A former professional footballer who won the European Cup with Aston Villa in 1982 and earned 17 caps for England. He's also known for his post-playing career as a football pundit and commentator.
Dennis Mortimer, born on April 5, 1952, is an English former footballer who etched his name in the history books as the captain of Aston Villa's 1981 Football League championship-winning team and the 1982 European Cup-winning side. This midfield stalwart made nearly 600 appearances in the Football League, playing for Coventry City, Aston Villa, Sheffield United, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Birmingham City.
Born in Liverpool, Mortimer began his footballing journey with Coventry City, where he rose through the ranks to make over 200 first-team appearances as a midfielder. His impressive displays caught the attention of top clubs, and he eventually joined Aston Villa for £175,000 on Christmas Eve in 1975.
Mortimer's most notable achievement came during his tenure at Aston Villa, where he led the team to their first League title in over 70 years in the 1980-81 season. The following year, he captained the Villans to a historic 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup Final at the De Kuip Stadium. Peter Withe's goal secured the win, making it six consecutive years that English teams had lifted the coveted trophy.
After hanging up his boots, Mortimer ventured into coaching, taking on the role of player-manager at non-league club Redditch United during the 1988-89 season. He later became the PFA football in the community officer at West Bromwich Albion F.C. in 1991. Mortimer went on to coach the reserve team under Ossie Ardiles and Keith Burkinshaw, eventually becoming the first-team coach when Ardiles left to coach Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Throughout his career, Mortimer earned caps for England at the youth and under-23 levels, captaining the England B team. Although he never received a full England cap, his contributions to the beautiful game are undeniable. In 2011, Mortimer was inducted into the Aston Villa Hall of Fame, a testament to his dedication and commitment to the club.
After the 1982 European Cup Final, Mortimer swapped his match shirt with an unknown Bayern Munich player. He has been trying to recover it ever since. During his playing career, Mortimer made 406 appearances for Villa, scoring 36 goals.
76 Years Old
A skilled and versatile midfielder who played for Sheffield United and England, known for his exceptional dribbling skills and goalscoring ability from midfield.
92 Years Old
Scored over 200 goals in his career, including a record 26 in the 1958-59 season, and later managed several clubs.
74 Years Old
A Scottish football legend who played for Manchester United and Leeds United, and later managed several clubs, including Airdrieonians and Queens Park Rangers.
74 Years Old
A Scottish footballer and manager who played for Leeds United and managed several clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers. He's known for his tough-tackling playing style and managerial stints in the English Premier League.
75 Years Old
Scottish football legend who won numerous titles as a player and manager, including six English league championships with Liverpool. He's also known for his charitable work and iconic status in British football culture.
73 Years Old
Scottish international footballer and manager who played for Liverpool and managed several clubs, including Rangers and Liverpool, known for his tough-tackling style and successful managerial career.
69 Years Old
A legendary midfielder and captain of the English national team, known for his leadership, vision, and goal-scoring ability from midfield.
76 Years Old
Legendary goalkeeper with a record 125 England caps, known for his incredible reflexes and shot-stopping ability. 42
