Desmond George Bremner (born 7 September 1952) is a Scottish former professional football midfielder. He made more than 600 league appearances for clubs in both Scotland and England, was a member of Aston Villa's European Cup-winning team of 1982, and was capped for the Scotland national team.

Born in Aberchirder, Banffshire, Bremner began his career with Deveronvale before joining Hibernian in 1971, turning professional in November 1972. He made his only appearance for Scotland while with Hibs in March 1976, coming on as a substitute for Kenny Dalglish in the game against Switzerland.

He moved to Aston Villa in 1979 for a fee of £275,000 and quickly settled as a regular in the side. In his second season with the club he was an ever-present as they took the Football League title, their first for 71 years. The following season Bremner was a member of Villa's European Cup-winning side.

He left the club in September 1984, rejoining his former Villa manager Ron Saunders, who by then was managing local rivals Birmingham City. He helped Birmingham to promotion back to the First Division, relegation back to the Second Division the following season, and a further relegation to the Third Division before moving to Fulham on a free transfer in August 1989. He joined Walsall in March 1990 on non-contract terms and subsequently played for Stafford Rangers before retiring in 1991.

After retiring as a player he worked for the Professional Footballers' Association, subsequently becoming the managing director of the financial division of the organisation.^[2]

His brother Kevin was also a professional footballer.

[edit] Honours

for Scotland

• 1 full cap, 9 Under-23 caps
• Scottish Football League representative

for Hibernian

• Scottish League Cup finalists: 1975
• Scottish Cup finalists: 1979

for Aston Villa

• English Football League champions: 1980–81
• European Cup: 1982
• European Super Cup: 1982
• Intercontinental Cup runners-up: 1982

for Birmingham City

• Second Division runners-up: 1984–85

[edit] References

• Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9. 
• "Des Bremner". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database. Neil Brown. http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/desbremner.htm. 

[edit] Notes