Former Villa title-winning keeper Jimmy Rimmer dead at 78

Jimmy Rimmer, the former Aston Villa goalkeeper who won the First Division title in 1981 and the European Cup in the same year, has died at the age of 78, Aston Villa announced on Friday. Born in Manchester, Rimmer began his professional career at Manchester United before moving to Arsenal in 1974. After a brief stint at Villa in 1977, he returned to the club in 1980, where he remained until his departure in 1983.

Rimmer was known for his remarkable ability to be ever-present in Villa's goal during their 1981 title-winning campaign. However, his tenure was marred by a neck injury that forced him off the field just nine minutes into the European Cup final against Bayern Munich in 1982. Despite being on the bench for the victorious European Cup final the following year, Rimmer never got to lift the trophy.

He is remembered as one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation, though his luck seemed to fail him during high-pressure matches. Rimmer was a one-cap international for England and was replaced in the 1982 final by Nigel Spink, who kept a clean sheet as Villa claimed their first and only European title. Villa expressed their deep sadness over Rimmer's passing and extended their condolences to his family and friends.