of 82 following a battle with illness

Following a lengthy battle with illness in March, Liverpool legend Ian St John died at the age-82. 

Kennedy’s death is two months after Liverpool had mourned Roger Hunt’s tragic passing at age 83.

Hunt was a 1966 World Cup champion with England and established himself as Liverpool’s greatest ever striker.

After a long battle with illness, Ian St John, another Liverpool legend, died in March at the age 82. 

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.   

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