In 1971, he joined Tranmere Rovers, where he spent three years as player-manager before serving in the same role at Barrow and Santa Barbara Condors.

In 1956, following a leg break, Yeats had a trial with Elgin City, then a Highland League club, but was not offered a contract.

[citation needed] Yeats, a stockily built 6 ft 2 in central defender, was bought by manager Bill Shankly in 1961 from United for a fee of around £20,000 and was immediately installed as captain.

[2] When Yeats was signed, Shankly was so impressed with the physical presence of his new player that he told waiting journalists "The man is a mountain, go into the dressing room and walk around him".

Shankly later described Yeats's arrival, along with that of striker Ian St John also in the 1961 close season,[6] as the "turning point" as Liverpool began their quest to compete with — and beat — the best in England and in Europe.

Yeats lived up to the reputation and the nickname ("The Colossus") his huge frame gave him, playing at the heart of Liverpool's defence for a decade and winning the club's first major honours in nearly 20 years.

[6] The next season, they won the 1964–65 FA Cup beating Leeds United 2–1 after extra time in the final at Wembley Stadium.

[6] In the 1966–67 European Cup second round, Yeats and co were given a torrid time by a Johan Cruyff inspired Ajax, who won 5–1 in Amsterdam and 7–3 on aggregate.

[8] The success of Liverpool then dried up, and he was one of the high-profile victims of a massive cull of the older players which Shankly ruthlessly undertook in 1970 in an effort to rebuild the side for a new decade.

In 1977, Yeats became the player coach of the American Soccer League's Santa Barbara Condors expansion team.

[citation needed] Returning to Liverpool, he had a short spell at the start of the 1977–78 season playing for Formby before moving to Rhyl in November 1977.