Aston Villa are mourning the passing of European Cup hero Gary Shaw

Gary Shaw, who was a member of the Aston Villa team that won the European Cup in 1982, has died aged 63.

Shaw scored 79 goals in 213 appearances for Villa, including 18 in the league in the 1980–81 season as the club won the title for the first time in 71 years.

He also scored three goals in Villa’s European Championship run the following year which ended in a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in Rotterdam.

Aston Villa Football Club is deeply shocked and saddened to learn that Gary Shaw, one of our European Cup winning heroes, has passed away.

Gary was one of us, a talented striker who delighted the fans with his goals that helped fire Villa to… pic.twitter.com/nVjLb4Blfe

– Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 16, 2024

A serious knee injury in 1983 disrupted his career and he left Villa five years later for spells with the likes of Klagenfurt, Walsall, Kilmarnock and Shrewsbury.

A statement from Villa read: “Aston Villa Football Club is deeply shocked and saddened to learn that Gary Shaw, one of our European Cup winning heroes, has passed away.

“Gary was one of us, a talented striker who delighted the fans with his goals that helped fire Villa to success in the 1980s. There would also be individual recognition for a player who was adored by many in the fields.

“He passed away peacefully today surrounded by his family, who have asked Aston Villa to issue a statement to them.

“The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Gary’s family and loved ones at this very difficult time.”