Aston Villa have claimed the Europa League title after a commanding 3-0 victory over Freiburg in Istanbul this evening.
Goals from Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers secured the Birmingham club’s first piece of silverware in three decades, ending a barren spell stretching back to their 1996 League Cup success.
The triumph at Besiktas Park marks Villa’s return to European glory 44 years after lifting the continent’s top prize in Rotterdam.
Prince William, a lifelong Villa supporter, was among those celebrating at the final whistle as the club secured their second major European honour.
Aston Villa put on an excellent display to beat Freiburg 3-0 and win the Europa League
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REUTERS
Villa seized control of the final shortly before half-time when Tielemans, who netted the decisive goal in Leicester’s 2021 FA Cup triumph, struck a superb volley following a cleverly worked short corner routine.
Buendia then doubled the advantage in added time at the end of the first period, bending an exquisite effort past goalkeeper Noah Atubolu from 18 yards to leave the German side facing an impossible task.
Rogers completed the scoring just before the hour mark, converting Buendia’s delivery at the near post.
Amadou Onana rattled the woodwork and Buendia spurned a chance for a fourth, though Villa’s dominance was already beyond question.
Unai Emery has now lifted this trophy on five occasions, cementing his status as the competition’s most successful manager.
Morgan Rogers scored the third goal for Villa to make it a thrashing in the Europa League final
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REUTERS
The Spaniard inherited a side languishing just three points above the relegation zone when he succeeded Steven Gerrard in November 2022, subsequently moulding them into regular top-five challengers.
Nine members of Villa’s legendary 1982 European Cup-winning squad were present at the stadium to witness the club reclaim continental supremacy.
For supporters who have endured nearly half a century without such glory, the wait has finally ended in spectacular fashion as Villa once again stand as kings of Europe.
