Dennis Mortimer

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Mortimer was born in Liverpool. He began his career with Coventry City, where he came through the ranks to make more than 200 first-team appearances as a midfielder. He joined Aston Villa for £175,000 on Christmas Eve 1975. Mortimer captained Villa to the 1980–81 Football League championship, the club's first League title for more than 70 years. He then led the team to victory in the 1982 European Cup Final; a 1–0 win against Bayern Munich in the De Kuip Stadium came courtesy of Peter Withe's goal, and made it six consecutive seasons that English teams had lifted the trophy. After the game, he swapped shirts with an unknown Bayern player, and has since tried and failed to recover it. From 1975 to 1985 he made 406 appearances for Villa scoring 36 goals. 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. Mortimer was capped by England at youth and under-23 level and captained England B, but was never capped for the full England team.

In Their Own Story

On Christmas Eve 1975, Mortimer arrived at Aston Villa for a transfer fee of £175,000 after attracting attention from top clubs with his displays at Coventry City. He quickly established himself as the club captain, guiding them to their historic League title in 1980–81. The following year, he led the team to European glory, defeating Bayern Munich 1–0 in the final. His career path included a brief stint at Brighton & Hove Albion before returning to the Midlands with Birmingham City, breaking the local taboo of playing for both major city clubs. Though never capped for the full England team, he represented his country at youth and under-23 levels and captained England B.

Reader's Guide

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 1991. Later he would become reserve team coach under the management of Ossie Ardiles and Keith Burkinshaw. When Ardiles left to coach Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Burkinshaw became manager and Mortimer moved up to first team coach. He worked for The Professional Football Association as regional director of coaching in the Midlands area from 1996 to 2005. Mortimer joined the Birmingham City Football in the Community coaching scheme in 2006–2007. Mortimer joined the Football Association education coaching department in 2008 where he worked until the end of 2015. Mortimer is now retired. He provided commentary for BBC West Midlands Radio when he first retired from the game. Mortimer received an honorary doctorate from the University of Worcester in 2011 for 'his outstanding contribution to football'. In January 2024, Mortimer was named by Aston Villa as a member of the Honorary Anniversary Board ahead of the club's 150th anniversary season.

Did You Know?

• Mortimer captained Aston Villa to the 1981–82 European Cup title, making it six consecutive seasons English clubs won the trophy.
• After the 1982 European Cup Final, Mortimer swapped shirts with an unknown Bayern Munich player and has never recovered it.
• Mortimer broke the 'second-city taboo' by playing for both Aston Villa and Birmingham City.