Aston Villa Claims Europa League Title with 3-0 Victory Over Freiburg

• Unai Emery secured a record-extending fifth title in the Europa League competition

• Aston Villa beat Freiburg 3-0

• It was Villa’s first major piece of silverware since winning the English League Cup in 1996

In front of the future king of England, Unai Emery reaffirmed his status as the king of the Europa League. Aston Villa defeated Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul on Wednesday, marking Emery’s record-extending fifth title in this competition.

Celebrating inside the Tupras Stadium was lifelong Villa fan Prince William, who came to witness his team’s triumph after a 30-year wait for a major trophy.

“Amazing night!! Huge congratulations to all the players, team, staff, and everyone connected to the club!” the Prince posted on X. He captured the moment as captain John McGinn lifted the cup amid a shower of confetti.

“He’s a classy guy. He was in the dressing room before the game and he’s a massive Villa fan, so he was never going to miss it,” McGinn told TNT Sports.

This victory marks Villa’s first major piece of silverware since winning the English League Cup in 1996 and the team’s first continental title since lifting the European Cup and then the Super Cup in 1982.

With the ultimate Europa League specialist, Emery, on the sideline, the result never seemed in doubt.

The Spanish coach has a remarkable track record in Europe’s second-tier competition, having won it three consecutive times with Sevilla from 2014 to 2016 and again with Villarreal in 2021. Now, he has led a third team with “Villa” in its name to the title.

“I am always very grateful for Europe, for every competition: Conference League, Champions League, Europa League, but especially Europa League,” Emery said. “We fought strongly in this competition and tried to give it our best. We played in a very serious way this year.”

Two brilliant first-half goals from Youri Tielemans and Emiliano Buendia gave Villa a 2-0 lead at halftime, with Morgan Rogers adding a third in the second half.

Freiburg, which was competing in its first European final, was outclassed. Villa was in England’s second tier just four years ago, in 2019. Although considered the favorite heading into Wednesday’s match, that moment felt far away when Emery was hired in 2022 while the club sat just above the relegation zone.

The transformation under Emery has been remarkable — he led the team into the Champions League last season and qualified for the same competition again next term.

“With this manager in charge, anything’s possible,” said McGinn, a Scotland international. “Tonight was just everything we have built, coming together, and the pride I felt at 3-0 with 10 minutes to go, thinking we’re European champions, was something I can’t even describe.

“It’s the proudest moment and night of my career so far.”

Tielemans opened the scoring with a controlled volley from Rogers’ cross in the 41st minute, driving the shot past Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu. Buendia doubled the lead with a curling left-footed shot from outside the box in first-half stoppage time.

Rogers added a third goal in the 58th minute, sliding in to redirect Buendia’s cross over the line.

“We had a great season and to top it off with this is amazing,” Tielemans remarked.

The win also served as personal redemption for Emery, who was dismissed by Arsenal in November 2019 after guiding them to the Europa League final, which they lost to Chelsea. As a serial winner, he has now claimed trophies with clubs from three different countries, including the French title with Paris Saint-Germain.