European Cup Winner John Rimmer Passes Away at 78
Aston Villa and Manchester United are "deeply saddened" by the death of former goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer, who has passed away at the age of 78.
Rimmer, a Southport-born goalkeeper, was on the bench when United beat Benfica to win the 1968 European Cup. He also started Villa's 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup final, though he was replaced by Nigel Spink after nine minutes due to a neck injury.
Rimmer made 229 league appearances for Villa, and also spent time with Swansea City and Arsenal. He won the latter's player of the season award in 1974-75. At Villa, he started every game of their run to the final in 1982, as he did in their league title-winning campaign of 1980-81.
Rimmer earned one England cap in a friendly against Italy in 1976. He was remembered fondly by his former United team-mate Alex Stepney, a fellow goalkeeper, who said 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."
Aston Villa and Manchester United have paid tribute to Rimmer, acknowledging his contributions to the clubs. Arsenal also paid tribute, highlighting Rimmer's time with the club. His legacy as a goalkeeper will be remembered by fans of both Villa and United.
The news of Rimmer's death comes as a shock to the football community, with many remembering his achievements on the pitch. His former clubs and teammates will no doubt be reflecting on his time with them, and the impact he had on the game.
Source: BBC Sports