Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer, a member of the club’s historic 1982 European Cup-winning side, has died at the age of 78.
Rimmer enjoyed a distinguished career spanning more than two decades and was one of the few English players to win the European Cup with two different clubs.
Sky Sports Premier League, in a post on X on Friday, quoted Aston Villa as confirming his death.
“Aston Villa have announced the passing of European Cup winner Jimmy Rimmer, who died at the age of 78,” the club said.
Rimmer began his senior career with Manchester United and was part of the squad that won the European Cup in 1968, although he did not feature in the final against Benfica.
He later joined Arsenal before moving to Aston Villa, where he established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. Rimmer played a key role in Villa’s 1980–81 First Division title-winning campaign and their memorable European Cup run the following season.
Villa defeated Bayern Munich 1–0 in the 1982 European Cup final in Rotterdam, with Peter Withe scoring the decisive goal. Rimmer started the final but was forced off with an injury after just nine minutes, with Nigel Spink coming on to deliver a standout performance.
Although Rimmer was unable to complete the final, he was recognised as a member of the European Cup-winning team and received his second winners’ medal.
Rimmer made 229 league appearances for Aston Villa and also represented England at senior level, earning one international cap.
