Aston Villa celebrated a triumphant return to glory with a commanding 3-0 victory over SC Freiburg in the Europa League final held on Wednesday night in Istanbul, marking the club’s first major trophy in 30 years.
Goals from Youri Tielemans and Emiliano Buendía before halftime were followed by a third from Morgan Rogers shortly after the break, securing Villa’s first trophy since the 1995-96 Leagues Cup.
This victory also marked a historic fifth Europa League title for Aston Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, who had previously won the trophy thrice with Sevilla and once with Villarreal before joining the Premier League side.
“It’s hard to express the emotions we feel. We worked so hard for this moment,” Rogers shared after the match. “We understood the importance of this game and delivered the results. It’s a significant moment for our fans and the club, one that will be remembered in history.”
Among the jubilant crowd at the Tupras Stadium was lifelong Villa supporter Prince William, who traveled from Birmingham, England, to witness his beloved team’s long-awaited triumph.
He snapped photos as captain John McGinn raised the trophy amidst a shower of confetti.
“He’s a classy guy,” McGinn remarked about Prince William. “He was in our dressing room before the match. As a devoted Villa fan, he wouldn’t miss this occasion.”
“He’s just a regular guy. It’s fantastic to have his support, and hopefully, we can celebrate together tonight, possibly with him treating us at the end!”
Freiburg, competing in their first European final, were outperformed by Villa, who just a decade ago were relegated to the second division.
Villa themselves were only a step above relegation in 2019, and although they were favorites going into the match, such moments seemed unimaginable when Emery took charge in 2022, with the team in peril of being relegated.
Emery’s transformation of the club has been outstanding, guiding Villa into last season’s Champions League and again qualifying for the prestigious tournament next season.
“It feels incredible. Our performance was remarkable. We dominated the match and ultimately reaped the rewards,” said Ollie Watkins. “Unai’s demeanor was calm today; he set the right tone for us.”
For Emery, this victory marks a personal redemption, having been dismissed by Arsenal in November 2019 after leading them to a Europa League final that ended in defeat to Chelsea.
A proven winner, Emery has now secured trophies with teams across three different nations, including a Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain.
“I am always grateful for the opportunities in European competitions, particularly the Europa League. We fought hard this season and approached the tournament with seriousness,” Emery stated.
Information from The Associated Press and PA was used in this report.