European Cup winner Rimmer dies aged 78

What the report says

Jimmy Rimmer, the former Aston Villa and Manchester United goalkeeper who was part of two European Cup-winning squads, has died at the age of 78, BBC Sport Football reported. The Southport-born player was on the bench for United’s 1968 European Cup final victory over Benfica, and later played a central role in Aston Villa’s rise in the early 1980s.

BBC Sport said Rimmer started Villa’s 1-0 European Cup final win over Bayern Munich in 1982, but left the match after nine minutes because of a neck injury and was replaced by Nigel Spink. He had been Villa’s first-choice goalkeeper throughout their run to the final and also played every league match in the club’s title-winning 1980-81 campaign. In total, he made 229 league appearances for Villa, after earlier spells with Arsenal and Swansea City.

The article noted that Rimmer won Arsenal’s player of the season award in 1974-75 and earned one England cap in a 1976 friendly against Italy. Aston Villa, Manchester United and Arsenal all paid tribute to him, with United saying they were deeply saddened by his death. Former United teammate Alex Stepney also posted a personal message of condolence. His death is significant because he was linked to two major eras in English club football and to one of Aston Villa’s most celebrated sides.