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Former Aston Villa and Manchester United goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer has died at the age of 78.

Rimmer was ever-present during Villa’s title-winning 1980-81 campaign and is perhaps best remembered for being forced off with a neck injury just nine minutes into the 1982 European Cup final, which Villa won 1-0 against Bayern Munich in Rotterdam.

It was the second time he had seen his team win a European final from the sidelines, having also been a substitute 14 years earlier when Manchester United defeated Benfica at Wembley.

In a statement issued on Friday morning, Villa said: "Aston Villa is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of European Cup winner Jimmy Rimmer, who has died at the age of 78.

"The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Jimmy’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

"Rimmer was one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation, and arguably one of the unluckiest when it came to big occasions. Despite collecting two European Cup winner’s medals, he wasn’t on the pitch at the end of either final."

The one-cap England international was replaced by Nigel Spink, who kept a clean sheet while Peter Withe scored the second-half winner to secure Villa’s only European Cup title to date.

Spink then went on to become the first-choice goalkeeper, while Rimmer left for Swansea in 1983 after making more than 200 appearances for the club.

After beginning his career at Old Trafford, where he was unable to dislodge Alex Stepney, Rimmer joined Arsenal in 1974 before moving to Villa three years later.

Manchester United also paid tribute to Rimmer following news of his death.

The message read: "Manchester United are deeply saddened by the loss of our former goalkeeper, Jimmy Rimmer. Our thoughts are with Jimmy's loved ones at this difficult time."

After his spell at Swansea, Rimmer had short stints with Maltese club Hamrun Spartan and Luton Town before retiring in 1986.

Once his playing career ended, Rimmer took up a role as goalkeeping coach at Swansea and later had two spells as caretaker manager during the 1995-96 season.

He later spent several years in China, working as a goalkeeping coach for the national team and club side Dalian Shide.