1975–1985 Aston Villa Playing position Name Dennis Mortimer | Years Team Role Footballer 1969–1975 Coventry City Position Midfielder | |
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Date of birth (1952-04-05) 5 April 1952 (age 63) Similar People Tony Morley, Gary Shaw, Gordon Cowans, Des Bremner, Jimmy Rimmer | ||
Place of birth Liverpool, England | ||
Dennis mortimer aston villa legend
Dennis George Mortimer (born 5 April 1952) is an English former footballer and captain of Aston Villa. He made nearly 600 appearances in the Football League playing for Coventry City, Aston Villa, Sheffield United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Birmingham City.
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Life and career
Mortimer was born in Liverpool. He began his career with Coventry City, where he came through the ranks and made over 200 appearances as a promising midfielder. His accomplished displays for Coventry attracted the attention of several top clubs, and he joined Aston Villa in 1975. Mortimer captained Villa to the 1982 European Cup Final. A 1–0 victory against Bayern Munich in the De Kuip Stadium was courtesy of a Peter Withe goal. From 1975 to 1985 he made 403 appearances for Villa scoring 36 goals.
Mortimer was capped by England at Youth and under-23 level and England B but was never capped for the full England team, often described as 'the best player never to get an England cap'.
After leaving Villa, Mortimer moved to Brighton & Hove Albion but was only there a year before returning to the Midlands with Birmingham City, thereby breaking the second-city taboo by playing for City and Villa. During the 1988–89 season, Mortimer was player-manager of non-league club Redditch United. Mortimer became the PFA football in the community officer at West Bromwich Albion F.C. in 2001. Later he would become Reserve team coach under the management of Ossis Ardiles and Keith Burkinshaw. When Ardiles left to coach Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Burkinshaw became Manager and Mortimer moved up to 1st team coach.
He worked for The Professional Football Association as regional director of coaching in the Midlands area and has helped to develop many of Englands top young players and coaches. Mortimer joined the Football Association Education coaching Department in 2008 where he worked until the end of 2015. Mortimer is now retired.
Mortimer used to provide commentary for West Midlands radio when he first retired from the game. He attends the occasional game at Villa Park? He is regarded as one of the club's greatest players.
Mortimer received an honorary doctorate from the University of Worcester in 2011 for "his outstanding contribution to football".