India, Jan. 9 -- Terry Yorath, the former title-winning midfield enforcer for Leeds who captained Wales and came agonizingly close to qualifying his national team for the 1994 World Cup as its coach, has died following a short illness. He was 75.

Yorath's death was announced on Thursday in a statement by his family to British media. "To most he was a revered footballing hero," his children, including BBC TV presenter Gabby Logan, said in the statement, "but to us he was Dad; a quiet, kind and gentle man."

The Football Association of Wales described Yorath as a "tough, intelligent and commanding midfielder" whose time as Wales coach "helped restore belief, competitiveness and national pride" in the national team. Yorath played 59 games f...