When people ask how did tommy smith die, they are usually looking for the end of a story about one of the toughest men to ever lace up a pair of boots. We're talking about the "Anfield Iron." This was a man Bill Shankly once famously described by saying he wasn't born, he was quarried.
Smith didn't just play football; he went to war on the pitch for Liverpool. But the way he passed away was a sharp, quiet contrast to the thunderous way he lived his life as the heartbeat of the Kop’s defense.
The Long Battle with Dementia
Tommy Smith died on April 12, 2019. He was 74 years old. Honestly, for those who had followed his later years, the news wasn't a total shock, but it was a heavy blow. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at the Green Heyes nursing home in Waterloo, Crosby.
His daughter, Janette Simpson, mentioned at the time that she was actually on her way to see him and missed his final moments by just a few minutes.
The primary cause of death was complications from dementia. He had been fighting the condition for years, having been officially diagnosed back in 2014. It’s a tragic irony that a man known for such a sharp, tactical mind and a terrifyingly presence on the field would be taken by a disease that slowly fades the memory.
A Body Worn Down by the Game
It wasn't just the dementia, though. Smith’s body was a map of his career.
He suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis. By the end, he was using a wheelchair most of the time. Decades of "putting it about" and throwing himself into tackles that would probably get you a lifetime ban in today’s game took a massive physical toll.
- Diagnosis: Dementia/Alzheimer's (2014)
- Physical health: Severe arthritis and increasing frailty
- Location: Green Heyes Nursing Home
- Final Moments: Passed away at 4:30 PM
The last three months of his life were particularly rough. He became increasingly frail as various ailments caught up with him. It's a tough pill to swallow when you realize that the same "iron" that made him a legend also meant he played through injuries that likely contributed to his long-term decline.
Misconceptions and Other "Tommy Smiths"
You’ve got to be careful when searching for this because there are a few famous Tommy Smiths.
Sometimes people get him confused with Tommie Smith—the American Olympic sprinter who famously raised his fist in the 1968 Black Power salute. As of early 2026, Tommie Smith is still very much alive and remains an active voice in civil rights.
Then there’s the younger Tommy Smith, the father of TikTok star Everleigh Rose. That’s a completely different and much more recent tragedy. He died in September 2022 at only 29 years old from an accidental fentanyl overdose. If you’re seeing search results about a "sudden" or "unexpected" death of a Tommy Smith, it’s almost certainly about him and not the Liverpool legend.
There was also a famous American jockey named Crompton "Tommy" Smith Jr. who passed away in 2013 due to complications from a riding accident that had left him paralyzed years earlier.
Why the "Anfield Iron" Label Matters
To understand why his death resonated so much in Liverpool, you have to understand the 1977 European Cup Final in Rome.
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Smith had already planned to retire. He was 32, which was "old" for a defender back then. He had a buckled knee. But he stayed on. In the 64th minute, he rose like a titan to head in the goal that put Liverpool 2-1 up against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
That goal didn't just win a trophy; it cemented his status as a literal god in Merseyside. He played 638 games for the club. You don’t do that without being made of something different.
The Legacy Left Behind
When Tommy Smith passed, the tributes weren't just about his skill. They were about his terrifying reputation. He used to hand opponents the "menu"—a list of the tackles they were going to receive if they came near his box.
But off the field? He was a writer. He wrote a column for the Liverpool Echo for 35 years. He only stopped in 2014 when the dementia made it too difficult to continue.
If you're looking for lessons from his life and passing, it’s a sobering look at the long-term health of contact sports athletes. Smith himself never complained—he loved the game too much—but his later struggles with Alzheimer’s have become part of the broader conversation about head injuries in football.
Next Steps for Fans and Researchers:
If you want to honor his memory or learn more about the era he defined, look up his autobiography I’m The Anfield Iron. It’s a raw, unapologetic look at a vanished world of football. Also, checking out the official Liverpool FC foundation can give you insight into how they support former players dealing with the same health issues that Tommy faced in his final decade.