Jimmy Rimmer, the celebrated goalkeeper known for his pivotal roles at Aston Villa and Manchester United, has passed away at the age of 78.

Born in Southport, Rimmer was part of the Manchester United squad that triumphed over Benfica in the 1968 European Cup, although he did not play in the final. His most notable performance came in the 1982 European Cup final, where he started for Aston Villa against Bayern Munich but was forced to leave the pitch after just nine minutes due to a neck injury. Rimmer had been instrumental throughout Villa's campaign, having started every match leading up to the final.

Key highlights of Rimmer's career include:

• 229 league appearances for Aston Villa
• Contributing to Villa's league title victory in 1980-81
• Winning Arsenal's player of the season award in 1974-75
• Earning one England cap in a friendly against Italy in 1976

Both Aston Villa and Manchester United expressed their sorrow at his passing, stating they were "deeply saddened" by the loss. Arsenal also paid tribute to the legendary goalkeeper.

Former teammate Alex Stepney shared heartfelt condolences on social media, saying, "Such sad news to hear Jimmy Rimmer has passed away, rest in peace and lots of love to Jimmy's family x." Rimmer's legacy as a remarkable goalkeeper and his contributions to English football will be remembered fondly.