Europa League final reaction: Aston Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 to end a 30-year trophy drought
There will be an open-top bus victory parade through Birmingham city centre later - see details here
Villa will now play Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup final in Salzburg in August
Captain John McGinn, who scored in the play-off final when Villa won promotion to the Premier League in 2019, says it is 'the proudest night of his career'
It is a watershed moment for the club after ending a three-decade-long wait for a trophy, writes Nick Mashiter
A decade ago, Villa were contemplating Championship football after relegation
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
Brad Friedel
Ex-Aston Villa on BBC Radio 5 Live
If Aston Villa can have two more seasons in the Champions League, that will increase their revenue again and they will be able to improve their squad even further.
The trick for them now is holding on to everyone if they can and building from there. If they can do that, they will be one of the teams who can be in the top four places for a long time
Image source, Getty ImagesBefore their Europa League triumph yesterday, Aston Villa's trophy came in March 1996 in the League Cup.
Villa cruised to a 3-0 victory against Leeds United at Wembley with over 77,000 fans in attendance.
Savo Milosevic scored after 20 minutes, Ian Taylor made it 2-0 in the 55th minute and Dwight Yorke's 88th minute finish secured a fifth League Cup.
At long last, Villa fans have another trophy to celebrate.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter in Istanbul
Istanbul airport is a big place but it is hard not to turn around and see Villa fans.
Many will not have gone to bed after the game finished around midnight local time before the celebrations at Besiktas Park which lasted nearly an hour.
Those of us who were working left the stadium close to 3am.
Supporters who were on the early morning flight back to Birmingham will be able to continue celebrating at the parade this afternoon but the majority will still be travelling.
Not that it will matter too much to them, they witnessed history in Turkey and the result and trophy now can now stand alongside the European Cup win of 1982.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
BBC Radio 5 Live
Former Aston Villa forward Gary Thompson spoke to 5 Live breakfast: "Unai Emery turned up three-and-a-half years ago and talked about competing in Europe. We said 'hang on, let's make sure we stay in the division'
"Once the second and third goal went in, most of the Villa fans were thinking about the Holte Enders in the sky; the Villa fans who cannot be with us who gave us the mantle to go and support Villa, and the new generation have something else to talk about now. We have been banging on about 1982 for a long time, they have got their own memories.
"It was quite an emotional moment. When the third goal went in, a lot of us were thinking 'we can push on again, this club is now moving in the right direction'"
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
Ashley Young
Former Aston Villa winger on BBC Radio 5 Live
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 Ancelotti and 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.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
Of course, it could all have been so different had it not been for this infamous Hawk-Eye error in June 2020.
The operator of the Premier League’s goal-line technology system later apologised after a mistake denied Sheffield United a clear goal during a 0-0 draw at Villa Park.
Villa goalkeeper Orjan Nyland carried Oliver Norwood’s 42nd-minute free-kick over the line, but referee Michael Oliver did not receive the signal to award the goal.
“I think the goalkeeper was in the Holte End when he caught it,” said Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder.
Hawk-Eye said it “unreservedly apologises” and acknowledged that the ball had crossed the line.
The company added that it was the first time such an error had occurred in more than 9,000 matches using the system.
Villa would go on to finish the season one point above the relegation zone. Fine margins, indeed.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesAlmost seven years to the day, on 27 May 2019, Aston Villa beat Derby County 2-1 at Wembley to win the Championship play-off final as they were promoted to the Premier League after three years in second tier.
Anwar El Ghazi and John McGinn netted Villa's goals.
Fancy a blast from the past?
Here is the Aston Villa team from that day:
Aston Villa XI: Steer, Elmohamady, Tuanzebe, Mings, Taylor, Hourihane, McGinn, Grealish (c), Adomah, El Ghazi, Abraham.
Subs: Kalinic, Hause, Jedinak, Whelan, Lansbury, Green, Kodjia.
While most have moved on to pastures new, John McGinn remains and is now Aston Villa's captain, while defender Tyrone Mings is also still at the club.
Tammy Abraham, who had a successful loan spell during the 2018-19 season, rejoined Aston Villa in January 2026 - arriving on a permanent basis from Turkish side Besiktas.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
Image source, Getty ImagesFreiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
Image source, Getty ImagesFreiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport
You're right, Paul. It has been a long time coming for Aston Villa.
It’s worth remembering the journey they’ve been on since being relegated from the Premier League a decade ago.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane…
Use 'Get involved' to have your say
It's been such a long time coming, but boy it was worth the wait. And the exciting thing for every Villa fan is I don't think Emery is content with just this one trophy. He'll want more. I really believe this is the start of a special period.
Paul, Birmingham
Haven't been to sleep yet! What Villa have accomplished under Unai is fantastic. For him to be snubbed for manager of the season is beyond me! UTV!!!!
Dan, Halesowen
Use 'Get Involved' to have your say
There have been times when I doubted this Villa squad, but they've done the business when it really counts. Emi Buendia deserves special credit, Villa wanted to let him go last summer, but he fought for his place and was man of the match last night. Amazing goal too!
Matt, Birmingham
What a fantastic night, never thought I'd see Villa win another major European trophy. Just want to give some credit to the Freiburg fans who never stopped singing and created a great atmosphere in the stadium. Will live forever in the memory the night Aston Villa conquered Europe... again!
Chris, Northfield
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter in Istanbul
A decade ago Villa were contemplating Championship football after relegation from the Premier League.
The club was on the brink of administration before Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris bought a controlling stake in 2018.
A year later Dean Smith took them back to the Premier League via the play-offs before consolidating in the top flight.
That position looked in doubt under Steven Gerrard but Unai Emery has taken the club to new heights.
Villa have backed Emery, allowing him a huge degree of control he would not be afforded at other clubs, and their patience and trust has paid off spectacularly.
He has turned players who signed from the Championship - like Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers and Matty Cash - into Champions League players and internationals.
There are likely to be several departures this summer as Villa revamp the squad but Emery has the backing to maintain Villa's trajectory.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesJohn McGinn said ahead of the game it was always going to be the proudest moment of his Villa career, but he was part of the Villa squad just seven years ago, that had got promoted to the Premier League through the Championship play-offs. In fact, he scored the winning goal against Derby in 2019. There was only him, Tammy Abraham, who's in his second spell at Villa, and Tyrone Mings who were part of that squad, so they've come a long way in those seven years.
McGinn was saying that was for the fans, because during that season they'd gone to places like Rotherham, Bolton and Wigan, and the supporters had backed them, but there was also a feeling within the group that they had to get this trophy, they had to get something for the progress they'd made.
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I’m not a Villa fan but couldn’t be happier for them. A great club, proper stadium and great fans. This is a victory for football.
Wayne, Belfast
Manchester City fan, I have a lot of respect for Villa and I'm proud to see them win the Europa League. The manager is great. It's a bright future at the club.
Carmine, Manchester
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Mark Chapman
Presenter on BBC 5 Live
It really couldn't have been a more perfect evening could it? Three of their most impressive performers this season in Tielemans, Buendia and Rogers scoring the goals and then a man who has become 'Mr Aston Villa' McGinn lifting the trophy at the end of it.
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BBC Radio 5 Live
Former Aston Villa forward Gary Thompson spoke to 5 Live breakfast: "When John McGinn first walked in to the club, we thought he was technically decent. He was okay, but he has just got better and better and is now our talisman.
"We lost Tielemans, Kamara and McGinn. The one who came back, the one we needed, was McGinn for his fire, desire, and drive to take the team forward.
"We cannot allow this man to leave this football club. He should end up on the coaching staff. He is a part of Villa and epitomises everything about this club."
Image source, Getty ImagesUse 'Get involved' to have your say
I was there in 1982 when we won the European Cup, a fantastic day in Aston Villa's history. The Europa League victory of last night is just as much an achievement and a big thank you to all players and anyone connected with the club. Come On The Mighty Villa!
Christopher, Worcester
I was 10 when we won the European Cup, we’ve been through so much since then. What a night, what a season. Still hasn’t sunk in but let the party continue, fans were amazing last night, three world class goals and a great manager. UTV
Alastair, Aberystwyth
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Ashley Young
Former Aston Villa winger on BBC Radio 5 Live
I'm so proud of Ginny [McGinn] picking up that trophy. What he has done for Aston Villa, what he gives to that club is phenomenal. Day in and day out, he is literally 'Mr Aston Villa'. It is so good to see him lift the trophy.
Image source, Getty ImagesFreiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
Owen Hargreaves
Former Manchester United midfielder on TNT Sports
To be fair, John McGinn's statue might be next to Emery's
The way he's developed since he's been there has been nothing short of remarkable.
He's so reliable, so consistent. He pops up with big goals. He's so humble.
He's what you want your captain to be.
