Former Manchester United, Arsenal, and Aston Villa goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer, a two-time European Cup winner, has died at the age of 78.
Jimmy Rimmer, a goalkeeper who won the European Cup with English sides Manchester United and Aston Villa 14 years apart, has died at the age of 78.
Aston Villa announced Rimmer's death without providing further details, paying tribute to him as "one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation, and arguably one of the unluckiest when it came to big occasions."
Rimmer earned his first European Cup winner's medal in 1968 as a backup on the bench for Manchester United in their 4-1 final victory over Benfica at Wembley Stadium, serving as deputy to Alex Stepney. Fourteen years later in 1982, he started for Aston Villa in the final against Bayern Munich in Rotterdam, Netherlands, but was forced off with a neck injury after nine minutes. Though in tears in the locker room, he joined the post-match celebrations following Peter Withe's match-winning goal.
Rimmer started all nine of Villa's matches in their 1982 European Cup campaign, having played every match during their English league title-winning season the previous year. He was at Manchester United from 1965 to 1974, spent three years at Arsenal, and played for Aston Villa between 1977 and 1983. He also represented England once, playing in a friendly against Italy in 1976.
In a statement published on X, Manchester United expressed that it was "deeply saddened" by his passing, adding: "Our thoughts are with Jimmy’s loved ones at this difficult time."
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.