European Cup Winner Jimmy Rimmer, Formerly of Aston Villa and Manchester United, Dies at 78

Jimmy Rimmer, a former goalkeeper for Aston Villa and Manchester United, with whom he won the European Cup, has passed away at the age of 78. The news was officially announced by the Birmingham club.

Rimmer was part of the Aston Villa squad that triumphed in the English league in 1981. However, he will also be remembered for his unusual fate in the finals of Europe's most prestigious club tournament. In the 1982 Rotterdam final, which Villa won 1-0 against Bayern Munich, he was forced to leave the pitch after just nine minutes due to a neck injury.

This wasn't the first time Rimmer witnessed his team's triumph from the sidelines. Fourteen years earlier, in 1968, he was an unused substitute for Manchester United in their victory over Benfica at Wembley Stadium.

Aston Villa released a special statement regarding his passing: “Aston Villa is deeply saddened to announce the passing of European Cup winner Jimmy Rimmer, who died at 78. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Jimmy's family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. Rimmer was one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation and one of the unluckiest, as despite twice becoming a European club champion, he wasn't on the pitch for his teams at the end of the matches.”

During his career, Jimmy Rimmer also earned one cap for the England national team.