Overview
- Aston Villa announced on Friday that former goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer has died at the age of 78 and the club offered condolences to his family.
- Rimmer won European Cup medals with Manchester United in 1968 as an unused substitute and with Aston Villa in 1982 after starting the final but leaving with a neck injury nine minutes into the match.
- He was Villa’s first-choice keeper from 1977 to 1983, made roughly 287 appearances for the club, and played every match in the team’s 1980–81 First Division title season.
- Clubs including Manchester United and Arsenal and former team-mates such as Alex Stepney and Dennis Mortimer have paid public tribute, praising his quality and contribution to their histories.
- Rimmer later worked in coaching and had spells abroad, no cause of death has been disclosed, and supporters and Villa officials are expected to mark his contribution to the club in coming days.