Aston Villa F.C. is a professional football club founded in 1874 and based in Birmingham, England. They compete in the Premier League and have played at Villa Park since 1897. As one of England's oldest and most successful clubs, Aston Villa boasts seven First Division titles and seven FA Cups. They have also won the League Cup five times, in addition to claiming the European Cup and European Super Cup once each, marking significant achievements in both domestic and European football.
1901: Aston Villa Most Successful English Club
By 1901, at the end of Queen Victoria's reign, Aston Villa had emerged as the most successful English club, with five League titles and three FA Cups.
1901: Aston Villa's longest unbeaten home run in the FA Cup
From 1888 to 1901, Villa's longest unbeaten home run in the FA Cup spanned 13 years and 19 games.
1904: FA Cup Win
In 1904, Aston Villa lifted the FA Cup for the fourth time.
1909: Sixth League Title
In 1909, Aston Villa achieved their sixth league title.
1913: FA Cup Triumph
In 1913, Aston Villa achieved another FA Cup triumph, narrowly missing out on winning a second Double by finishing as league runners-up.
January 1920: Billy Walker's Debut and FA Cup Victory
In January 1920, Billy Walker made his debut for Aston Villa, scoring twice in a 2-1 FA Cup win over QPR. That season, the club went on to win the FA Cup for the sixth time.
1926: George Ramsay's Retirement
In 1926, George Ramsay retired at the age of 71, marking the end of his tenure as manager.
1930: Aston Villa Sets League Goal Scoring Record
During the 1930–31 season, Aston Villa scored 128 league goals, setting a record for the most goals scored by a team in the English top flight.
1930: Villa's High-Scoring Season
In 1930, Aston Villa Park crowds were entertained by attacking football, with the 128 goals scored that season remaining the all-time top-flight record.
1930: Villa's Record-Breaking Goalscoring Season
In 1930, Aston Villa scored 128 goals, setting a record for the most goals scored in a top-flight season, a record which still stands.
1932: Runners-Up in the League
In 1932, Aston Villa finished as runners-up in the league, narrowly missing out on the title.
1934: Jimmy McMullan Appointed Manager
In 1934, Jimmy McMullan was appointed as the manager of Aston Villa.
1935: Relegation After 48 Years
In 1935, Aston Villa experienced their first-ever relegation after 48 years in the top flight.
1936: Villa's Relegation
In 1936, Aston Villa, one of the most famous and successful clubs, was relegated for the first time in its history.
1938: George Cummings becomes club captain
In 1938, George Cummings led the Aston Villa team.
1949: George Cummings ends as club captain
In 1949, George Cummings left being the leader of the Aston Villa team.
1952: The Card Film Release
In 1952, the film "The Card" was released, featuring a character who purchases the rights to an Aston Villa player.
1953: Criticism at AGM
In 1953, the Aston Villa AGM was described as "the longest and liveliest", with shareholders and supporters criticizing the club's lack of youth development, recruitment, and training methods.
1954: Blanchflower's Transfer Request and Criticism
In 1954, Danny Blanchflower put in a transfer request, criticizing the club for growing "fat and lazy" on its old traditions and the decay eating at its foundations.
1956: FA Cup Win After 37 Years
In the 1956 season, Aston Villa secured their first trophy in 37 years, winning the FA Cup for a record seventh time.
December 1958: Eric Houghton Sacked
In December 1958, Eric Houghton was sacked as manager of Aston Villa due to the team's inconsistency in the league.
1959: Charlie Aitkin Debut
In 1959, Charlie Aitkin made his debut for Aston Villa.
1960: Return to Top-Flight
In 1960, Aston Villa returned to the top-flight as Second Division Champions under the stewardship of manager Joe Mercer.
1961: Hitchens Sold and Villa Slide Backwards
In 1961, Hitchens was sold for £85,000 and Villa started to slide backwards.
July 1964: Mercer's Forced Retirement
In July 1964, Joe Mercer's forced retirement from Aston Villa due to a stroke marked the beginning of a period of deep turmoil for the club.
October 1966: Selling Top Striker Tony Hateley
In October 1966, Aston Villa sold their top striker, Tony Hateley, to Chelsea for £100,000.
1967: Relegation Under Dick Taylor
In 1967, Aston Villa was relegated for the third time in its history under manager Dick Taylor.
December 1968: Doug Ellis Becomes Chairman
In December 1968, Doug Ellis was brought in as chairman after London financier Pat Matthews bought control of the club.
1968: Doug Ellis Chairman
Doug Ellis was chairman of "Aston Villa F.C." from 1968 to 1975.
1968: Doug Ellis Takes Over Aston Villa
In 1968, Doug Ellis took over Aston Villa Football Club during a period of decline for the club.
1969: Relegation to Third Division
At the end of the 1969 season, Aston Villa was relegated to the Third Division for the first time in its history.
1969: Villa's Relegation to the Third Tier
In 1969, Aston Villa experienced its first and only relegation to the third tier of English football.
December 1971: Purchase of Bodymoor Heath Training Ground
In December 1971, Aston Villa purchased the new 20-acre Bodymoor Heath Training Ground to improve youth development and coaching facilities.
1973: Solihull F.C. Founded
In 1973, Solihull F.C., which would later become Aston Villa's women's team, was founded.
August 1974: Ron Saunders Replaces Vic Crowe
In August 1974, Ron Saunders replaced Vic Crowe as manager of Aston Villa.
1974: Umbro Kit Supplier
In 1974, Umbro became the first kit supplier to have its logo on an Aston Villa shirt.
1975: Doug Ellis Chairman
Doug Ellis was chairman of "Aston Villa F.C." from 1968 to 1975.
1976: Charlie Aitken's appearance Record
By 1976, Charlie Aitken made 659 appearances at left back for the club.
1976: Continued Success and League Cup Win
In 1976, Aston Villa continued to mould a winning team, finishing 4th in the league and winning a further League Cup.
1977: Andy Gray wins PFA Players' Player of the Year award
In 1977 Andy Gray won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.
1979: Doug Ellis Leaves the Club
In 1979, Doug Ellis left Aston Villa after a power struggle with majority shareholder Ron Bendall.
1980: Building of the North Stand
From 1980 to 1982, questions had been raised by the police regarding fraudulent financial activity surrounding the building of the North Stand at Villa Park.
1980: Villa Achieve Top-Flight League Title
In 1980, Aston Villa achieved a seventh top-flight league title.
1981: Gary Shaw wins PFA Young Player of the Year award
In 1981 Gary Shaw wins the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
1981: Seventh Top-Flight League Title
In 1981, Aston Villa secured their seventh top-flight league title, marking their first title in 71 years.
1981: Saunders Quits Mid-Season
In 1981, Ron Saunders quit mid-season, with Villa in the quarter-final of the European Cup, due to disagreements with the board.
May 1982: Aston Villa Wins European Cup
On May 26, 1982, Aston Villa won the European Cup by defeating Bayern Munich 1–0 in Rotterdam.
November 1982: Doug Ellis Returns as Chairman
In November 1982, Doug Ellis returned as chairman and majority shareholder of Aston Villa.
1982: Doug Ellis Majority Shareholder
From 1982 to 2006, Doug Ellis was the majority shareholder of Aston Villa.
1982: Villa Win European Cup and Super Cup
In 1982, Aston Villa won the European Cup and followed it up with a victory in the European Super Cup.
1982: European Cup Win Represented
In May 2007, Aston Villa's new badge included a star to represent the European Cup win in 1982.
1982: First Shirt Sponsor
In the 1982 season, Davenports Breweries became Aston Villa's first shirt sponsor.
1982: UEFA Champions League Participation Secured
In the 2023-24 season, Emery secured Villa's participation in the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 1982-83 season.
1982: New Training Ground Unveiled
On May 6, 2007, the new Bodymoor Heath training ground was officially unveiled by Martin O'Neill, Gareth Barry, and Dennis Mortimer, with the Aston Villa squad moving in for the 2007–08 season. 1982 European Cup winning team captain Dennis Mortimer was one of those present.
1982: 1982 European Cup-Winning Team Inducted into Hall of Fame
The 1982 European Cup-winning team was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.
1983: "West Midlands' Big Four" in top flight
The 1983-84 season marked the last time that the "West Midlands' Big Four" clubs were in the top flight together.
1987: Relegation Five Years After European Triumph
In 1987, Aston Villa was relegated, just five years after being crowned European champions.
1989: Aston Villa Runners-Up
In 1989, Aston Villa achieved a runners-up position in the top-flight league, showcasing a strong team that included players like Paul McGrath, Tony Daley, and David Platt.
1989: Affiliation with Aston Villa
In 1989, Solihull F.C. became affiliated with Aston Villa.
1990: David Platt wins PFA Players' Player of the Year award
In 1990 David Platt wins the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.
1990: Paul McGrath Captains Republic of Ireland at World Cup
In 1990, Paul McGrath captained the Republic of Ireland national side in the World Cup while at Aston Villa.
1990: Graham Taylor Becomes England Manager
In 1990, following Aston Villa's successful season, Graham Taylor accepted an offer to become the manager of the England national team.
1992: Aston Villa Founding Member of Premier League
In 1992, Aston Villa became a founding member of the Premier League, solidifying their status as one of the original clubs in both the Football League and the Premier League.
1992: Founding Member of the Premier League
In 1992, Aston Villa became one of the founding members of the Premier League and finished as runners-up to Manchester United in the inaugural season.
1992: Establishment of Premier League
Since the Premier League establishment in 1992-93, Aston Villa have played in every Premier League season.
1993: Paul McGrath wins PFA Players' Player of the Year award
In 1993 Paul McGrath wins the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.
November 1994: Brian Little Replaces Ron Atkinson
In November 1994, Brian Little replaced Ron Atkinson as the manager of Aston Villa, following a struggle for form in the league.
1996: League Cup Triumph
In 1996, Aston Villa achieved their fifth League Cup triumph, defeating Leeds United 3–0 at Wembley and finished fourth in the league that season.
1996: Club Floated on London Stock Exchange
In 1996, Aston Villa was floated on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), leading to fluctuations in the share price over the next decade.
1996: Aston Villa Wins League Cup
In 1996, Aston Villa won the League Cup.
February 1998: John Gregory Appointed Manager
In February 1998, John Gregory replaced Doug Ellis as manager, one of his first matches was the UEFA Cup quarter-final against Atlético Madrid.
1998: Football League 100 Legends List Released
In 1998, The Football League released the Football League 100 Legends list. There were seven players included on the list who played for Villa: Danny Blanchflower, Trevor Ford, Archie Hunter, Sam Hardy, Paul McGrath, Clem Stephenson and Peter Schmeichel.
2000: FA Cup Final Appearance
In 2000, John Gregory led Aston Villa to an FA Cup final with a team including David James, Dion Dublin, Paul Merson, and Gareth Barry.
2001: Aston Villa Wins UEFA Intertoto Cup
In 2001, Aston Villa won the UEFA Intertoto Cup.
January 2002: John Gregory Resigns
In January 2002, John Gregory resigned from his position as manager of Aston Villa due to frustration with the lack of investment in the team.
February 2002: Graham Taylor Returns as Manager
In February 2002, Graham Taylor was appointed for a second spell as manager of Aston Villa.
2002: Steve Staunton Captains Republic of Ireland at World Cup
In 2002, Steve Staunton captained the Republic of Ireland national side in the World Cup while at Aston Villa.
June 2003: David O'Leary Appointed Manager
In June 2003, David O'Leary replaced Graham Taylor as manager after a 16th-place finish in the league.
2003: Fan Survey Highlights Rivalry with West Bromwich Albion
In 2003, a fan survey suggested that West Bromwich Albion was arguably Aston Villa's greatest rival historically.
2004: Villa Firms Involved in Fight Outside Villa Park
In 2004, several Aston Villa hooligan firms were involved in a fight with QPR fans outside Villa Park, resulting in the death of a steward.
November 2005: Bodymoor Heath Redevelopment Announced
In November 2005, Doug Ellis and Aston Villa plc announced a £13 million redevelopment of the Bodymoor Heath training ground in two phases.
2005: Last England International at Villa Park
In 2005, Villa Park hosted its most recent England international match, marking it as the first English ground to stage international football in three different centuries.
2005: West Brom Relegated to Championship
In the 2005-06 season, West Bromwich Albion was relegated to the Football League Championship.
August 2006: Randy Lerner Takeover Agreement
On August 14, 2006, it was confirmed that Randy Lerner had reached a £62.6 million agreement for a takeover of Aston Villa.
September 2006: Randy Lerner Completes Takeover
In September 2006, American businessman Randy Lerner completed his takeover of Aston Villa, purchasing Doug Ellis's stake due to Ellis's ill-health.
September 2006: Lerner Takes Full Control
In September 2006, Randy Lerner took full control of Aston Villa, replacing Doug Ellis and his board.
2006: Creation of Aston Villa Hall of Fame
In 2006, Aston Villa announced the creation of an Aston Villa Hall of Fame.
2006: Olof Mellberg Captains Sweden at World Cup
In 2006, Olof Mellberg captained the Sweden national side in the World Cup while at Aston Villa.
2006: David O'Leary Leaves
In 2006, after Aston Villa finished 10th and 16th in the league, David O'Leary left his position as manager.
2006: Bids Considered for Aston Villa
In 2006, it was announced that several consortia and individuals were considering bids for Aston Villa, indicating potential changes in ownership.
2006: Birmingham City Relegated to Championship
In the 2005-06 season, Birmingham City was relegated to the Football League Championship.
May 2007: New Badge Revealed
In May 2007, a new badge was revealed for Aston Villa, to be used from the 2007–08 season onwards, featuring a star to represent the 1982 European Cup win.
May 2007: New Training Ground Unveiled
On May 6, 2007, the new Bodymoor Heath training ground was officially unveiled by Martin O'Neill, Gareth Barry, and Dennis Mortimer.
2007: Investment in Squad and Facilities
In 2007, Aston Villa saw significant investment in the squad and state-of-the-art facilities at the Bodymoor Heath Training Ground, marking a new era under Randy Lerner and Martin O'Neill.
2008: Charity Advertising
In 2008, Aston Villa forwent commercial kit sponsorship, instead advertising the charity Acorns Children's Hospice.
2008: Stock Market Crash
In 2008, the stock market crash negatively affected Villa's spending.
December 2009: Nessa Revealed as Aston Villa Fan in Gavin & Stacey
In December 2009, the character Nessa in the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey was revealed to be an Aston Villa fan.
2009: Ashley Young wins PFA Young Player of the Year award
In 2009 Ashley Young wins the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
2009: Charity Advertising
In 2009, Aston Villa forwent commercial kit sponsorship, instead advertising the charity Acorns Children's Hospice.
September 2010: Aston Villa Launches Villa Midlands Food Initiative
In September 2010, Aston Villa launched the Villa Midlands Food (VMF) initiative at Villa Park, aiming to train students in hospitality and events in partnership with Birmingham City Council.
2010: "West Midlands' Big Four" in Premier League
For the 2010-11 season, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Birmingham City were all in the Premier League, marking the first time the "West Midlands' Big Four" clubs were in the top flight together since 1983-84.
2010: James Milner wins PFA Young Player of the Year award
In 2010 James Milner wins the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
2010: League Cup Final Loss
In 2010, Aston Villa reached the League Cup Final but were defeated 2–1, marking the first Cup final of the Randy Lerner era.
2010: Commercial Sponsor Replaces Acorns
In 2010, a commercial sponsor replaced Acorns on the Aston Villa shirt, with the hospice becoming the club's Official Charity Partner.
2010: Martin O'Neill Resigns
In 2010, just days before the season's opening, Martin O'Neill resigned as manager of Aston Villa due to frustration over a lack of investment in the squad.
September 2011: Gérard Houllier Steps Down
In September 2011, Gérard Houllier stepped down as manager due to ill-health and was replaced by Alex McLeish.
October 2011: 1982 European Cup-Winning Team Inducted into Hall of Fame
In October 2011, the 1982 European Cup-winning team was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.
2011: Club Supports Official Anthem Initiative
In 2011, Aston Villa supported a supporter-based initiative for an official anthem to boost the atmosphere at Villa Park, choosing "The Bells Are Ringing" to be played before games.
February 2012: Financial Loss Announced
In February 2012, Aston Villa announced a financial loss of £53.9 million, leading Randy Lerner to put the club up for sale months later.
May 2013: Stiliyan Petrov Added to Aston Villa Hall of Fame
In May 2013, former club captain Stiliyan Petrov was added to the Aston Villa Hall of Fame.
May 2014: Lerner Puts Club Up For Sale
In May 2014, Randy Lerner put Aston Villa up for sale, valuing it at an estimated £200 million.
August 2014: Villa Park in FIFA Video Game
On August 6, 2014, it was announced that Villa Park would appear in the FIFA video game from FIFA 15, with all other Premier League stadiums also fully licensed.
2014: Uncompetitive Season
In the 2014 season, Aston Villa was uncompetitive, which resulted in Paul Lambert's sacking in February 2015.
February 2015: Paul Lambert Sacked
In February 2015, Paul Lambert was sacked as manager of Aston Villa after the team scored just 12 goals in the first 25 league games.
2015: Relegation From Premier League
In 2015, Aston Villa experienced their first and only relegation from the Premier League, marking the end of Randy Lerner's ownership.
April 2016: New Badge Confirmed
On 6 April 2016, Aston Villa confirmed they would use a new badge from the 2016–17 season after consulting fan groups for suggestions.
May 2016: Randy Lerner Agrees to Sell Aston Villa
On May 2016, Randy Lerner agreed to sell Aston Villa to Recon Group, owned by Tony Xia.
June 2016: Tony Xia Buys Aston Villa
In June 2016, Chinese businessman Tony Xia bought Aston Villa for £76 million, and Roberto Di Matteo was appointed as the new manager.
June 2016: Sale of Aston Villa to Recon Group Completed
In June 2016, the sale of Aston Villa to Recon Group, owned by Tony Xia, was completed for a reported £76 million.
2016: Aston Villa Foundation Created
In 2016, Aston Villa established the Aston Villa Foundation as a registered charity to deliver social responsibility initiatives, focusing on community engagement, health, education, and interventions.
2016: Aston Villa Relegated From Top Tier
In 2016, Aston Villa were relegated from the top tier of English football.
2016: Rivalry with Birmingham City Renewed
In the 2016–17 season, the rivalry with Birmingham City was renewed when Aston Villa suffered relegation from the Premier League.
2017: Steve Bruce Manages Villa
In 2017 Steve Bruce continued to manage Villa after his appointment in 2016.
June 2018: Xia Seeks to Sell Aston Villa Amidst Financial Difficulties
In June 2018, amid financial difficulties and rumors of administration, Tony Xia entered talks to sell Aston Villa.
July 2018: NSWE Group Invests in Aston Villa
On July 20, 2018, NSWE Group, consisting of Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, invested in Aston Villa, purchasing a controlling stake and appointing Christian Purslow as CEO.
October 2018: Dean Smith Appointed Manager
In October 2018, Dean Smith replaced Steve Bruce as manager of Aston Villa, following a poor run of form.
2018: Play-off Final Loss
In 2018, Aston Villa, led by Steve Bruce, finished fourth but lost in the EFL Championship play-off final to Fulham.
2018: Aston Villa promoted back in Premier League
In 2018–19, Aston Villa were promoted back in Premier League.
August 2019: Xia's Shares in Aston Villa Bought Out
In August 2019, following Aston Villa's promotion to the Premier League, it was revealed that Tony Xia's remaining shares had been bought out, ending his stake in the club.
2019: Return to the Premier League
In 2019, Aston Villa returned to the Premier League after a period in the lower divisions.
2019: FA Women's Championship
In 2019, Aston Villa women's football side were promoted as champions of the FA Women's Championship.
2019: Aston Villa Promoted Back to Premier League
In 2019, Aston Villa won promotion back to the Premier League.
2019: Shirt Sleeve Sponsor
In the 2019 season, a shirt sleeve sponsor was used for the first time with BR88 being displayed.
June 2021: Emiliano Martínez Debuts for Argentina
In June 2021, Emiliano Martínez made his debut for the senior Argentina national team while at Aston Villa.
November 2021: Steven Gerrard Appointed Head Coach
On November 11, 2021, Aston Villa appointed Steven Gerrard as head coach.
2021: Dean Smith Dismissed
Following a poor start to the 2021–22 season, Dean Smith was dismissed as manager of Aston Villa.
October 2022: Steven Gerrard Sacked
In October 2022, Steven Gerrard was sacked as Aston Villa's head coach after a poor start to the 2022-23 season.
November 2022: New Badge Announced
In November 2022, following a fan-led vote, Aston Villa announced it would adopt a new badge for the following season.
2022: Stadium Redevelopment Plans
In 2022, Aston Villa announced plans to rebuild the North Stand and part of the Trinity Road stand, increasing the stadium's capacity to over 50,000.
2022: Emiliano Martinez Wins 2022 FIFA World Cup
In 2022, Emiliano Martinez Won 2022 FIFA World Cup.
2022: Peter Schmeichel inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame
Peter Schmeichel was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2022.
December 2023: Atairos to invest in V Sports
On December 2023, Aston Villa announced that Comcast-backed Atairos would invest in V Sports.
2023: Ollie Watkins Named in 2023/24 PFA Team of the Year
In 2023/24 Ollie Watkins was named in the 2023/24 PFA Team of the Year.
2023: Qualification for Europa Conference League
In the 2023 season, Unai Emery led Aston Villa to 7th place and qualification for the Europa Conference League.
April 2024: Atairos finalise deal with Aston Villa
On April 2024, The deal with Atairos was finalised.
May 2024: Reversion to Shield-Shaped Badge
In May 2024, Aston Villa reverted to a shield-shaped badge.
2024: John Terry inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame
Former Villa captain and coach John Terry inducted in 2024.
2024: Emiliano Martinez Wins 2024 Copa America
In 2024, Emiliano Martinez Wins 2024 Copa America.
2024: Formation of 1897 Group
In 2024, a supporter group named 1897 Group was formed to enhance the atmosphere for Aston Villa's matches at Villa Park.
2024: Aston Villa's 111th Season in Top Tier
The 2024–25 campaign is Aston Villa's 111th season in the top tier of English football.
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