Aston Villa European Cup Hero Jimmy Rimmer Dies at 78

(Jimmy Rimmer. Photo by Sky Sports Premier League)

Jimmy Rimmer, the former Aston Villa goalkeeper who was part of the club’s storied 1982 European Cup-winning squad, has died at 78.

Rimmer carved out a career spanning over two decades and became one of a select group of players to claim the European Cup with two separate English clubs.

Rimmer started his career at Manchester United, where he was in the squad that lifted the European Cup in 1968, though he did not feature in the final against Benfica.

He subsequently signed for Arsenal before transferring to Aston Villa, where he became the club’s primary goalkeeper.

His performances proved instrumental during Villa’s successful 1980–81 First Division championship campaign and their subsequent European Cup triumph.

In the 1982 European Cup final in Rotterdam, Villa defeated Bayern Munich 1–0, with Peter Withe converting the winning goal.

Rimmer took the field at the start but suffered an injury after nine minutes, forcing him to leave the match. Nigel Spink replaced him and delivered an outstanding showing.

Despite his abbreviated appearance, Rimmer was credited as a member of the European Cup-winning team and received his second winners’ medal.

Throughout his tenure at Aston Villa, Rimmer made 229 league appearances and also earned one senior international cap for England.