AFCON 2025
Aston Villa have been crowned UEFA Europa League champions after a commanding 3-0 victory over SC Freiburg in Istanbul on Wednesday night.
The Premier League side produced a dominant display as goals from Youri Tielemans and Emi Buendía gave Villa a comfortable two-goal lead before half time.
Morgan Rogers added a third shortly after the restart to complete an emphatic win and secure Aston Villa’s first major trophy since lifting the League Cup in 1996.
The triumph also ended a 44-year wait for European silverware for the club, whose last continental success came in 1982 when they won the UEFA Cup.
Villa manager Unai Emery further strengthened his reputation as one of Europe’s greatest knockout competition coaches by winning the Europa League for a record fifth time. Emery previously lifted the trophy three times with Sevilla FC and once with Villarreal CF before guiding Aston Villa to glory in Istanbul.
The victory caps a remarkable season for Aston Villa and marks another major milestone in the club’s resurgence under Emery.
