Aston Villa

Guillem Balague
BBC Sport columnist

Image source, Getty Images

The extent of Unai Emery's Aston Villa revolution cannot be underestimated.

When the Spaniard took charge on 1 November 2022, Villa were 16th in the Premier League - two places and one point above the relegation zone.

They went on to win 15 of their 25 league games to finish seventh and earn a spot in European competition for the first time since 2010-11.

In his first full season, Emery secured Champions League football for Villa for the first time since 1982–83. His side also won 15 consecutive home league games - the most in their 151-year history.

And now, with Champions League football secured once again, Villa are champions on the continent for the first time in a generation.

Former Villa midfielder Mark Albrighton told BBC Radio 5 Live that Emery has "taken Villa to the next level".

He said: "There are going to be times when you have highs and lows, that is the nature of football.

"Villa have experienced some of those lows but now they are on a massive high. Unai Emery was a step up in terms of what they had before."

There are more teams now who work the way Emery works, who study what he studies and have managers who stay up late watching football they don't really have to watch.

But Emery will continue to go one step further - as he always does.

Read more here

Image source, STAR SPORT / THE TIMES

"I'm not going home tomorrow, I'm staying here to enjoy the party!"

Those were the words of former Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov after Unai Emery's side ended the club's 44-year wait for a European trophy in Istanbul.

"It was written for them to be champions because they have everything," said the former club captain. "Their European campaign has been immaculate.

"They will be enjoying it for a few weeks, I tell you that."

It was a night of dreams for Aston Villa at Besiktas Park as Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers showed their mettle in front of goal to secure the club's first piece of major silverware since 1996.

Star Sport's back page reads "Villa crack long trophy wait with moments of pure genius", as three completely different goals ensured victory over Freiburg.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live after the full-time whistle, Villa academy graduate Marc Albrighton said: "This is amazing. I've got goosebumps just watching.

"What these boys have done is incredible. These fans have been through the highs and the lows, they have followed this team everywhere - and now they are here in Istanbul.

"A generation of fans are getting the opportunity to witness a night like this."

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Unai Emery delivered on his promise.

Three and a half years ago he walked into Villa Park and vowed he had joined Aston Villa to win trophies.

On Wednesday in Istanbul he achieved it.

Skipper John McGinn lifted the Europa League after 3-0 victory over Freiburg to etch Villa's name into the history books again.

In front of nine of the 1982 European Cup heroes - including captain Dennis Mortimer and goalscorer Peter Withe - Villa wrote themselves another momentous chapter.

Spectacular strikes from Youri Tielemans and Emi Buendia sent them on their way, with Morgan Rogers sealing victory.

This time they still played in white and beat a German team in red. Instead of Bayern Munich it was Freiburg. Instead of Rotterdam it was Istanbul.

For Withe it was Tielemans, Buendia and Rogers as Emery clinched his fifth Europa League title.

Forty-four years ago there was another unforgettable night for Villa - and Brian Moore's commentary of Withe's winner hangs at the top of the Doug Ellis Stand at Villa Park.

A new banner for new heroes is needed now.

Read more about momentous night for Villa here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Aston Villa's 3-0 victory in the Europa League final against Freiburg secured them their first major trophy in 30 years.

Here are some of your comments:

David: So many great stories in this team. Super John McGinn with us since the Championship, Ollie Watkins from non-league to European title, Emi Buendia out for so long and nearly sold last season but fighting for his place, Morgan Rogers rejected by Man City and lifted by Unai Emery. And the manager – an absolute wizard. Surely he gets to keep the trophy now?

Chris: Thinking of my two Grandads tonight - Holte Enders in the Sky - they would have loved tonight. Up the Villa!

Prit: What a fantastic performance by the Mighty Aston Villa. I thought for a while Villa were trying to compete in their own Europa goal of the season with two stunning stunning goals by Youri Tielemans and Emi Buendia. Villa were in complete control and we absolutely deserve this. Thank you Aston Villa, thank you to the Villa owners and above all, thank you so much the Mighty Unai Emery.

Don: Villa played with confidence from the first whistle. Disciplined and moving the ball quickly. Stunning goals to make the performance even more memorable.

Image source, Reuters

Franny: Absolutely buzzing tonight. So pleased for my fellow countryman John McGinn, what a lad he is and a fantastic captain too. As for Unai, we'll need to invent some more superlatives to tag him with. An icon forever at Villa now.

Mark: Super John McGinn. What a player he's been for years. Scottish Cup winner with Hibernian hopefully he'll win the World Cup trophy next. Just a genuine great guy. Enjoy the free drink from the future King.

Magnus: Tremendous performance. You could write text books on how Watkins and Rogers ran their defence tonight.

John: To be fair, I wasn't really aware of Freiburg until a month ago. An absolute credit, team and fans alike, to the Bundesliga. My new favourite German team. You've made it into a lot of Villa fans' memories.

Send your feelings on Aston Villa's first European success since 1982 here

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Former Aston Villa midfielder Marc Albrighton on BBC Radio 5 Live at Besiktas Park: "This is amazing. I've got goosebumps just watching it.

"What these boys have done tonight on the pitch is incredible, but what this set of fans have been through, the highs and the lows, they have followed the team everywhere, and now they are here in Istanbul.

"A generation of fans are able to witness a night like this."

BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter Ian Dennis: "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is watching on, but this is footballing royalty with Unai Emery.

"He is up on the shoulders of his players, the first manager to win the Europa League with three different clubs, a fifth overall.

"He has the process, he has the nous, and Aston Villa have won it."

Ex-Villa winger Ashley Young on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is incredible, absolutely incredible. It was an incredible performance and they deserved it. As soon as the first goal went in it was all Aston Villa.

"The fans have waited so long for this silverware and for them to get it having played in this way today is unbelievable.

"Unai Emery is a winner. He is a born winner, especially in this competition when he has shown it time and time and time again. Put his name up there alongside Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho.

"He's put this club back into Europe, back into the Champions League. If you had said when we were in 16th position [in the Premier League] that he would come in and win the Europa League, not one player would think that would be true. He's just got a way."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Villans midfielder Stiliyan Petrov on TNT Sports: "I'm not going home tomorrow. I'm staying here to enjoy the party! It was written for Aston Villa, for them to be champions. They have everything. They played really well tonight, scored some great goals. But it was about that project, the process.

"The fans deserve it, the players deserve it. Their European campaign has been immaculate. You can see they're enjoying it - and they'll be enjoying it for a few weeks, I tell you that.

"A lot of good players will watch the game tonight, players across the world. Many of them will be thinking 'I'd like to play at this club. I'd like to be there'."

Image source, Getty Images

The Prince of Wales, who was at the stadium, posting on X:"Amazing night!! Huge congratulations to all the players, team, staff and everyone connected to the club! 44 years since the last taste of European silverware!

"Special shout out to Boubacar Kamara who has been out injured but is such an integral part of our team and helped lay the foundations of this success.

"UTV! VTID.

"W."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, speaking to TNT Sports after winning his fifth Europa League trophy: "Fantastic. Europe gave us a lot. For myself as well - a lot. I'm always very grateful for Europe. For every competition, but especially the Europa League.

"I was telling them in there, we need wishes, we need seriousness in this competition. To show on the field that you are the protagonist - and they did it!"

On what this group of players has given him: "We are always here talking about our experiences. We try to use our experiences here. We play the semi-final, we play the quarter-finals in Europe, the Conference and Champions League.

"This final is confirmation of how we are progressing. It is very important for them.

"Of course, it is important for the supporters, they are travelling with us all the season, doing a huge effort to be with us and transmitting us the energy. We must try as well to be proud of everything we are doing with our supporters.

"And, of course, as well, how this club won the title in 1982. And again, competing for a title in Europe is something which makes sense of everything we are doing."

On the future of Villa's project: "We are getting stronger. Development in everything. The club is working to extend the stadium by 10,000 people more. We are building and changing a little bit the training centre.

On achieving the dreams he shared when he arrived at Villa: "I am myself ambitious and of course I need support. The owners, everyone that works in the club. The players, and they are following us. We are doing it together. But we must try to set this ambitious, being clear and realistic. Every step forward we are doing makes sense."

Hit play below to hear more from Emery or listen on BBC Sounds here

Did you know?

• Unai Emery has now won the Europea League for a fifth time; he's the second manager to win a major European competition five times after Carlo Ancelotti in the Champions League.

• Unai Emery took charge of his sixth major European final – all of which have come in the Europa League – with only Giovanni Trapattoni overseeing more (7), while no manager has won more major European finals than his five alongside Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Trapattoni.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Where now for Aston Villa?

It is a watershed moment for the club after ending a three-decade long wait for a trophy.

Unai Emery has overseen a momentous change for the club who, 10 years ago, were relegated from the Premier League for the first time.

But, with a European title and a second Champions League qualification in three seasons, this is a different club.

Villa will now be able to show signings the evidence that, if they join, they can win trophies. They are a regular top-five challenger and have now got over the line with silverware.

That is something Emery promised he was at Villa to do, and the challenge the former Arsenal and Paris St Germain boss has is to maintain it.

Emery will not just want to do that, though, he will look to improve on it, and Villa must match his ambitions as well.

The 54-year-old has such control at the club, something which he will not get elsewhere, and that approach has proven perfect for Villa and Emery.

They can still achieve success together and it could be just the start.

Read more about Villa's first European trophy in 44 years here

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa goalscorer Morgan Rogers, speaking to TNT Sport: "It's hard to put into words, we've worked so hard for this. We've delivered and come through. It's a great moment for the fans, great for the club. We'll go down in history.

"There was so much excitement. We're all really excited.

"The manager has been banging on at me to get easier goals and get into the box. I'm happy I could get a toe onto it and score.

"I'm tired but not that tired. It's all worth it in the end."

Captain John McGinn, also speaking to TNT Sports: "I can't believe it to be honest. What we've been through as a club, this club is close to being in a right bad way seven years ago. V Sports bought the club over. Their one remit was to get it back to the Premier League and back to the levels of before.

"Tonight was everything we built coming together. The pride I felt with 10 minutes to go knowing we were about to be champions - I cant describe it."

On what it means to win the trophy: "It means a lot. As a kid growing up, I remember Celtic in 2003. It wasn't a great night for them but it was special. I was lucky enough to go to the final at Hampden in 2007. To be here, in 2026, as captain of Aston Villa is incredible. It's the proudest night of my career.

"I'll try to enjoy it. I like to party, but I'll take it easy to try and soak it all in."

"Being 31, in my first European final, I've seen my mates [Jack] Grealish and [Andy] Robertson win. It's my turn. It's so special, I'll cherish every minute."

Image source, Getty Images

Villa defender Ezri Konsa, speaking to TNT Sports: "I don't know [how I feel]. I don't think it's sunk in yet. I was saying not long ago how much of a journey it's been.

"Seven years at this club, lots of ups and downs. To finally bring back some silverware for the club and fans, it's amazing. It's something I can't really describe.

"Look what it means to the fans, the players, some of us who've been here for so long.

"Fans have been with us through thick and thin for us, travelled everywhere. This is for them!"

On his message to the fans back home in Birmingham: "If you saw my letter, I said 'believe'. If you did - thank you. This is for you."

Did you know?

• Morgan Rogers is the youngest Englishman (23y 298d) to score in a major European final since Steven Gerrard for Liverpool vs Alaves in the 2001 Uefa Cup final (20y 351d).

• Youri Tielemans' opener was Aston Villa's seventh goal from a corner in the Europa League this season, more than any other side - only FC Porto in 2010-11 (eight) have netted from more in a single campaign.

• The average age of Aston Villa's starting XI was 29 years and 342 days, the third-oldest for a Europa League final after Fulham against Atletico de Madrid in 2010 (30y 245d) and Sevilla against Roma in 2023 (30y 53d).

Aston Villa have won their first major trophy in 30 years after beating Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final in Istanbul.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know how you are feeling.

Have your say here

Come back on later for a selection of your replies

Freiburg's Igor Matanovic leads the line for the Bundesliga side.

The Croatia international has 16 goals for club and country this season to help Freiburg finish seventh in Germany this season.

Freiburg XI: Atubolu, Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Treu, Eggestein, Hofler, Beste, Manzambi, Grifo, Matanovic.

Subs: Muller, Huth, Jung, Osterhage, Scherhant, Holer, Irie, Philipp, Gunter, Makengo, Rosenfelder, Ogbus.

Unai Emery names an unchanged line up from Villa's 4-2 win over Liverpool on Friday, a victory which sealed a Champions League spot.

It means Amadou Onana only makes the bench after a knee injury while Victor Lindelof continues in midfield.

Tammy Abraham returns to the stadium he used to call home before his £18.25m move from Besiktas to Villa in January.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Lindelof, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins.

Subs: Bizot, Wright, Mings, Elliott, Garcia, Abraham, Sancho, Luiz, Maatsen, Onana, Bogarde, Bailey.

European finals are "feelings and moments nobody can take away from you", says Aston Villa legend Mark Bosnich.

The former goalkeeper made 227 appearances for the Villans in all competitions between February 1992 and July 1999.

"I'm really full of excitement," the former Australia international told BBC Radio WM before the Europa League final where his former side take on Frieburg in Istanbul.

"I'm behind everyone at Aston Villa - the supporters, the staff and the players - because it has been a very long time between drinks, so to speak.

"The most important thing will be to play the game and not the occasion.

"I want the players and the newer supporters to experience a cup win. These are feelings and moments in your life that nobody can take away from you, ever."

Listen to the full conversation by pressing play above or listen on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Former Aston Villa midfielder Marc Albrighton speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live from Istanbul, the host city of tonight's Europa League final: "I think the feeling is quietly confident. It's going to be a difficult game. Finals, as we saw in the FA Cup final at the weekend, are usually cagey. I don't expect this one to be any different. I think Villa over the course of the season seem to play better in the second half and seem to open up a bit. I expect a cagey start but I do expect Villa to go on and win it in the second half."

On the atmosphere in Istanbul: "Fantastic. I got a flight yesterday morning and from the moment I got to Birmingham Airport, it was just a sea of Villa everywhere. It was amazing to see so many fans that have come out here and then last night being in and around the city and seeing streets full of claret and blue - claret and blue flags in restaurants. It seems very good and friendly with the locals as well, which is fantastic."

On Villa being used to big occasions: "Over the course of the last couple of years with the European nights they have had at Villa Park, they always seem to show up on those big occasions, none more so than against Nottingham Forest in the semi-final. I see a lot of these players that have come good and adapted to every situation that they have been put in. You've got the manager Unai Emery who has got a great record in this competition but I've got all trust and faith in him that he will have the players in the right mindset and mentality going into this game tonight."

Image source, Getty Images

If you had told Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa early on in the season that Aston Villa would have confirmed their place in the Champions League next season and be in the Europa League final he "would have laughed at you".

However, that is exactly the position Aston Villa find themselves in.

Unai Emery's side started the 2025-26 campaign in terrible fashion, with four draws and two losses, in all competitions.

The Europa League is a competition which Emery knows very well, and it was the competition where Villa picked up their first win of the season in a 1-0 win at home against Bologna in September 2025.

In an open letter from Konsa to Villa fans in the Players Tribune, external, Konsa recalls a "long, long meeting" where Emery told his side he was "worried" for the rest of the season after a poor start.

"In that meeting, you could tell that something was wrong just by the way he spoke. All I could think was, I'm not sure we're going to get out of this rut," added Konsa.

Konsa touches on Villa narrowly avoiding relegation in 2020, and acknowledges the support his family have given him during his career.

Senior Football Reporter for BBC Radio 5 Live, Ian Dennis told Radio WM: "I was reading it, and I was thinking, 'I am going to go to war after reading that'.

"I wonder if sometimes in football things align. I got a little shiver when I read the Konsa post, I must admit."

You can listen to Ian Dennis below

Listen to live commentary of the Europa League final on BBC Radio 5 Live from 20:00 BST on Wednesday.

Nick Mashiter in Istanbul
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Former Aston Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner has labelled Unai Emery a "magician".

The Villa boss took over when the club was three points above the relegation zone in November 2022 before taking them into Europe by the end of the season.

He has guided Villa to the Champions League twice, having sealed a second qualification last week after beating Liverpool, and is on the brink of ending the club's 30-year trophy drought in Istanbul.

"He's been incredible as a manager. The team was struggling under his predecessor, Steven Gerrard, and he's just transformed it," said Faulkner, who was chief executive under former owner Randy Lerner for four years.

"He's got a lot of the same players, they've added a little bit to the squad but a lot of this team have been there for an awfully long time, predating the manager.

"You see how he's managed to knit that unit together and get consistent results. Absolutely remarkable, I think he's a magician.

"It would be nice now just to cap that off with some silverware. These opportunities are tough to get to so when you are in a final it'll be great to get the tangible return on the brilliant work he's done."

It has been tipping it down in Istanbul for the past couple of hours.

Enterprising umbrella salesmen have done good business out of the Aston Villa and Freiburg fans who have taken shelter anywhere they can.

It has taken a little of the atmosphere away which has been building nicely since Tuesday, with fans congregating around the city's Taksim Square.

Kick-off is at 22:00 local time so there is still plenty of time for it to improve again, although the road closures before the game are causing chaos, with journeys which should take five minutes taking 40.

It means, rather than the sounds of fans, the loudest noises are the constant car horns.

Besiktas Park is, thankfully, only a 15 minute walk from the main square and the fan park - which will house those fans who have travelled without tickets.

Around 20,000 Villa fans have travelled to Turkey, although the club's official ticket allocation was 10,758.

More are expected to be in the stadium on Wednesday - joining Prince William who is also due to attend - as they hope to watch Villa make history.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast earlier about Villa playing in the Europa League final tonight: "It's absolutely huge. I was at the club for six years. I was playing with Ginola, Merson and Southgate, some of the best players ever and we didn't really achieve anything either.

"The fans have had to wait a long time for any success at all, any trophies. Now it is here, with this group of players under one of the best managers this football club could ever get hold of. I think the balance between Unai Emery and Villa is a very, very good match. It works, they have given him full control. The players have got on board and look where they are, look at the players they have.

"Super John McGinn has been brilliant, Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins has found his form just in time for the England squad. Everything at Aston Villa is very good. I just want them to get over the line for the fans.

"Unai Emery will make sure that his boys are on it and that Villa are very hard to beat. When they are in possession and they are going forward trying to score goals, he makes sure that his team are solid at the back, just in case. That is so important, especially tonight, don't get caught on the break, don't get too giddy because we should win the game but please respect the opposition.

"I'm calling this Villa 3-1 in normal time. Ollie Watkins brace, Morgan Rogers far post header. I can't give you any more information than that. Villa bringing it home, just wait and see."