Aston Villa Beats Freiburg 3-0 as Unai Emery Claims 5th Europa League Title
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 20
Aston Villa Beats Freiburg 3-0 as Unai Emery Claims 5th Europa League Title
15 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 20
3-0 in Istanbul gave Aston Villa their first major trophy since 1996, with Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers scoring in a one-sided Europa League final.
A fifth Europa League crown for Unai Emery fulfilled the promise he made on arriving at Villa Park and added to the three titles he won with Sevilla and one with Villarreal.
20,000 Villa fans travelled to Turkey despite an official allocation of 10,758, and the celebrations began before half-time as Freiburg rarely threatened after an early finger scare for goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
Friday's 4-2 win over Liverpool had already secured Champions League qualification, capping Emery's rise from taking over in 2022 with Villa three points above the relegation zone to making them European champions.
After conquering Europe, can Aston Villa now become genuine Premier League title contenders?
How is data analytics helping clubs find the next 'genius' manager before their rivals?
Is Unai Emery's obsessive coaching style the new blueprint for success or a path to burnout?
Aston Villa Crowned Europa League Champions After 44 Years: Emery Makes History with Fifth European Title
Overview
Aston Villa made history on May 20, 2026, by defeating Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul to win the UEFA Europa League. Goals from Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendía, and Morgan Rogers secured the victory, with Buendía named Player of the Match. This triumph ended Villa’s 30-year wait for a major trophy and brought them their first European silverware in 44 years. The win was a monumental moment for the club, celebrated passionately by players and fans, and marked a powerful return to the European stage for Aston Villa.