Terry

“Terry epitomised everything it means to represent Wales as a player, and watching the 1994 World Cup qualifying campaign with him as manager was the first time I experienced genuine belief that our country could qualify for a major tournament.

“My thoughts and condolences are with Terry’s family and friends during this difficult time, everyone in the Welsh football family will miss an incredible person.”

Yorath guided Wales to within a win of reaching the 1994 World Cup finals in the USA but his team lost 2-1 at home to Romania in Cardiff, which ultimately proved to be his final game in charge.

Barry Horne was Wales’ captain that night having been appointed skipper by Yorath and also played under him at Huddersfield Town.

“He represented his country with massive pride and distinction,” former midfielder Horne told BBC Wales’ Feast of Football podcast.

“Terry had taken Wales from not being very competitive to the brink of what I think would have been a glorious era for Welsh football.

“We had great players, we had balance, team spirit and Terry’s got to take a lot of credit for that.

“He was a leader and he had a great relationship with the players and I can’t tell you how much I owe him.

“He was a proud Welshman and he served his country through his football absolutely brilliantly.

Yorath was twice involved with taking Wales to the brink of qualification for the World Cup finals – a feat that had only previously been achieved once, in 1958.

He was captain in 1977 when Scotland controversially beat Wales 2-0 at Anfield with the first goal coming from the spot after Scotland striker Joe Jordan appeared to handle the ball in the Wales penalty box, but the decision went in the Scots’ favour.

Jordan, previously a team-mate at Leeds, was also godfather to Yorath’s daughter Gabby.

Then, as manager in 1993, Yorath had steered Wales to within a win of reaching the 1994 finals in the USA, only to see his team lose 2-1 at home to Romania.

Paul Bodin missed an opportunity to put Wales 2-1 ahead when he hit the crossbar from the penalty spot, though Yorath refused to blame the defender.

“It wasn’t Paul’s fault we lost the game. People forget [goalkeeper] Nev Southall made a hash of it for the first goal from [Gheorghe] Hagi,” he told BBC Radio Wales.

The match was Yorath’s last in charge of Wales as he was not offered a new contract.

He was inducted into the Welsh Sport Hall of Fame in 2017.