Aston Villa defeated the German Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final and won a European trophy for the first time in 44 years. For the Birmingham club, this evening was historic — the last similar success was celebrated in 1982 when the team sensationally defeated Bayern Munich in the European Cup final.
The main architect of the success was coach Unai Emery, for whom this trophy became the fifth in the Europa League. The Spanish specialist once again confirmed his status as one of the most successful coaches in the tournament.
The atmosphere of the final in Istanbul, Turkey, was enhanced by the presence of the heir to the British throne, Prince William, who personally attended the match to support his favorite team. Before the game, he visited the Aston Villa dressing room and addressed the players with encouraging words, and after the final whistle, he was among the first to celebrate the historic victory with the fans.
Back in 2015, Prince William explained his choice in favor of Aston Villa by stating that he did not want to support the most popular giants like Manchester United or Chelsea, preferring a club that could provide unpredictable emotions. Despite the difficult periods in the team's history, he remained true to his decision.
The triumph is also particularly symbolic given that one of the club's most famous fans, Ozzy Osbourne, passed away on July 22, 2025, and did not live to see this historic triumph. The legendary rock musician gave his last concert at the Aston Villa stadium.
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