A look-back at Aston Villa’s 1982 European Cup-winning side, examining where each player in the starting XI is now.
With Villa now returning to the Champions League after over a 40-year absence, it is hard to forget the history the club has in the competition.
Back in 1982, the club managed to lift the famous cup, beating Bayern Munich 1-0 in Rotterdam.
Peter Withe scored the all-important goal in a tight affair, but Villa managed to do just enough to get the victory over the line under the management of Tony Barton.
To this day, the Birmingham outfit are one of only six English clubs to have lifted the cup since its establishment in 1955.
As a result, Aston Villa News has looked back on the starting XI from that famous night in Rotterdam to see what each player is doing now.
GK – Jimmy Rimmer
The legendary Villa goalkeeper was unfortunately subbed off early on in the final after suffering an injury. However, this did not stop the starting XI or backup ‘keeper Nigel Spink from seeing out the win.
After becoming only the second player ever to win a European Cup at two different sides, Rimmer left Villa in 1983 to rejoin Swansea. Here, he stayed for three years before taking his career briefly to the Maltese side Ħamrun Spartans before retiring at Luton.
Upon the conclusion of his playing career, Rimmer became a goalkeeping coach and had two separate spells as Swansea’s caretaker manager. Following this, he had a long stint abroad coaching in both China and Canada.
Rimmer has since returned to England and now lives in Swansea.
RB – Kenny Swain
A player who could be utilised anywhere, Swain converted to a full-back upon arriving at Villa Park. As a result, he helped to see out a clean sheet against the German giants to win Villa the European Cup.
After lifting the famous trophy, Swain departed for Nottingham Forest in 1982 where he’d stay for another three years.
Stops Portsmouth and West Brom followed before he ended his career at Crewe.
After retiring, Swain pursued a career as a manager. This saw him briefly take charge of Wigan between 1993-94 as well as become the caretaker manager of Grimsby Town a few years later.
Eventually, Swain found a long-term role in the FA where he managed the England U16s team for a decade from 2004-14.
CB – Ken McNaught
After giving Villa a stern test in the 1977 League Cup final, the Birmingham outfit brought the centre-half into the club.
McNaught managed to keep the backline firm in the European Cup final to ensure the 1-0 victory.
It wasn’t long until Villa parted ways with the defender with the Scotsman moving to West Brom in 1983. This adventure also wouldn’t last as he joined Sheffield United in 1985 before he was forced to retire early.
McNaught stayed close to Villa after his retirement and fronted an official Aston Villa Former Players’ Club back in 2017.
CB – Allan Evans
After the final, Evans elected to stay at Villa long term. The defender remained at Villa Park until 1989 where he eventually became the captain and led them back to the top division.
When his 12-year stay at the club ended, the defender moved to Leicester for a year. Brief stops at Canadian side Victoria Vistas and Darlington followed before he hung up his boots in 1991.
The Scotsman later returned to Villa becoming the assistant manager in 1995. Evans would then go on to have a stint as the manager of West Brom and Scottish side Greenock Morton in the early 2000s.
He then went on to coach for Plymouth in 2007 and stayed local to the area. It was reported by Birmingham World that he then became a driving instructor.
In 2015, Evans also expressed his desire to become a coach for Villa once again under Tim Sherwood.
LB – Gary Williams
The left-back who came through Aston Villa’s academy, Williams went on to make more than 300 appearances for the Birmingham side before he departed in 1987.
Williams then managed to continue his career at Leeds, Watford and Bradford before retiring in 1994.
Upon hanging up his boots, the full-back went into the computer industry, working in Yorkshire.
RM – Des Bremner
The talented Scotsman was ever-present at Villa throughout his time at the club.
After leaving in 1984, Bremner joined Birmingham where he enjoyed another five years in the second city. The Scotsman continued his stay in England before retiring in 1990s.
Bremner then went on to work for the Professional Footballer’s Association. He recently returned to Villa Park to watch his former clubs Hibs and Villa compete in the Europa Conference League.
Read more: What Aston Villa need to do to qualify for the Champions League.
CM – Gordon Cowans
Another player who rose through the ranks at Villa. Cowans had a long and successful career after the final.
After leaving Villa in 1985, the midfielder soon returned to Villa Park in 1988 for a second spell. Three years later, Cowan left again, this time to Blackburn before once again coming back to Villa for a third spell in 1993.
In 1994 he left Villa Park for the third time and played for multiple clubs including Wolves and Burnley before retiring in 1997. However, Cowans couldn’t escape Villa and returned as a coach from 1998 until 2016.
Unfortunately, in 2020 Cowans was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
CM – Dennis Mortimer ©
The man who led Villa to victory in the final, Mortimer will forever be a legend at the club.
After lifting the trophy, the skipper moved south to play for Brighton before joining rivals Birmingham in 1986.
Like many of his former teammates, the midfielder took a stab at managing, becoming a player-manager at non-league side Redditch United.
Later in life, he provided commentary for BBC Radio West Midlands and he also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Worcester in 2011 for his ‘outstanding contribution to football’.
In January 2024, he was named a member of Villa’s Honoury Anniversary Board ahead of the club’s 150th anniversary.
LM – Tony Morley
The man who set up the winner. Morley stayed in the Birmingham area after he left Villa in 1983 when he moved to West Brom.
Soon after, he left England and explored footballing careers in Hong Kong and the Netherlands before returning to the Baggies in 1987.
Upon retiring, Morley continues to be involved in the media and often gives expert analysis on VillaTV.
The winger also released an autobiography on Villa’s journey to Rotterdam called ‘The Full Morty’.
ST – Gary Shaw
Another legend that came through the Aston Villa academy. Shaw explored a footballing career on the continent after leaving the Birmingham outfit in 1988.
This saw him play in Denmark and Austria before returning to England in 1990. Shaw would soon leave the UK again and play in Hong Kong from 1991-92 where he retired.
After retiring, Shaw remained involved at Villa. Like Ken McNaught, the attacker also joined the Former Players Club where he was visiting former Villa legends.
Unfortunately, on September 16, 2024, Shaw passed away.
ST – Peter Withe
The man who scored the all-important goal. Withe has perhaps had the most prominent role in football since the final.
The attacker for Sheffield United and Huddersfield after leaving the Claret and Blue side in 1985.
After retiring, Withe went into management, establishing a successful career both internationally and at club level.
His most recent job was in Thailand at Nakhon Pathom United Football Club which he managed from 2014-16.
