Dennis Mortimer
Encyclopedia
Dennis Mortimer is an English
former footballer and distinguished captain of Aston Villa
.
Mortimer began his career with Coventry City
, where he came through the ranks and made over 200 appearances as a promising midfielder. It was his accomplished displays for Coventry which attracted the attention of several top clubs, and he joined Villa in 1975. Mortimer captained Villa to the European Cup
in 1982. 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 under-23 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
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 outfit Redditch United
before moving into coaching, becoming assistant manager to Ossie Ardiles at West Bromwich Albion.
He worked for The Professional Football Associations as regional director of coaching in the Midlands area and has help to develop many of Englands top young players and coaches.
Mortimer has been responsible for the progression of top young English coach Alex Penny
.
Mortimer is also a director at Wolverhampton Wanderers Women FC.
Mortimer regularly attends Aston Villa
games to this day and sometimes provides commentary on the club's games with the club's radio station, The Villan. He is regarded as one of Aston Villa's
greatest ever players.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer and distinguished captain of Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
.
Mortimer began his career with Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, where he came through the ranks and made over 200 appearances as a promising midfielder. It was his accomplished displays for Coventry which attracted the attention of several top clubs, and he joined Villa in 1975. Mortimer captained Villa to the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in 1982. A 1–0 victory against Bayern Munich in the De Kuip Stadium was courtesy of a Peter Withe
Peter Withe
Peter Withe is a much-travelled English footballer who played as a striker, between 1971 and 1990...
goal. From 1975 to 1985 he made 403 appearances for Villa scoring 36 goals.
Mortimer was capped by England under-23 and England B
England B national football team
England B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the England national football team. At times they have played other nations' full teams; they have also played matches against 'B' teams from other football associations...
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
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
but was only there a year before returning to the Midlands with Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, thereby breaking the second-city taboo by playing for City and Villa. During the 1988–89 season, Mortimer was player manager of non-league outfit Redditch United
Redditch United F.C.
Redditch United F.C. is an English football club based in Redditch, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at the Valley.-Birmingham Combination:...
before moving into coaching, becoming assistant manager to Ossie Ardiles at West Bromwich Albion.
He worked for The Professional Football Associations as regional director of coaching in the Midlands area and has help to develop many of Englands top young players and coaches.
Mortimer has been responsible for the progression of top young English coach Alex Penny
Alex Penny
Alexander Penny is a former youth trainee footballer and is currently an academy coach with Southampton FC.-Playing career:...
.
Mortimer is also a director at Wolverhampton Wanderers Women FC.
Mortimer regularly attends Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
games to this day and sometimes provides commentary on the club's games with the club's radio station, The Villan. He is regarded as one of Aston Villa's
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
greatest ever players.
Aston Villa
Winner- 1976/77 Football League Cup
- 1980/81 League Championship
- 1981/82 European Cup