European Cup hero Gary Shaw tragically passes away

Former Aston Villa player Gary Shaw has died aged 63 from injuries sustained in a fall. Shaw came through the youth ranks at Aston Villa, scoring 79 goals in 213 games.

The club released a statement: "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."

"He passed away peacefully earlier today surrounded by his family, who asked Aston Villa to release 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."

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery dedicated his side's 3-0 win against Swiss champions Young Boys to club legend Shaw. It had been 41 years since Villa played in the UEFA Champions League.

Emery said: "Forty-two years [ago] they achieved by winning the Champions League and winning the trophy."

"We want to dedicate this victory to Gary Shaw, his family, and all of the Aston Villa family. I want to try to get in our way and follow what that [1982] team achieved."

Shaw was a star striker during Aston Villa's golden era. The 'Villains' won the Division One league title in 1981 before winning the European Cup in 1982.

The Aston Villa man was the team's top scorer in 1980 (9 goals), but his partnership with Peter Withe, who won the league with Nottingham Forest, transformed Villa's fortunes.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

During the 1981 league-winning campaign, Villa used only 14 players during the 42 league games, and Shaw and Withe notched 38 goals between them (20 Withe, 18 Shaw), becoming the deadliest duo in English football.

The following season, in which Villa beat Bayern Munich to lift the European Cup, Shaw's goals dried up after he missed 16 games through injury. However, he and Withe scored three goals each on their way to European glory.

Shaw was named the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year in 1981 and European Young Player of the Year in 1982.

According to BBC Sport, Shaw suffered a career-altering knee injury in September 1983. He continued playing in Denmark and Austria, as well as at Walsall, Kilmarnock, and Shrewsbury Town, before finishing in Hong Kong in 1992.

"Gary was one of our own, a talented striker who delighted supporters with his goalscoring exploits, which helped fire Villa to success in the 1980s. Individual accolades would also follow for a player who was idolised by many on the terraces."

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!