Aston Villa Joins Elite English Club After Europa League Victory
Prime Video Sport showcased the newly updated list following Aston Villa’s triumph in the Europa League under the management of Unai Emery.
This achievement places Aston Villa alongside Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool as the English clubs that have won both the Champions League or European Cup and the Europa League or UEFA Cup.
Villa secured this prestigious status after defeating Freiburg 3-0 in the 2026 Europa League final at Besiktas Park, with goals from Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendía, and Morgan Rogers marking a historic occasion.
The victory also earned Emery his fifth Europa League title as a manager, further solidifying his reputation as a key figure in the competition’s modern era.
For Aston Villa, this accomplishment holds significant value, especially as their last major European win came in 1982, when they secured the European Cup.
Aston Villa’s European Achievements Align with Those of Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool
This elite list remains limited, with only four English clubs having achieved this specific European double. Manchester United claimed the European Cup or Champions League in 1968, 1999, and 2008, and added the Europa League title in 2017.
Chelsea won the Champions League in 2012 and 2021, alongside Europa League titles in 2013 and 2019.
Liverpool boasts the most extensive history in the European Cup, with victories in 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005, and 2019. Their UEFA Cup or Europa League wins occurred in 1973, 1976, and 2001.
Aston Villa’s journey, while distinct, resonates strongly with their supporters. Their 1982 European Cup win against Bayern Munich created one of the hallmark nights in English football, and the 2026 Europa League victory finally filled the gap for a second-tier UEFA trophy.
Now, Aston Villa is not merely ending a trophy drought; they are proudly included in an exclusive European list that is typically reserved for England’s most successful clubs.