This article was first published today in our bespoke Sports newsletter The Fixture. You can sign up in seconds to receive it straight to your inbox every weekday here.
In 1981, when The Fixture was but a mere slip of a lad, Aston Villa were English first division champions. A season later they were kings of Europe. Just five years years after that European Cup final win over Bayern Munich in Rotterdam, Villa were relegated and while they were to return a season later, they have struggled to come close to those previous heights.
There were second-placed finishes in 1990 and 1993 and there have been FA Cup final appearances, too, but nothing tangible to cling on to. Optimism has been a fluctuating quality at Villa Park in the 41 years since that European Cup triumph. Silverware has come in the form of the trophies they have been rewarded with for promotion back to England's top flight, a damning statement for a club of Villa's stature.
The arrival of new owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens in 2018 heralded a change in fortunes facilitated by some substantial investment. Promotion back to the Premier League was secured a year later followed by a couple of seasons of consolidation. It took the mis-step of appointing Steven Gerrard as manager, then the bold but predictable decision to remove him before the club's supporters would start to see Premier League progress, however. The former Rangers boss was replaced by Unai Emery last November to much amusement and smirks from the rest of the league. Emery was considered damaged goods in English football following a difficult spell at Arsenal but Villa's board stood firm in its resolve to appoint a man whose stock on the continent was high following the sterling work he had done at Sevilla and Villarrreal.
Their faith has been rewarded. Had Pep Guardiola not masterminded a treble at Manchester City last season, Emery might well have been in the reckoning for manager of the year. When he took over from Gerrard, Villa sat in 16th but the Spaniard immediately set about transforming their season and a formidable run, during which they won 15 of their 25 league games, ensured a seventh-placed finish and a return to European competition through the Europa Conference League.
At the heart of the Villa revival is the Scotland midfielder John McGinn, who signed a new contract in the summer. He speaks of his manager in glowing terms, saying:
“Every day I’m learning different things from him and trying to bring my qualities to the game. He’s given us all a lot of belief. He’s added so many [strings to the] bows of players, like myself, teaching things I didn’t think I was capable of doing. He’s a top-class manager, his record speaks for itself and he’s really keen to be successful here. It’s great to be a part of."
On the eve of their first Premier League game against Newcastle, it is clear that Villa will be even stronger this season. In recent months they have brought in Monchi, Emery's arch-talent spotter from his Sevilla days. The 54-year-old has discovered such talents as Dani Alves, Sergio Ramos and Ivan Rakitic and his presence is already being felt at Villa. A measure of the club's newly rediscovered status as Premier League big boys came with the signings of Spain international defender Pau Torres and the France winger Moussa Diaby from Villarreal and Bayer Leverkusen respectively. Youri Tielemans has also arrived from Leicester City on a free transfer giving Villa a degree of passing intelligence in midfield that has been missing since Jack Grealish played for the club. Above all, the trio of signings adds depth to a burgeoning squad and you sense that Villa are not finished yet with links to the Galatasaray attacker Nicolo Zaniolo continuing to surface. All told, Villa look set to continue their trajectory along with Newcastle – their opponents tomorrow – as the Premier League's new disruptors.
Meanwhile, Emery won three Europa League titles with Sevilla and another with Villarreal earning him a reputation as a competition specialist. Sevilla, Villarreal and now The Villa – it seems inevitable that he will end the club's long drought without a major honour in this year's Europa Conference League.
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