Aston Villa FC History
Aston Villa Football Club, also known as ‘The Villa’ or ‘The Villans,’ is one of the oldest and most successful football clubs in England. Founded in 1874, the club has a rich history that includes seven First Division titles, seven FA Cup trophies, five League Cups, and a European Cup victory. Villa are one of the 12 teams involved in the foundation of the English Football League in 1888, with one of the club’s directors, William McGregor, being the founder of it.
In recent years, Aston Villa has faced ups and downs on the pitch. After suffering relegation to the Championship in 2016, the club bounced back to the Premier League in 2019 and has since been on the rise. Off the pitch, Aston Villa has a strong fan base and a close relationship with the local community. The club's home ground, Villa Park, is one of the most iconic stadiums in English football and has hosted numerous international matches and cup finals over the years.
Villa Park has been the home of Aston Villa since 1897 and is one of the most iconic and historic stadiums in English football. It has a capacity of 42,682, making it the 10th largest football stadium in England.
Aston Villa Stats & Records
Team records include:
- Total major trophies won: 25
- Champions League titles: 1
- Biggest win: 13-0 vs Wednesbury Old Athletic (FA Cup first round, 1886)
- Highest home attendance: 76,588 (vs Derby County, FA Cup sixth round, 1946)
Player records:
- Most appearances: Charlie Aitken with 660 appearances (1961-1975).
- Youngest first-team player: Jimmy Brown at 15 years and 349 days.
- Oldest first-team player: Brad Friedel at 40 years and 4 days.
- All-time top scorer: Billy Walker with 244 goals (1920-1933).
- Most goals in a season: Pongo Waring with 50 goals (1930-1931)
Aston Villa Rivalries
- West Bromwich Albion:The two sides have competed in multiple cup finals against one another, including when Aston Villa won their first FA Cup over them in 1887. Aston Villa and West Brom have competed 147 times; Villa is in the lead with 69 wins, West Brom has 47 and there have been 31 draws. Despite Villa having more wins, West Brom holds the biggest win with a 7-0 victory at Villa Park in 1935.
- Wolverhampton: is a lesser rival of Villa, however, it is the one they have competed with the most in recent years as both sides are in the Premier League.
Aston Villa Top Scorers
Premier League Aston Villa's top scorers include:
- Gabriel Agbonlahor - 74 goals (2005-2016)
- Ollie Watkins - 64 goals (2020-present)
- Dwight Yorke - 60 goals (1992-1998)
- Dion Dublin - 48 goals (1998-2003)
- Juan Pablo Angel - 44 goals (2000-2006)