Frank Christian
The 2023/24 Premier League season saw Aston Villa secure a place in the UEFA Champions League by finishing fourth, marking their debut in the prestigious competition.
Under Unai Emery’s guidance, Aston Villa has experienced a significant transformation since his arrival in October 2022. The team has progressed from a struggling position to competing among Europe’s elite clubs.
Exploring their European history and the significance of qualifying for the 2024/25 Champions League is a key focus for the Sporting News.
Aston Villa’s Past in UEFA Champions League
Aston Villa has never participated in the Champions League since its renaming in 1992. However, the club has a rich history in European competitions, notably winning the old European Cup in 1982 by defeating Bayern Munich in the final.
The journey to their European triumph included victories against Valur, Dynamo Berlin, Dynamo Kiev, and Anderlecht, culminating in a memorable final in Rotterdam.
Despite goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer’s early injury in the final, his replacement Nigel Spink played a crucial role in securing Villa’s historic triumph.
The winning goal by Peter Withe in the final sealed Villa’s first and only European Cup victory.
Allocation of European Places in Premier League
For the 2024/25 season, the European qualification spots from the Premier League are as follows:
Champions League: Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa
Europa League: Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United
Conference League: Chelsea
Premier League Final Standings 2023/24
Here are the final standings for the 2023/24 Premier League season:
Points deductions were applied to some clubs for breaching financial rules during the season.
Aston Villa’s European Campaigns
Aston Villa’s European journey started with the 1975/76 UEFA Cup and has since involved 18 seasons in various competitions. They have reached the semifinals of the Europa Conference League in the current season.
Notable moments include their European Cup win against Bayern Munich in 1982 and participation in the Intertoto Cup in 2001.
Unai Emery’s Champions League History
Although Unai Emery has not won the Champions League, his most successful campaign saw him reach the semifinals with Villarreal in the 2021/22 season.
