Wed Oct 02 18:18:20 UTC 2024: ## Aston Villa Legend Seeks Shirt from 1982 European Cup Triumph
**BIRMINGHAM, UK** – Forty-two years after captaining Aston Villa to a historic European Cup victory over Bayern Munich, Dennis Mortimer is on a quest to reclaim a piece of history: his match-worn shirt.
Mortimer, now 72, revealed that he left his shirt in the dressing room after the final in Rotterdam, hoping to exchange it for a Bayern Munich jersey. However, he was given a Bayern shirt instead, and now seeks to reunite with his own.
“I wanted to collect the trophy wearing my Villa shirt,” Mortimer said. “I wasn’t particularly bothered about getting a Bayern shirt. It was only later that I realized I might have missed out on a piece of history.”
His search has taken him to Germany, where he has appealed to Bayern Munich officials, including Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who played in that final. He hopes that with Bayern’s visit to Birmingham for a Champions League clash this week, he might finally get his shirt back.
“I just want to get my shirt back for my family,” Mortimer explained. “I’m hoping to speak to Hoeness and Rummenigge at the game and see if they remember what happened.”
The reunion with Bayern this week is a special occasion for Mortimer and his former teammates, who are all set to meet for dinner. It will be the first time the two clubs have faced each other since that unforgettable 1982 final.
Mortimer’s quest highlights the enduring legacy of Villa’s European Cup triumph, a remarkable achievement at a time when English clubs were dominating the competition. The article details Villa’s remarkable journey through Europe, including their victory over Dynamo Kiev and a semi-final triumph over Anderlecht.
The article also includes poignant reflections on the loss of Gary Shaw, a key member of the 1982 squad, who passed away earlier this month.
With the Champions League match looming, Mortimer is filled with pride and excitement. He hopes to see some of his former Bayern opponents and share stories from that magical night in Rotterdam, a night that continues to define Aston Villa’s history.
First Piper 