Former Aston Villa, Arsenal and Manchester United goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer has died on Friday at the age of 78.
The two-time European Cup winner passed away as Aston Villa, currently managed by Unai Emery, stand just one victory away from reaching their first European Cup final since 1982, while current first-choice goalkeeper Emi Martinez continues to struggle with an injury.
Rimmer remains one of only two footballers, alongside Italian defender Saul Malatrasi of Milan and Inter Milan, to win the European Cup with two different clubs. He was an unused substitute in Manchester United's 1968 victory over Benfica at Wembley Stadium before starting for Aston Villa in their 1982 final against Bayern Munich in Rotterdam.
Across a long career that included 527 league appearances, Rimmer played for top clubs in England and Wales. Speaking in May 2024 at age 76, he reflected on the physical toll of his playing days, pointing to artificial plastic joints in his hands. "Like the hands you see in horror films," Rimmer said drily. "It's not pretty is it? That's plastic in there, and that, and that's been frozen. At least I'm still alive. They only gave me two days to live, you know."
That health crisis occurred when Rimmer was living in Vancouver, Canada, where he collapsed from a heart attack after stepping out of his Jeep on a trip to the bank. Hospital doctors warned his three children to fly to Canada to say goodbye while he was maintained on life support. However, by the time they arrived, he showed signs of recovery and woke after 11 days in a coma. "Eleven days in a coma and just like that I came out," Rimmer recalled. "People ask me what it was like. All I know is it was dark."
Early career at Old Trafford and Arsenal move
Sixteen years after surviving the heart attack, Rimmer enjoyed retirement in South Wales, drinking pints in a pub outside Swansea and reflecting on a career where he played for the prominent clubs of the north, south, Midlands and Wales. He was known as a modest figure built in the mould of his mentor Harry Gregg, the legendary Manchester United and Northern Ireland goalkeeper and reluctant hero of the 1958 Munich air disaster.
Towards the end of his playing career at Old Trafford, Gregg passed advice to younger goalkeepers vying to succeed him. "Catch the ball, get some shape in your hands," Gregg would tell them. "Cover your near post. They're not so good at the near post these days."
Rimmer progressed through the youth ranks at Old Trafford alongside George Best, David Sadler and John Aston. The group won the FA Youth Cup in 1964 and achieved European Cup glory four years later. Among his fondest memories of the 4-1 victory over Benfica was sitting with Best and their parents at the post-match banquet.
Gregg later urged Rimmer to gain match experience on loan at Fourth Division side Swansea City and subsequently recommended him to Arsenal scout Gordon Clark. Rimmer completed a transfer to Arsenal in April 1974.
On his Arsenal debut in a 1-0 victory against Liverpool at Anfield, Rimmer initially suspected teammate Alan Ball was playing a joke when offered a choice of prawn cocktail or smoked salmon on the journey home. Having been accustomed to Manchester United bus drivers retrieving fish and chips, Rimmer quickly appreciated the high standards at Arsenal, where players were also offered steak, chicken, red wine and white wine while playing bridge on the bus.
Following the retirement of Bob Wilson at the end of that season, Rimmer became Arsenal's starting goalkeeper, missing just three matches across three years. He earned one international cap for England against Italy in 1976 and expressed delight after being ranked 20th in a newspaper column by legendary World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks.
Despite his accomplishments, Rimmer maintained a quiet demeanor and admitted to dwelling on on-pitch errors. Gregg had reminded him that every goalkeeper makes mistakes, advice Rimmer remembered throughout a career in which he preferred self-reflection over self-promotion.
The 1982 European Cup final heartbreak
Rimmer turned down a new contract at Arsenal and an offer from Ipswich Town to sign for Aston Villa under manager Ron Saunders. The two men built a strong rapport, frequently playing golf together and sharing an uncomplicated, action-focused personality.
Rimmer missed only one match over five years at Villa Park, playing a vital role as the club won the First Division title for the only time in the past 114 years. Villa subsequently advanced to the 1982 European Cup final by recording seven clean sheets in eight European fixtures, aided by notable performances from Rimmer against Dynamo Berlin.
However, tragedy struck five days before the European Cup final against German champions Bayern Munich. Playing in Villa's final league fixture of the season against Swansea, Rimmer came off his line for a cross, collided with striker Bob Latchford, and landed heavily on the back of his neck.
Rimmer suffered severe neck and shoulder pain the following day. Manager Tony Barton was keen for him to play, leading medical staff to administer cortisone injections while attempting to keep the injury quiet. Although the injections dulled the pain, Rimmer realized eight or nine minutes into the final in Rotterdam that he could not raise his arm to make saves.
Recognising that the team took priority, Rimmer made the decision to come off. He wept in the dressing room but later insisted it was the correct choice as his deputy produced an exceptional performance to help Villa secure the trophy.
Nigel Spink's famous sub appearance and aftermath
Nigel Spink had joined Aston Villa as a teenager from non-league Chelmsford City, serving as understudy first to John Burridge and then to Rimmer. Before the final, Spink had made just one first-team appearance for Villa, a Boxing Day defeat against Nottingham Forest in 1979, waiting two and a half years for his second outing.
Spink, now 65, recalled feeling deep sympathy for Rimmer, who had missed out on the final after guiding Villa through two years of league and European success. As Spink stepped onto the pitch in Rotterdam, he famously turned to the bench and said: "I hope my Mum's got the telly on."
Relying on experience gained from hundreds of reserve matches over five years, Spink delivered a composed display against Bayern Munich. Despite Karlheinz Rummenigge striking the post with an overhead kick, Villa maintained a clean sheet and won 1-0 through a goal by Peter Withe, allowing captain Dennis Mortimer to lift the trophy.
Following their return to England, Spink brought the trophy to his home county of Essex, where his parents held a garden party with the European Cup sitting on the front lawn for neighbours and local children. Villa later temporarily misplaced the trophy following a Lions Club supporters' event, though it was subsequently handed in at a police station in Sheffield.
Spink eventually assumed the starting spot full time, accumulating 460 appearances for Aston Villa before moving to West Bromwich Albion and earning an England cap against Australia in Melbourne. His final appearance for Villa came as an outfield substitute in midfield against Queens Park Rangers, on the day Lee Hendrie was sent off on his debut.
Spink also recorded notable European wins against Barcelona in the January 1983 Super Cup and Juventus in the European Cup quarter-finals. Years later, he retrieved his original 1982 final shirt from Bayern Munich's museum by trading back the jersey of Bayern goalkeeper Manfred Muller, which Spink had brought to Germany in a Sainsbury's carrier bag during a skiing holiday.
Coaching career in China and later life
Rimmer returned as Villa's starting goalkeeper for the following season before transferring to Swansea City. After retiring from playing, he served as a coach and twice as caretaker manager at Swansea before moving to China, where he spent years coaching goalkeepers for the Chinese national team and Dalian Wanda, later renamed Dalian Shide.
Rimmer lived rent-free in a penthouse suite at the Shangri-La hotel in Beijing during his time in China, attributing his long tenure to respecting local culture and customs.
He later returned to South Wales following his heart attack in Canada to reside near his son David. Rimmer noted that his primary career regret was declining to offer David a scholarship during his tenure as Swansea's youth team manager. David went on to play for Walsall, Birmingham City and local club Garden Village, where he later managed before running a courier business.
In his later years, Rimmer remained a regular fixture at Swansea City matches, speaking in corporate lounges while continuing to support Manchester United, Arsenal and Aston Villa from afar.
