Aston Villa Draw 23,000 Fans to Birmingham Parade for 1st European Trophy in 44 Years
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 21
Aston Villa Draw 23,000 Fans to Birmingham Parade for 1st European Trophy in 44 Years
13 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 21
More than 23,000 Aston Villa fans packed Centenary Square on Thursday as the Europa League victory parade rolled through Birmingham, with the city council saying the square had reached capacity.
Three buses, led by police outriders, carried Unai Emery and the squad along Broad Street toward the square as supporters waved flags, sang and set off claret-and-blue flares.
The celebration marks Villa's first major European trophy since 1982, with fans calling the win "the best night of my life" and "everything" to the club.
Prince William, seen punching the air during Wednesday's final in Turkey, added to the wider attention on a triumph that has triggered city-wide celebrations.
Did the club's rushed parade unfairly punish the loyal fans who travelled to the final in Istanbul?
With Champions League money secured, which star players will Aston Villa now target in the transfer market?
Can Unai Emery's Europa League 'kings' now build a team to challenge for the Premier League title?