Jimmy Rimmer proved Man Utd rule unsuitable and confirmed true colors after tearful heartbreak

Jimmy Rimmer, who has died aged 78, proved an old Manchester United adage wrong when he moved to Arsenal and then Aston Villa, before suffering heartbreak on the biggest stage in club football

Only the chosen few get to achieve greater success after leaving Manchester United, but Jimmy Rimmer was one of those. Because Rimmer swapped rubbing shoulders with George Best & Co for winning a league title, European Cup and England cap on behalf of Aston Villa, after saying goodbye to Old Trafford in 1974.

Now Rimmer has bid farewell to the world following his sad death at the age of 78. Leaving behind a wonderful collection of treasured memories. Not least the fact the goalkeeper managed to win two European Cup medals, despite playing just nine minutes between the posts.

He was part of the United squad which beat Benfica at Wembley in 1968. Becoming the first English club to conquer Europe – a decade after the Munich Air Disaster. But Rimmer will be best remembered for his role in Villa’s stunning triumph over Bayern Munich in 1982.

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Or lack of it. He got injured in the opening minutes and had to go off. The unheralded Nigel Spink replaced him, played a blinder and has had his name written into Villa folklore ever since.

But Rimmer’s contribution to that success was huge. Almost as big as the respect those in the game all had for Rimmer’s selflessness and humble attitude. Rare qualities in footballers of the modern era.

In one of his final interviews, Rimmer reflected on that infamous night with class and distinction. He said: “I thought it was going to be my finest hour. But it’s a team game – not Jimmy Rimmer’s game. I could have stayed on. But we’d worked hard to get there and we wanted to win. I cried in the dressing room.”

Rimmer had player every game of Villa’s run to the final. Just like he did in his team’s league title winning campaign of 1980-81. The Birmingham Mail would later describe him as “perhaps the greatest goalkeeper in Aston Villa’s history”.

Rimmer made 229 league appearances for Villa and also had spells with Arsenal and Swansea. Replacing the great Bob Wilson, he won Arsenal’s Player of The Year award in 1975. At Swansea, he went on to be a coach and caretaker manager, before the lad from Southport even trained the China national team.

He was one of the great keepers of his generation. But perhaps his greatest legacy was remaining a shining example to future footballers of how to conduct themselves on and off the pitch.

He will be sorely missed. But never forgotten.