Aston Villa F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Aston Villa Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Villans The Lions |
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| Short name | Villa | |||
| Founded | 21 November 1874 | |||
| Ground | Villa Park | |||
| Capacity | 43,205 | |||
| Owner(s) | V Sports (Nassef Sawiris, Wes Edens & Atairos) | |||
| Chairman | Nassef Sawiris | |||
| Head coach | Unai Emery | |||
| League | Premier League | |||
| 2018–19 | Championship, 5th of 24 (promoted via play-offs) | |||
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Aston Villa Football Club is a professional football team from Aston, Birmingham, England. It was started in 1874. The team plays in the Premier League, which is the top football league in England. Their home stadium, Villa Park, has been their home since 1897.
Aston Villa is one of England's oldest and most successful clubs. They have won many important trophies. These include the top English league seven times and the FA Cup seven times. They also won the League Cup five times. In Europe, they won the European Cup, European Super Cup, and Europa League once each. Aston Villa has been a top English club since the 1880s. They helped create the modern passing game in football. A Scottish coach, George Ramsay, introduced this style. He became the world's first professional football manager in 1886. A director from Villa, William McGregor, also started the world's first Football League in 1888.
George Ramsay helped Aston Villa become the most successful club in England for many years. They held this title from the 1890s until the 1970s. In the 1930–31 season, Villa scored 128 goals. This is still the record for the most goals in a top-flight season. The club had some tough times in the mid-1930s and 1960s. They even dropped to the third division of English football in 1969–70. But they bounced back in the 1970s under manager Ron Saunders. He led them to win their seventh top-league title in 1980–81. Villa then became only the fourth English club to win the European Cup in 1981–82. They also won the European Super Cup in 1982.
Aston Villa was one of the teams that started the Premier League in 1992. They are one of only three clubs to have started both the Football League and the Premier League. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Villa often played in European competitions. After a difficult period, the club was relegated from the Premier League in 2015–16. After three seasons in the EFL Championship and new owners, they returned to the Premier League in 2019. Under manager Unai Emery, the club qualified for the UEFA Champions League in 2023–24. This was their first time since 1982–83. They also won the UEFA Europa League in the 2025–26 season.
Throughout their history, Villa has spent 112 seasons in the top league. This is the second-highest number for any club. They have also had 78 players represent England, which is also the second-highest. Aston Villa is ranked fifth in the all-time English top-flight table. They are the seventh most successful club in English football by trophies won. Villa has a big local rivalry with Birmingham City. This match is called the Second City derby. They also have a rivalry with West Bromwich Albion. Their traditional kit colours are claret shirts with sky blue sleeves, white shorts, and sky blue socks. Their club badge shows a rampant lion. The club is currently owned by V Sports. This company is owned by billionaires Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, along with investment company Atairos.
Contents
History of Aston Villa
How Aston Villa Started (1874−1886)
Aston Villa was formed on 21 November 1874. It was started by members of the Aston Villa Wesleyan Chapel in Handsworth. This area is now part of Birmingham. The chapel was near a place called Villa Cross. This name came from a house known as Aston Villa.
The four founders were Jack Hughes, Frederick Matthews, Walter Price, and William Scattergood. They were part of the chapel's cricket team. They wanted to stay fit during winter. After watching a rugby match, they decided rugby was too rough. They chose to play association football instead. This meeting is seen as the start of Aston Villa F.C.
Villa's first game was against a local rugby team. They played one half with rugby rules and one half with football rules. Villa won 1–0. The club's future changed in 1876. A young Scotsman named George Ramsay saw them practicing. He joined in and amazed them with his ball control. They asked him to join the club and be their captain.
Ramsay was a great player and coach. He taught the team a new passing style called "combination football." This was a big change for English clubs. Villa soon became one of the best teams in the Midlands. They won their first trophy, the Birmingham Senior Cup, in 1880. They won this cup nine times in the next 12 seasons.
Aston Villa's Golden Age (1886–1914)
Football became professional in 1885. Aston Villa decided they needed a full-time paid manager. George Ramsay was the perfect choice because of his strong connection to the club. On 26 June 1886, Aston Villa hired him as the world's first professional football manager. The next season, Villa won the FA Cup in 1887. This was the first time a Midlands team won it. Villa's captain, Archie Hunter, became a famous player. He was the first to score in every round of the FA Cup.
Aston Villa was one of the 12 teams in the first English Football League in 1888. One of Villa's directors, William McGregor, founded the league. He wanted to make sure clubs had regular games. Before the league, friendly matches were often cancelled.
Even though Villa helped start the league, they didn't win it until 1893. A club member, Frederick Rinder, helped make changes to the club's management. Manager George Ramsay built a team known for its quick passing. Villa won its first league title in 1893–94. They then won their second FA Cup in 1894–95. This was followed by winning the league again in 1895–96 and 1896–97.
Aston Villa became the most successful English club of the Victorian era. They won five league titles and three FA Cups by 1901. Their captain, John Devey, was a great forward. He played well with fast winger Charlie Athersmith. Defender James Cowan was also key to their success. In 1897, the year they won both the league and FA Cup, they moved to their current home. Supporters started calling it "Villa Park."
Success continued into the Edwardian era. Villa won the FA Cup for the fourth time in 1904–05. They won their sixth league title in 1909–10. Another FA Cup win came in 1913, just before the First World War. Star players like Howard Spencer and goal scorers Joe Bache and Harry Hampton were important. Hampton and Bache scored 382 goals together for Villa.
Tough Times and Relegation (1920–1939)
In 1920, Billy Walker scored two goals in his first game. Villa won the FA Cup for the sixth time that season. Walker became Villa's star player in the 1920s. He scored a record 244 goals in 531 games. He also captained both Villa and England.
George Ramsay retired in 1926. His replacement, Billy Smith, couldn't keep up the success. Other clubs, like Arsenal, caught up with Villa. Villa finished second in the league in 1930–31 and 1932–33. Despite not winning the league, Villa fans enjoyed exciting attacking football. The team scored 128 goals in the 1930–31 season. This is still the record for the top league. Tom 'Pongo' Waring scored 49 of those goals.
Jimmy McMullan became manager in 1934. However, this led to problems. Villa was relegated for the first time in 1935–36. They had been in the top league for 48 years. Villa struggled because they let in too many goals. They conceded 110 goals in 42 games. Seven of those goals came in a 7–1 loss to Arsenal at Villa Park. The club spent a lot of money on new players. But they couldn't avoid relegation. Aston Villa, a famous and successful club, was in the second division.
After relegation, former chairman Frederick Rinder returned. He believed the club had stopped developing young players. He also thought there were problems with player behavior. Rinder hired Jimmy Hogan as manager. Hogan was a coach who liked attractive, passing football. In two seasons, Hogan led Villa back to the top league. He taught his players that "football was like a Viennese waltz, a rhapsody." However, the Second World War stopped his plans for the club.
Ups and Downs (1945–1974)
After the Second World War, many fans came to Villa Park. A record 76,588 people watched an FA Cup game in 1946. Former player Alex Massie rebuilt the team. Players like Harry Parkes and Johnny Dixon were important. But the club usually finished in the middle of the league table. Fans started to criticize the club's management.
In 1956–57, Villa won their first trophy in 37 years. Manager Eric Houghton led them to win the FA Cup for the seventh time. They beat Manchester United 2–1. Peter McParland scored both goals. But the team still struggled in the league. Houghton was sacked in 1958. His replacement, Joe Mercer, couldn't stop them from being relegated again in 1958–59.
However, Mercer led Villa back to the top league in 1960. They had a talented young team called 'Mercer's Minors'. The next season, Aston Villa became the first team to win the Football League Cup. England striker Gerry Hitchens scored 42 goals that season.
Hitchens was sold to Inter Milan in 1961. Villa's performance declined after that. Mercer had to retire in 1964 due to illness. The club faced many problems. The board was old, and they hadn't kept up with modern football. They also had financial issues. In 1966, they sold their top striker Tony Hateley. Without his goals, Villa was relegated for the third time in 1967. The club even sold its training ground.
Fans were very unhappy. The board resigned in 1968. London businessman Pat Matthews bought the club. He brought in Doug Ellis as chairman. Ellis found the club in a very bad state. He helped raise money to clear the club's debts. After some manager changes, Vic Crowe became manager. He couldn't stop Villa from being relegated to the Third Division in 1969–70. This was the first time in their history.
The next season, Villa surprised everyone. They reached the 1971 League Cup Final, but lost to Tottenham Hotspur. There was new hope at Villa Park. The club was promoted to the Second Division as champions in 1971–72. They also bought the new 20-acre Bodymoor Heath Training Ground. This was to improve their youth development.
Back to the Top (1974–1992)
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In 1974, Ron Saunders became manager. He was very strict and focused on fitness. His methods worked well. The club won the League Cup the next season. By the end of 1974–75, he had taken Aston Villa back to the First Division and into European competitions. Charlie Aitkin was a popular player during this time. He played 659 games for the club, a record.
Villa was back among the top teams. Saunders continued to build a winning team. They finished 4th in the league and won another League Cup in 1976–77. Strikers Brian Little and Andy Gray were a strong partnership. Andy Gray won two important player awards that season. There were some disagreements within the club's board. Doug Ellis left as chairman in 1975. Saunders became very powerful as manager.
Villa won their seventh top-league title in 1980–81. Players like Gordon Cowans, Tony Morley, and captain Dennis Mortimer led the team. They achieved this with only 14 players. Seven players played in every game. Gary Shaw was named Young Player of the Year.
Ron Saunders surprisingly left halfway through the 1981–82 season. Villa was in the European Cup quarter-finals. He disagreed with the board about money for new players. His assistant, Tony Barton, took over. He led the club to a 1–0 victory over Bayern Munich in the European Cup final. Peter Withe scored the winning goal. Goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer got injured early in the game. Young substitute keeper Nigel Spink played brilliantly. Villa became only the fourth English club to win the European Cup.
The next season, Villa lost in the European Cup quarter-finals. But they won the European Super Cup. They beat Barcelona 3–1 over two games. This was a high point for the club. Villa's success then declined for most of the 1980s. Doug Ellis returned as chairman in 1982. The club had financial problems. Saunders' successful team was broken up and not replaced well. This led to relegation in 1987. This was just five years after winning the European Cup.
However, Villa quickly bounced back. They were promoted the next year under Graham Taylor. They finished second in the top league in 1989–90. This team included great players like Paul McGrath and David Platt. Graham Taylor then became the England manager in 1990.
Premier League Years (1992–2016)
Villa was one of the founding members of the Premier League in 1992. They are one of only three clubs to have started both the Football League and the Premier League. Villa finished second in the first Premier League season under manager Ron Atkinson. His team won the League Cup in 1994. They beat Manchester United 3–1 in the final.
Atkinson was replaced by former Villa striker Brian Little in 1994. Little built a young team with players like Gareth Southgate and Dwight Yorke. They won their fifth League Cup in 1996. They beat Leeds United 3–0 at Wembley. Villa finished fourth in the league that season.
After a dip in form, Doug Ellis hired another former Villa player, John Gregory, in 1998. Villa reached the FA Cup final in 2000. The team included players like David James and Paul Merson. But they couldn't challenge for Champions League spots. Gregory left in 2002. Graham Taylor returned for a second time, followed by David O'Leary in 2003.
After 23 years, Doug Ellis sold his shares in Aston Villa in 2006. American businessman Randy Lerner bought the club. Lerner also owned the NFL team Cleveland Browns. His arrival, along with manager Martin O'Neill, brought new hope. The club got a new badge and invested in better training facilities. They also bought new players. Villa reached a Cup final in 2010, but lost the League Cup final 2–1.
O'Neill resigned in 2010. He was unhappy about the lack of money for new players. Gérard Houllier and Alex McLeish then managed the team. In 2012, Lerner put the club up for sale. The club struggled for several seasons. Managers like Paul Lambert and Tim Sherwood tried to improve things. Sherwood led them to the 2015 FA Cup Final, but they lost. After selling key players, Villa had a very tough 2015–16 season. They were relegated at the end of the season. This ended their 29-year stay in the top league.
From Championship to Champions League (2016–Present)
In 2016, Chinese businessman Tony Xia bought the club. Roberto Di Matteo became manager but was soon replaced by Steve Bruce. Bruce led the team to fourth place in 2017–18. But they lost in the play-off final to Fulham. The club then faced financial problems.
In 2018, the NSWE Group invested in the club. This group included Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris and American billionaire Wes Edens. Sawiris became the club chairman.
In October 2018, Bruce was replaced by Dean Smith. Smith was a boyhood Villa fan. He led the team to fifth place and the play-offs again. They had a club-record 10-game winning streak. Villa won the 2019 EFL Championship play-off final against Derby County 2–1. This meant they were promoted back to the Premier League.
Before Villa's return to the Premier League, NSWE bought out Tony Xia's remaining shares. Villa bought 12 new players for their first season back. They fought against relegation but stayed up on the final day. In their second season, Smith led them to an 11th-place finish. However, star player and captain Jack Grealish was sold to Manchester City for a British record £100 million. After a poor start to the 2021–22 season, Dean Smith was dismissed.
Steven Gerrard became head coach in November 2021. After a difficult start to the 2022–23 season, Gerrard was replaced by Spanish manager Unai Emery in October 2022. Emery had won the Europa League four times before. He led Villa to 7th place and qualification for the Europa Conference League in his first season. In the 2023–24 season, Emery led the club to the Conference League semi-finals. They also finished fourth in the league. This meant they qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 1982–83. In the 2024–25 Champions League, the team reached the quarter-finals. They lost to Paris Saint-Germain. In the 2025–26 season, Aston Villa reached the 2026 UEFA Europa League final. They beat SC Freiburg 3–0 to win the trophy. This ended a 30-year wait for a major trophy.
Team Colours and Badge
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| Villa's proposed kit of 1886 |
Aston Villa's team colours are a claret shirt with sky blue sleeves. They wear white shorts with claret and blue trim, and sky blue socks. They were the first team to wear claret and blue. When the club started, they wore royal blue caps and stockings. Their jerseys were royal blue and scarlet stripes, with white shorts.
For a few years (1877–79), the team wore different kits. These included all white, blue and black, red and blue, and plain green. By 1880, they wore black jerseys with a Scottish Lion Rampant badge. This was introduced by Scottish leaders William McGregor and George Ramsay. This kit was used for six years. In 1886, the club decided their colours would be "chocolate and sky blue shirts." The chocolate colour later became claret.
Many other football teams also play in claret and blue. These include West Ham United and Burnley.
A new badge was shown in May 2007. It was for the 2007–08 season. The new badge includes a star. This star represents winning the European Cup in 1982. It has a light blue background behind Villa's 'lion rampant'. The traditional motto "Prepared" stayed on the badge. The name Aston Villa was shortened to AVFC.
On 6 April 2016, the club announced a new badge for the 2016–17 season. The lion in this new badge had claws. The word "Prepared" was removed to make the lion and club initials bigger. In November 2022, fans voted for a new badge. This new badge was used only on kits and training wear. The older badge was still used for other things. In May 2024, the club went back to a shield-shaped badge.
Kit Makers and Sponsors
Here are the companies that made Aston Villa's kits and sponsored their shirts:
| Years | Kit manufacturer | Kit sponsor | Sleeve sponsor | Back sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974–1981 | Umbro | None | None | None |
| 1981–1982 | Le Coq Sportif | |||
| 1982–1983 | Davenports Brewery | |||
| 1983–1984 | None | |||
| 1984–1985 | Mita Copiers | |||
| 1985–1987 | Henson | |||
| 1987–1990 | Hummel | |||
| 1990–1993 | Umbro | |||
| 1993–1995 | Asics | Müller | ||
| 1995–1998 | Reebok | AST Computers | ||
| 1998–2000 | LDV Vans | |||
| 2000–2002 | Diadora | NTL | ||
| 2002–2004 | Rover | |||
| 2004–2006 | Hummel | DWS Investments | ||
| 2006–2007 | 32Red | |||
| 2007–2008 | Nike | |||
| 2008–2010 | Acorns Children's Hospice | |||
| 2010–2011 | FxPro | |||
| 2011–2012 | Genting Casinos | |||
| 2012–2013 | Macron | |||
| 2013–2015 | Dafabet | |||
| 2015–2016 | Intuit Quickbooks | |||
| 2016–2017 | Under Armour | |||
| 2017–2018 | Unibet | Recon Group | ||
| 2018–2019 | Luke 1977 | 32Red | None | |
| 2019–2020 | Kappa | W88 | BR88 | |
| 2020–2021 | Cazoo | LT.COM | ||
| 2021–2022 | OB Sports | |||
| 2022–2023 | Castore | Kaiyun Sports | ||
| 2023–2024 | BK8 | Trade Nation | ||
| 2024–2025 | Adidas | Betano | Black Sabbath (League Cup) | |
| 2025– | None |
Aston Villa's kits were made by local companies until 1974. Then, Umbro became the first kit supplier to have its logo on a Villa shirt. Davenports Breweries was Aston Villa's first shirt sponsor in 1982–83. For the 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons, Aston Villa did something special. They advertised the charity Acorns Children's Hospice on their shirts instead of a company. This was the first time a Premier League club did this. This helped the charity get more attention and money. In 2019–20, BR88 became the first sleeve sponsor. In August 2025, Aston Villa partnered with Red Bull. Red Bull became the club's Official Energy Drink Partner.
Aston Villa's Stadium
Aston Villa's home stadium is Villa Park. Before this, they played at Aston Park (1874–1876) and Wellington Road (1876–1897). Villa Park is the biggest football stadium in the Midlands of England. It is also the eighth largest stadium in England. It has hosted 16 international matches for England's senior team. The first was in 1899, and the most recent was in 2025. This makes it the first English ground to host international football in three different centuries. Villa Park has hosted the most FA Cup semi-finals, with 55 games. In 2022, the club announced plans to rebuild parts of the stadium. This will increase the capacity to over 50,000 seats.
The team's training ground is at Bodymoor Heath. It is near Kingsbury in north Warwickshire. Former chairman Doug Ellis bought the land in the early 1970s. Bodymoor Heath was very modern in the 1970s. But by the late 1990s, it needed updating. In 2005, plans were made for a £13 million redevelopment. The new training ground opened on 6 May 2007. The Aston Villa team moved in for the 2007–08 season.
In 2014, it was announced that Villa Park would be in the FIFA video game series. All Premier League stadiums have been in the game since FIFA 15. Aston Villa follows safety rules from the Safety Advisory Group. This group makes sure matches at Villa Park are safe for everyone.
Who Owns Aston Villa
The first shares in the club were sold in the late 1800s. This was to help professional football teams grow. Doug Ellis bought many shares in the 1960s. He was chairman from 1968 to 1975. He was the main owner from 1982 to 2006. The club's shares were also traded on the London Stock Exchange in 1996.
On 14 August 2006, Randy Lerner agreed to buy Aston Villa for £62.6 million. Lerner also owned the NFL team Cleveland Browns. He took full control on 18 September 2006. Ellis and his board were replaced. Lerner became the club's chairman. Lerner put the club up for sale in May 2014.
On 18 May 2016, Randy Lerner sold Aston Villa to Recon Group. This company was owned by Chinese businessman Tony Xia. The sale was completed on 14 June 2016 for £76 million. After spending a lot of money and not getting promoted, the club faced financial problems. Xia started looking to sell the club in June 2018.
On 20 July 2018, the NSWE Group invested in the club. This group included Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris and American billionaire Wes Edens. They bought a controlling 55% share in the club. Sawiris became the club chairman. On 9 August 2019, NSWE bought out Xia's remaining shares. Xia no longer owned any part of the club.
On 15 December 2023, Aston Villa announced that Atairos, an American investment firm, would invest in V Sports. This deal meant Atairos got about 20% of V Sports. It valued Villa at more than £500 million. The deal was finalized on 12 April 2024. Michael Angelakis, Atairos CEO, joined Villa's board of directors.
Aston Villa's Community Work
Aston Villa has a special relationship with the Acorns Children's Hospice charity. This was a new idea in English football. Aston Villa gave the front of their kit shirts to Acorns Hospice. Usually, this space is for big sponsors. This helped the charity become more visible and raise more money. The club also paid for hospice care and players visited the hospice.
In September 2010, Aston Villa started "Villa Midlands Food" (VMF). The club trained students in hospitality at Villa Park. They opened a restaurant in the Trinity Road Stand. It was staffed by 12 students from nearby areas. Most of the food served was from local sources.
Aston Villa Foundation
In 2016, Aston Villa started a charity called the Aston Villa Foundation. This charity does social responsibility work for the club. They work with local and national groups. The Foundation runs projects like football in the community, disability support, health and wellbeing, and education. In May 2021, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, met with members of the Foundation. This was after the Foundation provided 1000 hot meals a week to local groups during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. They also let a local NHS Trust use Villa Park's facilities.
Fans and Rivalries
Aston Villa has many fans. They come from all over the Midlands and other parts of the world. The club works to involve fans in decisions. Meetings happen every three months where fans can ask questions to the board. In 2011, the club supported a fan idea for an official song. The song "The Bells Are Ringing" is played before games to boost the atmosphere.
Aston Villa has many fan groups. These include the Official Aston Villa Supporters Club. There are also smaller groups in different regions and countries. The supporter group My Old Man Said was formed to support Villa fans' rights. Fans also publish fanzines like Heroes and Villains.
Aston Villa's biggest rivals are Birmingham City. Games between them are called the Second City Derby. Historically, West Bromwich Albion has also been a big rival. They played three FA Cup finals against each other in the late 1800s. Villa also has rivalries with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City.
In 2010–11, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Birmingham City were all in the Premier League. This was the first time the "West Midlands' Big Four" were in the top league together since 1983–84. Birmingham was relegated at the end of that season. The rivalry with Birmingham City started again in 2016–17 when Villa was relegated. West Brom joined them two years later. But Villa won promotion back to the Premier League in 2019.
In 2024, a fan group called 1897 Group was formed. They wanted to make the atmosphere at Villa Park even better. They organize flag displays and marches for fans.
Aston Villa Records and Statistics
The 2025–26 season was Aston Villa's 112th season in the top English football league. Only Everton has spent more seasons in the top flight (122 seasons). This makes Aston Villa versus Everton the most-played match in English top-flight football. Aston Villa was relegated from the top league in 2016. They had played in every Premier League season since it started in 1992–93. But they were promoted back in 2018–19. They are ninth in the All-time Premier League table. They have the fifth-highest number of major trophies (20) won by an English club.
Aston Villa holds the record for the most league goals scored by any team in the English top flight. They scored 128 goals in the 1930–31 season. This was one more than Arsenal, who won the league that season. Villa striker Archie Hunter was the first player to score in every round of the FA Cup in 1887. Villa's longest unbeaten home run in the FA Cup was 13 years and 19 games, from 1888 to 1901.
Aston Villa is one of six English teams to have won the European Cup. They won it on 26 May 1982 in Rotterdam. They beat Bayern Munich 1–0. After winning the UEFA Europa League in 2026, Aston Villa became one of only four English teams to have won both the European Cup and the Europa League.
As of 2026, Aston Villa has provided 77 players for the England international team. Only Tottenham Hotspur (79) has provided more.
Aston Villa Trophies
Aston Villa has won many trophies in England and Europe. The club's last English trophy was the League Cup in 1996. Most recently, they won the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League.
Trophies in England
League Titles
- First Division / Premier League (top league)
- Champions (7 times): 1893–94, 1895–96, 1896–97, 1898–99, 1899–1900, 1909–10, 1980–81
- Second Place (10 times): 1888–89, 1902–03, 1907–08, 1910–11, 1912–13, 1913–14, 1930–31, 1932–33, 1989–90, 1992–93
- Second Division / Championship (second league)
- Champions (2 times): 1937–38, 1959–60
- Second Place (2 times): 1974–75, 1987–88
- Play-off winners: 2019
- Third Division (third league)
- Champions: 1971–72
Cup Competitions
- FA Cup
- Winners (7 times): 1886–87, 1894–95, 1896–97, 1904–05, 1912–13, 1919–20, 1956–57
- Runners–up (4 times): 1891–92, 1923–24, 1999–2000, 2014–15
- Football League Cup / EFL Cup
- Winners (5 times): 1960–61, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1993–94, 1995–96
- Runners-up (4 times): 1962–63, 1970–71, 2009–10, 2019–20
- FA Charity Shield
- Winners: 1981
- Sheriff of London Charity Shield
- Winners (2 times): 1899, 1901
European Trophies
- European Cup
- Winners: 1981–82
- UEFA Europa League
- Winners: 2025–26
- European Super Cup
- Winners: 1982
- Intertoto Cup
- Winners: 2001
- Co-winners: 2008
Aston Villa Players
First-team Squad
, This list includes youth players who have played in a league game.
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Players on Loan
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Under-21s and Academy Players
, This list includes all academy players who have been part of a senior matchday squad.
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Academy Players on Loan
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Club Captains
Since Aston Villa started in 1874, 45 players have been club captain. John Devey was captain from 1891 to 1898. He is the most successful captain, leading Villa to five league titles and two FA Cups. The current captain is Scotland international John McGinn.
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Famous Aston Villa Players
Many players have become famous during their time at Aston Villa. Some players, like Billy Walker, played for only one club their whole career. In 1998, The Football League listed 100 legendary players. Seven players who played for Villa were on this list. These included Danny Blanchflower and Paul McGrath. Peter Schmeichel, who later played for Villa, was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2022. Former Villa captain and coach John Terry was inducted in 2024.
Aston Villa has had many players who were successful internationally. Andy Townsend (Republic of Ireland) and Olof Mellberg (Sweden) captained their national teams in FIFA World Cup finals. Paul McGrath played in nine World Cup games while at Villa. Emiliano Martínez has played for Argentina while at Aston Villa. He has won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2024 Copa América. He also won the 'Golden Glove' award at these tournaments. He was named the Best FIFA Goalkeeper and won the Yashin Trophy twice.
Three Aston Villa players have won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award. Andy Gray won it in 1977. David Platt won it in 1990. Paul McGrath won it in 1993. The PFA Young Player of the Year award is for players under 23. Five Villa players have won this: Andy Gray (1977), Gary Shaw (1981), Ashley Young (2009), James Milner (2010), and Morgan Rogers (2025).
The National Football Museum has an English Football Hall of Fame. It includes one Villa team, five Villa players, and one manager. The 1982 European Cup-winning team was added in 2011. Famous Villa players in the Hall of Fame include Clem Stephenson and Cyrille Regis. Former manager Joe Mercer is also included. In 2006, Aston Villa started its own Hall of Fame. Fans voted for the first 12 members. Former captain Stiliyan Petrov was added in 2013.
Gordon Cowans- Eric Houghton
- Brian Little
- Dennis Mortimer
Stiliyan Petrov- Ron Saunders
- Peter Withe
Paul McGrath
Peter McParland
Charlie Aitken- William McGregor
- George Ramsay
- Billy Walker
Aston Villa Staff
Club Leaders
- Source:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Executive Chairman | Nassef Sawiris |
| Co-chairman | Wes Edens |
| President of Business Operations | Francesco Calvo |
| Chief Commercial Officer | Ron Erskine |
| Chief Operating Officer | Ben Hatton |
| Vice President, Content & Digital | Ryan Disdier |
Team Management
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| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Unai Emery |
| President of Football Operations | Roberto Olabe |
| First Team Coaching Department | |
| Assistant Head Coach | Pako Ayestarán |
| First-Team Coach | Pablo Villanueva |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Francisco Javier Garcia |
| Individual Coach | Rodri |
| Set-Piece Coach | Austin MacPhee |
| Analysis Department | |
| Data/Video Analyst | Victor Manuel Manas |
| Performance Staff & Medical | |
| Head of Strength & Conditioning | Moises de Hoyo |
| Performance Director | Jeremy Oliver |
| Lead Physiotherapist | Alan Smith |
| Head of Sport Medicine & Science | Ricky Shamji |
| Head Psychologist | Martin Littlewood |
| Recruitment | |
| Director of Football Operations | Damian Vidagany |
| Global Technical Role | Alberto Benito |
| Head of Recruitment | Vacant |
| Head of Emerging Talents & Loans | Adam Henshall |
| Chief Scout | Alex Fraser |
| Scout | Pablo Rodriguez |
| Academy | |
| Global Director of Football Development and International Academies |
Matthew Kidson |
| Academy Manager | Mark Harrison |
| Assistant Academy Manager | Sean Verity |
| Under-21 Head Coach | Jimmy Shan |
| Under-21 Professional Development Coach | Dan Green |
| Under-21 Professional Development Coach | Peter Gilbert |
| Emerging Talent Programme Manager | Tony Carss |
| Under-18 Head Coach | Richard Beale |
| Under-18 Professional Development Coach | Adem Atay |
| Under-18 Professional Development Coach | Karl Hooper |
Famous Managers
These managers have won at least one trophy or were very important for Aston Villa.
| Name | Time as Manager | Games Played | Games Won | Games Drawn | Games Lost | Win % | Trophies Won | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | |||||||
| George Ramsay | 1 August 1884 | 31 May 1926 | 1,327 | 658 | 414 | 255 | 49.59 | 6 FA Cups, 6 Division One championships. He is in the Aston Villa Hall of Fame. |
| Jimmy Hogan | 1 November 1936 | 1 September 1939 | 124 | 57 | 26 | 41 | 45.97 | Division Two champions |
| Eric Houghton | 1 September 1953 | 30 November 1958 | 250 | 88 | 65 | 97 | 35.20 | FA Cup winner. He is in the Aston Villa Hall of Fame. |
| Joe Mercer | 1 December 1958 | 31 July 1964 | 282 | 120 | 63 | 99 | 42.55 | Division Two champions, League Cup winner. He is in the English Football Hall of Fame. |
| Ron Saunders | 4 June 1974 | 9 February 1982 | 353 | 157 | 98 | 98 | 44.48 | 2 League Cups, Division One champions. He is in the Aston Villa Hall of Fame. |
| Tony Barton | 9 February 1982 | 18 June 1984 | 130 | 58 | 24 | 48 | 44.62 | European Cup, European Super Cup |
| Jozef Vengloš | 22 July 1990 | 28 May 1991 | 49 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 32.65 | He was the first manager not from Britain or Ireland to manage a top-flight club in England. |
| Ron Atkinson | 7 July 1991 | 10 November 1994 | 178 | 77 | 45 | 56 | 43.26 | League Cup winner |
| Brian Little | 25 November 1994 | 24 February 1998 | 164 | 68 | 45 | 51 | 41.46 | League Cup winner. He is in the Aston Villa Hall of Fame. |
| John Gregory | 25 February 1998 | 24 January 2002 | 190 | 82 | 52 | 56 | 43.16 | Intertoto Cup winner |
| Dean Smith | 10 October 2018 | 7 November 2021 | 100 | 43 | 20 | 37 | 43.00 | Championship play-off winner |
| Unai Emery | 1 November 2022 | Present | 195 | 108 | 34 | 53 | 55.38 | Europa League winner |
Aston Villa Women's Team
Aston Villa also has a women's football team. They play in the Women's Super League. They were promoted as champions of the 2019–20 FA Women's Championship. The team started as Solihull F.C. in 1973. They became part of Aston Villa in 1989.
See also
In Spanish: Aston Villa Football Club para niños
