Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw has passed away at the age of 63, his family have confirmed.
A league title winner and a member of Aston Villa’s 1982 European Cup winning team, Shaw is regarded as one of the greats to have graced the Claret & Blue colours.
On behalf of Shaw’s family, Aston Villa released a statement on Twitter confirming the tragic news and labelling the Villa icon as ‘a talented striker who delighted supporters with his goalscoring exploits’.
Tributes far and wide have come in for Shaw, including from Aston Villa academy product Jack Grealish and former England striker, Gary Lineker.
Just like Grealish, Shaw was one of Villa’s own, a Birmingham-born boy, who lived his dream of playing for his boyhood club and playing a part in the club’s greatest period in their history.
In his 213 games for the Midlands side, he scored 79 goals, including earning seven England U21 caps on his way to winning the First Division title in 1981, the European Cup in 1982 and then the European Super Cup against Barcelona where he scored the opening goal in the second leg.
Manchester City playmaker Grealish wrote on his Instagram story ‘RIP Gary Shaw. What an absolute legend and an unbelievable player. Sending all my thoughts and prayers to his family and loved ones’.
Match of the Day presenter Lineker added on his Instagram story ‘Very sad. RIP Gary.’
Aston Villa’s tribute to Gary Shaw after his passing
‘Aston Villa Football Club is deeply shocked and profoundly saddened to learn that Gary Shaw, one of our European Cup-winning heroes, has passed away,’ the club wrote on social media.
‘Gary was one of our own, a talented striker who delighted supporters with his goalscoring exploits which helped fire Villa to success in the 1980s. Individual accolades would also follow for a player who was idolised by many on the terraces.
‘He passed away peacefully earlier today surrounded by his family, who asked Aston Villa to release a statement on their behalf. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Gary’s family and loved ones at this extremely difficult time.’
Aston Villa in the Champions League
In March 2023, Villa played Crystal Palace at home and they were celebrating the 40th anniversary of their European Cup triumph.
The players who helped them win that illustrious trophy were paraded on the pitch before the game, including Shaw.
READ MORE: Alan Shearer blown away by ‘unbelievable’ Aston Villa star after 3-2 win vs Everton
Fast forward to the present and Unai Emery has guided Villa to the Champions League, with their opening game coming on Tuesday against Young Boys in Switzerland.
It’s also fitting that Villa’s first home game will be against Bayern Munich – the very team they beat in 82′ to create the greatest night in their history.
It’s just a crying shame that Shaw has passed as soon as Villa are about to embark on another incredible journey.
