Former Aston Villa and Manchester United goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer has died at the age of 78.
An ever-present during Villa’s title-winning campaign in 1980-81, Rimmer is famously remembered for coming off with a neck injury just nine minutes into the 1982 European Cup final, which Villa won 1-0 against Bayern Munich in Rotterdam.
It was the second time he had watched his side win a European final from the sidelines, having been a substitute 14 years earlier when Manchester United beat Benfica at Wembley.
In a statement released on Friday morning, Villa said: “Aston Villa is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of European Cup winner Jimmy Rimmer, who has died at the age of 78.
“The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Jimmy’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
“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.”
The one-cap England international was replaced by Nigel Spink, who kept a clean sheet as Peter Withe scored the second-half winner to secure Villa’s only European Cup title to date.
Spink went on to take over as first-choice keeper, with Rimmer departing for Swansea in 1983 after making more than 200 appearances for the club.
Having started his career at Old Trafford where he was unable to displace Alex Stepney, Rimmer joined Arsenal in 1974 before moving to Villa three years later.
Manchester United also posted a tribute to Rimmer on social media following the news of his passing.
The message read: “Manchester United are deeply saddened by the loss of our former goalkeeper, Jimmy Rimmer. Our thoughts are with Jimmy’s loved ones at this difficult time.”
Following his time at Swansea, Rimmer had brief spells as Maltese club Hamrun Spartan and Luton Town before he retired in 1986.
After hanging up his boots, Rimmer took up a role as a goalkeeping coach at Swansea, before having two spells as caretaker manager in the 1995-96 season.
He went on to spend several years in China, working as a goalkeeping coach for the national team and club side Dalian Shide.
