Matt Law
The Prince of Wales wiped away tears of joy before being urged to “get his credit card out” by Aston Villa captain John McGinn as the club broke their 30-year trophy drought to lift the Europa League.
Goals from Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendía and Morgan Rogers sent Prince William and the Villa fans inside the Tupras Stadium in Istanbul wild, as a 3-0 victory over Freiburg meant Unai Emery won the competition for a record fifth time.
Villa had not lifted a major trophy since the League Cup in 1996, and this was their first European trophy triumph for 44 years, since the club’s famous European Cup success in 1982.
The night could barely have gone any better for Emery and his team, who will now enter the Villa history books and be afforded legend status by the club’s fans.
Prince William, sitting behind former Villa defender Ahmed Elmohamady, displayed his royal limbs to celebrate his team’s goals. He pumped his fists in celebration and hugged those next to him.
Having posted a good luck message on the official X account of the Prince and Princess of Wales ahead of kick-off, William reacted to Villa’s victory with a message that said: “Amazing night!! Huge congratulations to all the players, team, staff and everyone connected to the club! 44 years since the last taste of European silverware!”.
He added: “UTV (Up the Villa)! VTID (Villa till I Die) W.”
McGinn became the first Villa captain to lift a European trophy since Dennis Mortimer in 1982 and said: “Hopefully Prince William is paying for the free bar. He’s a classy guy. He was in the dressing room before the game. He’s a massive Villa fan, he was never going to miss it. He’s just a normal guy, it’s great to have his support. Hopefully, he can have a couple of drinks with us and maybe get his credit card out.”
Emery had previously won the Europa League three times with Sevilla and once in charge of Villarreal. His latest success with Villa confirms his status as the “king” of the competition and one of the club’s greatest-ever managers.
He said: “This trophy makes us very proud, but we are not going to stop.”
Villa’s players carried Emery on their shoulders during the celebrations in Istanbul, and the Spaniard added: “Fantastic. Europe, it gave us a lot. For myself as well – a lot. I’m always very grateful for Europe. For every competition, but especially the Europa League.
“As well the clubs I work at because they show the way, as well the support I had with Valencia, with Sevilla, with Villareal and here at Villa. The owners, the players. It’s very important how everybody, we got strong in this competition and we tried to do our best. We played it in a very serious way this year – so, so focused.
“And, of course, the players, they show their wishes. I was telling them in there, we need wishes, we need seriousness in this competition. To show on the field that you are the protagonist – and they did it!”
McGinn, who was promoted from the Championship to the Premier League with Villa, described Wednesday night’s Europa League win as the proudest moment of his career.
“It means a lot,” said McGinn. “To be here, in 2026, as captain of Aston Villa is incredible. It’s the proudest night of my career. I’ll try to enjoy it. I like to party, but I’ll take it easy to try and soak it all in.
“Being 31, in my first European final, I’ve seen my mates [Jack] Grealish and [Andy] Robertson win. It’s my turn. It’s so special, I’ll cherish every minute.”
McGinn added: “I can’t believe it, to be honest. What we’ve been through as a club, this club is close to being in a right bad way seven years ago. V Sports bought the club over. Their one remit was to get it back to the Premier League and back to the levels of before.
“Tonight was everything we built coming together. The pride I felt with 10 minutes to go knowing we were about to be champions – I can’t describe it.”
Villa had already secured Champions League qualification through the Premier League, and their Europa League triumph could open up another Champions League place for an English club if Emery’s team finish the season in fifth place. Villa are currently fourth, ahead of Liverpool, and travel to Manchester City on the final day.
Bournemouth occupy sixth place in the Premier League table, three points ahead of Brighton before the final round of games on Sunday.
Villa celebrate long into the night
Aston Villa players sang in the rain as their 30-year wait for silverware ended in Europa League glory.
Villa thrashed Freiburg amid scenes of jubilation in Istanbul and beyond, with players and fans quick to serenade Unai Emery.
Emiliano Buendía’s stunning second goal sent Villa fans wild just before half-time following a superb opener from Youri Tielemans. And Buendía was serenaded by the Villa supporters as he, too, was lifted up.
Former Villa striker Alan McInally could be seen conducting the crowd, while jubilant players partied on the pitch and showed off their medals.
Former manager Dean Smith, who won Villa promotion back to the Premier League in 2019, celebrated the win with fans at a bar in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Back at home, Villa fans celebrated wildly at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena as they watched the club end three decades of trophy agony.
Thousands of supporters gathered at the city’s largest indoor venue to watch the Europa League final.
Footage showed fans erupting in joy and beer being thrown into the air after Youri Tielemans’s stunning opening goal.
Around 8500 people were expected to gather to watch Villa’s first continental final since they were crowned European champions 44 years ago.
Organisers 4 The Fans promised to bring them the action on more than 100 metres of giant LED screens.
Fan-park experiences were also held at two other venues.
Villa have announced plans for an open-top bus victory parade through Birmingham city centre on Thursday.
