Gary Shaw, a former striker for Aston Villa, passed away at the age of 63 after suffering injuries in a fall.
He was a part of Villa’s 1981 league championship and 1982 European Cup victories.
Shaw played for his boyhood club’s youth division before going on to score 79 goals in 213 games for Villa.
“Aston Villa Football Club is deeply shocked and profoundly saddened to learn that Gary Shaw, one of our European Cup-winning heroes, has passed away,” the club stated on Monday.
“One of our own, Gary was a gifted striker who thrilled fans by lighting up the scoreboard and propelling Villa to glory in the 1980s. Individual recognition would also come for a player who many in the terraces looked up to.
“He died quietly in the company of his family earlier today, and they requested that Aston Villa issue a statement on their behalf.
“The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Gary’s family and loved ones at this extremely difficult time.”
In 1981, Shaw was named Young Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers’ Association, and in 1982, he was selected European Young Player of the Year.
The former striker for England’s Under-21 team has also represented Shrewsbury Town, Blackpool, Walsall, and Kilmarnock.
After quitting football in 1992, he became a statistical analyst and served as the club’s representative at Villa Park.
In remembrance of Shaw, current Villa manager Unai Emery says he wants his team to defeat Young Boys in their Champions League match on Tuesday.
Prior to their initial game in Europe’s top club competition for 41 years, Emery said: “We have a memory always, in our training ground a picture of 1982 and the European Cup, he was a protagonist of that.
“My condolences to the family and all the supporters at Villa. Yes, I think it’s sad, and we can use it as motivation.”
(BBC)
