Jimmy Rimmer, European Cup winner with Aston Villa, dies at 78

Jimmy Rimmer, the former goalkeeper who won the European Cup with Aston Villa and played for Manchester United, has died at the age of 78. Rimmer, who was born in Southport, was part of the Manchester United squad that triumphed over Benfica in the 1968 European Cup final, although he did not play in that match.

Rimmer's career is particularly marked by his pivotal role in Aston Villa's success during the early 1980s. He was in goal for Villa's 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup final but was replaced by Nigel Spink after just nine minutes due to a neck injury. Rimmer had been instrumental in Villa's journey to the final, starting every match in that campaign, as well as during their league title-winning season in 1980-81.

Over his career, Rimmer made 229 league appearances for Aston Villa and also played for Swansea City and Arsenal. He was recognized for his talent, winning Arsenal's player of the season award in 1974-75. Additionally, Rimmer earned one cap for the England national team in a friendly against Italy in 1976. His contributions to the game have left a lasting legacy in English football.

Both Aston Villa and Manchester United expressed their sorrow at Rimmer’s passing. Arsenal also paid tribute to the former player. Rimmer’s former United teammate, Alex Stepney, shared his condolences on social media, highlighting the sadness surrounding Rimmer's death. His impact on the clubs he represented and the memories he created will be remembered by fans and fellow players alike.