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Former Manchester United and Aston Villa goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer has died at the age of 78.
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Rimmer was part of Manchester United’s 1968 European Cup-winning squad and later helped Aston Villa win the trophy in 1982.
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He started the 1982 final against Bayern Munich but was forced off with a neck injury after just nine minutes.
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Manchester United, Aston Villa and Arsenal have all paid tribute to the former England international.
August 14, (THEWILL) — Former Manchester United, Arsenal, Swansea and Aston Villa goalkeeper, Jimmy Rimmer, has died at the age of 78, bringing an end to the life of a footballer whose career included two European Cup triumphs with two different English clubs.
Rimmer was part of Manchester United’s historic European Cup-winning squad in 1968 when Sir Matt Busby’s side defeated Benfica at Wembley. Although he did not play in the final, the goalkeeper was part of the squad that secured the club’s first European crown.
His career reached another historic milestone more than a decade later, after he established himself as Aston Villa’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Rimmer joined Villa in 1977 and became an important figure during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
He played a major role in Villa’s First Division title-winning campaign in the 1980-81 season before helping the club embark on a memorable European Cup campaign the following year.
Rimmer started every match during Villa’s run to the 1982 European Cup final against Bayern Munich in Rotterdam.
However, his moment on the biggest stage ended painfully when he was forced off early in the final after suffering an injury.
Nigel Spink replaced him and produced a remarkable performance as Villa defeated Bayern Munich 1-0, with Peter Withe scoring the only goal of the match.
Despite playing only the opening minutes, Rimmer was recognised as part of the European Cup-winning team and collected his second winners’ medal.
His achievement of winning the European Cup with both Manchester United and Aston Villa placed him in an exclusive group of players in European football history.
Rimmer spent seven years at Aston Villa and made 229 league appearances for the club. Across league and cup competitions, he made 287 appearances during his time at Villa, establishing himself as one of the club’s most respected goalkeepers.
Before moving to Villa, Rimmer had also enjoyed a successful spell at Arsenal. He won the club’s player of the season award for the 1974-75 campaign and earned his only England cap in a friendly against Italy in 1976.
He later played for Swansea City before bringing his playing career to a close.
News of Rimmer’s death prompted tributes from the clubs where he made his name.
Manchester United and Aston Villa both expressed their sadness, while Arsenal also paid tribute to the former goalkeeper.
Rimmer’s former Manchester United teammate and fellow goalkeeper, Alex Stepney, also paid tribute, describing the news as deeply sad and sending his love to Rimmer’s family.
For Aston Villa supporters, Rimmer will forever be remembered as one of the goalkeepers who helped deliver the greatest prize in the club’s history.
His early departure from the 1982 final could easily have overshadowed his contribution, but his presence throughout Villa’s European campaign and his role in the club’s title-winning era cemented his place in its history.
Rimmer leaves behind a remarkable legacy: a goalkeeper who collected European Cup winners’ medals with both Manchester United and Aston Villa and represented England at international level.
At 78, his death marks the passing of a player whose career was intertwined with some of the most important moments in English football history.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
