Dennis Mortimer
Another Scouser who's lifted the European Cup...
| Full name: | Dennis Mortimer |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: | April 5, 1952 |
| Clubs played for: | Coventry, Aston Villa, Sheffield United, Brighton, Birmingham |
Club Career
Villa's captain Marvel, Liverpudlian Mortimer skippered the side to European glory. Having made the short trip from Coventry, boss Ron Saunders inherited a fine playmaker who went on to make more than 400 appearances for the Villains, many while sporting his trademark thick black beard.
Following a brief spell on the south coast with Brighton, he ended his career at Villa's arch-rivals Birmingham and has built a coaching career in the Midlands since retirement.
Club Stats
| Years | Clubs | App | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969-75 | Coventry | 193 | 10 |
| 1975-85 | Aston Villa | 317 | 10 |
| 1984-85 | Sheffield United (loan) | 7 | 0 |
| 1985-86 | Brighton | 40 | 2 |
| 1985-87 | Birmingham | 33 | 4 |
Key Games
England U23 3-1 Holland U23 (International friendly, January 2, 1973)
Despite being overlooked for the senior side, Mortimer made his mark in one of several appearances for the under-23s. His double against the Dutch prompted calls for him to replace the retiring Bobby Charlton in the senior squad. His first, a brilliant individual run, was followed by a trademark free-kick, inspiring England in front of a Highbury crowd of less than 12,000.
Aston Villa 3-0 Birmingham (First Division, December 13, 1980)
Villa furthered their title credentials with a thumping derby win, cementing their place at the top of the league. With Mortimer pulling the strings from midfield, it was left to David Geddis to seal the win with two goals, before teeing up Gary Shaw for another.
Aston Villa 1-0 Bayern Munich (European Cup final, May 26, 1982)
In his finest moment with Villa, the midfield maestro led out his side against German champions Bayern Munich. Despite numerous scares and a miraculous performance in goal from Jimmy Rimmer’s understudy Nigel Spink, he lifted the trophy thanks to a single goal from striker Peter Withe.
Honours
| Club | Competition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa | League Cup | 1977 |
| European Cup | 1982 |
Did You Know...?
Mortimer was capped by England at under-23 and England B levels, whom he captained on a tour of Australia, but never made an appearance for the senior side. He is often described as 'the best player never to get an England cap'.
Mortimer – known to Villa fans as ‘Sir Dennis’ – first grew his famous pirate beard in a facial fuzz contest with team-mate John Robson. He’d shave it off in hot weather.
Mortimer is part of a select band to have played for both Villa and Birmingham City. They include Dwight Yorke, Peter Withe, Tony Morley, Alan Curbishley and Bruce Rioch.
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