I was a Hibs hero before I became a Super Villan

Bremner can't wait for tussle of his old teams as he tips McGinn to pay tribute on the pitch

- PHIL GORDON

HIBS v VILLA TODAY, 5.45PM

DES BREMNER became an Aston Villa legend as part of the team who lifted the European Cup in 1982 – but he was made at Easter Road. 

And if Villans captain John McGinn wins the Europa Conference League this season, then Hibs will share part of the credit just as they did with Bremner.

Three years after leaving Hibs in 1979, the midfielder won the biggest prize in club football by beating Bayern Munich 1-0 thanks to Peter Withe’s second-half winner.

Bremner’s two old teams meet tonight in the first leg of their Battle of Britain play-off and he admits his seven years in Leith were crucial in shaping him.

Now 70, he was given his Hibs debut in December 1972 by boss Eddie Turnbull not long after his signing from Deveronvale.

Three months later, he was given a continental baptism of fire in the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners’ Cup against Hajduk Split.

Turnbull’s side won 4-2 at Easter Road thanks to an Alan Gordon hat-trick and Arthur Duncan strike, only to lose 3-0 in a hostile Split to exit 5-4 on aggregate. The following season Hibs were in the UEFA Cup and beat Keflavik of Iceland in the first round before being drawn against Leeds.