Jimmy Rimmer dies aged 78 as Aston Villa and Manchester United pay tribute

RIP

The Southport-born keeper was on the bench when Manchester United beat Benfica in 1968, and started Aston Villa’s 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the 1982 final before a neck injury forced him off after nine minutes, BBC Sport reported.

Villa was where Rimmer did his best work. He joined in 1977 and made 229 league appearances for the club, playing every league game of the 1980-81 title-winning season and starting the European Cup final that followed.

He also spent three years at Arsenal, where he was voted player of the season in 1974-75 and won his only England cap against Italy in 1976, and later played for Swansea City, Luton Town and Hamrun Spartans.

Aston Villa and Manchester United pay tribute to Jimmy Rimmer

Both clubs said they were “deeply saddened”. Among the tributes paid to the former goalkeeper, Villa said:

"Rimmer was one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation, and arguably one of the unluckiest when it came to big occasions. Despite collecting two European Cup winner’s medals, he wasn’t on the pitch at the end of either final."

Aston Villa

His former United team-mate Alex Stepney, a fellow goalkeeper, wrote on social media: “Such sad news to hear Jimmy Rimmer has passed away, rest in peace and lots of love to Jimmy’s family x.” Villa added that the thoughts of everyone at the club were with Rimmer’s family and friends.