Founded in 1874 by members of the Aston Villa Wesleyan Chapel cricket team in the Aston district of Birmingham, the club is one of English football's founding institutions — among the 12 original members of the Football League in 1888. With seven league titles and seven FA Cups to their name, Villa's place in the sport's history is assured.

The club's crowning achievement came in 1981-82, when they won the European Cup (now Champions League), defeating Bayern Munich 1-0 in the final at De Kuip in Rotterdam. That triumph made Villa only the fourth English club to lift the continent's most prestigious trophy.

A long period of decline followed, culminating in relegation to the Championship in 2016. After three seasons in the second tier, Villa returned to the Premier League in 2019. The appointment of Unai Emery in 2022 transformed the club's fortunes, propelling them back among the top four and into the Champions League.

Aston Villa's European Cup victory in 1981-82 stands as the defining moment in the club's history. Despite a difficult domestic campaign, Villa surged through Europe, culminating in the final against mighty Bayern Munich. Goalkeeper Nigel Spink, thrust into action after just nine minutes when first-choice Jimmy Rimmer was injured, produced a heroic performance, while Peter Withe scored the only goal to seal the trophy.

Forty-two years later, Villa returned to the Champions League stage in 2024-25. They navigated the new league phase format and advanced to the quarter-finals, where they were ultimately eliminated by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain — but not before reminding Europe of the club's proud continental heritage.

Home to Aston Villa since 1897, Villa Park is an iconic ground in the Aston district of Birmingham. Its current capacity stands at 42,657, and it has hosted numerous FA Cup semi-finals and international matches throughout its long history.

The club is pursuing an ambitious redevelopment plan centred on the North Stand, with the goal of expanding capacity to approximately 50,000. For over a century, Villa Park has served as a symbol of Birmingham's deep footballing culture.

Unai Emery, a four-time Europa League winner, brings a pragmatic and tactically flexible approach to Villa. His preferred 4-2-3-1 formation can shift to a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 depending on the opposition, and his teams are known for their high pressing and incisive counter-attacks.

A key feature of Emery's Villa is the use of wide players cutting inside to create shooting opportunities. Combined with aggressive ball recovery in the opposition half and quick vertical transitions, this makes Villa a dangerous proposition for any opponent.