The year was 1965, and Liverpool found themselves in European competition for the first time in their history. Led by manager Bill Shankly, the Reds had already defeated Knattspyrnufelag Reykjavikur and Anderlecht to set up a clash with Cologne. However, after two goalless draws in both legs, a replay was scheduled in Rotterdam.
In a time when penalties were not used to decide games, the organizers came up with a rather bizarre solution – a coin toss. The winner would progress to the semi-finals to face Inter Milan, while the loser would be eliminated from the competition. Liverpool captain Ron Yeats had the responsibility of making the right call.
Ian St John and Roger Hunt quickly put Liverpool in a comfortable 2-0 lead within 37 minutes, but Cologne fought back to equalize by the 48th minute. Three games in three different countries, and yet no winner could be determined. Faced with the prospect of an indefinite period of play, Belgian referee Robert Schaut decided to settle the tie with a coin toss.
Yeats and Cologne skipper Wolfgang Overath joined the referee in the center circle, but even the coin toss didn’t go smoothly due to the pitch conditions. Eventually, after a retoss, Liverpool emerged victorious when the coin landed on tails.
As they walked off the pitch, Bill Shankly greeted Yeats with his typical wit, saying, “Well done, big man. I am proud of you. What did you pick?” Yeats replied, “I picked tails, boss,” expecting praise. Shankly simply responded, “I would have picked tails myself” and walked away.
Liverpool advanced to face Inter Milan, but their journey in their first taste of European football ended with a thrilling yet gut-wrenching contest. After securing a 3-1 advantage at Anfield, they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the San Siro, resulting in their elimination from the competition.
The coin toss victory remains a unique and memorable moment in Liverpool’s history. While it’s unlikely that we will see such a decision in modern football, it serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the sport.