'These are such special moments': Prince William roars as Aston Villa snap 44-year European drought in style
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Prince William roared with approval as Aston Villa snapped a 30-year trophy drought in emphatic fashion, thumping Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final on Thursday (AEST).
It took 40 minutes for Villa to start the party in Istanbul as Belgium star Youri Tielemans showed off supreme technical ability to score the opening goal with a stunning volley (watch the video in the player above).
It was one-way traffic from there as Argentina midfielder Emiliano Buendia made it 2-0 with a superb goal of his own before halftime and England attacker Morgan Rogers finished the job after it.
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Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa scores his team's first goal. Stan
Villa's last major trophy was in 1996 when Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 victory over Leeds United in the League Cup at Wembley.
And it had been 44 years since Villa tasted glory on the continent, when they beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in the top-tier European Cup (now the Champions League) and then the Super Cup in 1982.
Prince William is a huge Villa fan and celebrated each goal with gusto.
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Prince William, Prince of Wales celebrates a goal. Getty
Villa manager Unai Emery has an incredible record in the second-tier European competition.
The Spaniard has now won it five times - two more than next-best Giovanni Trapattoni. Emery has now won it with three different clubs.
He did it three years running with Sevilla from 2014-16 and then lifted it again with Villarreal in 2021.
Australia's Ange Postecoglou won the Europa League with Tottenham Hotspur last year.
Villa is fourth in the Premier League and were already guaranteed to qualify for next season's Champions League.
They had far too much quality for a Freiburg team that is seventh in the Bundesliga and 10 years ago was playing in Germany's second division.
Unai Emery, manager of Aston Villa, adjusts his medal following the team's victory. Getty
It was Freiburg's first European final.
"A great, great night and a very, very convincing performance," Bosnich said on Stan Sport's coverage.
"Congratulations to all the players, supporters, directors, owners, and especially to Unai Emery, and his coaching staff. A special word for him because when he first comes (to Villa) they were three points off relegation.
John McGinn of Aston Villa lifts the Europa League trophy with teammates. Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
"And for him to turn this around in four years - winners of the Europa League - is an absolutely fantastic achievement.
"They will be in the Champions League again next season, not only from winning this competition, but because of their league position, and these are special moments.
"We saw them two mornings ago with Arsenal, you're going to see them now with Aston Villa. These are such special moments, ones that can never be taken away from the players."
Aston Villa captain Andy Townsend raises the League Cup next to Mark Bosnich in 1996 at Wembley. Getty
Prince William had his phone out taking photos as Villa captain John McGinn lifted the cup in the centre of the field and in front of an explosion 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 said.
Was the outcome ever in doubt with the ultimate Europa League specialist Emery on the sideline? The transformation he has overseen has been remarkable.
Villa was in England's second tier in 2019. Occasions like this looked a long way off when Emery was hired in 2022. 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."
Villa striker Ollie Watkins said Emery had prepared the team superbly.
"Normally sometimes in the league games he's a little bit anxious because obviously he wants us to win, but today he was really calm and I think that set the tone for us boys," Watkins said.
McGinn had a broad smile as the rain tumbled down at Tupras Stadium.
The Scotland midfielder joined the Birmingham club in 2018.
"I can't believe it to be honest. What we've been through as a club - this club was close to being in a right bad way seven years ago," McGinn said.
"Tonight was just everything we have built coming together… the pride I felt 3-0 up with 10 minutes to go, thinking 'we're European champions' was something I can't even describe."
Victory was further personal redemption for Emery, who was fired by Arsenal in 2019 despite having led the team to the Europa League final earlier that year, which they lost to Chelsea.
A serial winner, he has now won trophies with clubs from three different countries, having also lifted the French title with Paris Saint-Germain.
Villa will finish their Premier League campaign away to Manchester City on Monday (AEST).
- with AP
