It has a legacy that stretches back to the 19th century and includes one of the sport’s biggest international achievements. It became one of England’s early soccer powerhouses after winning multiple First Division championships.

Their greatest moment arrived in 1982, when the club defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 to win the European Cup. Although the club later endured difficult periods, it has reemerged as a major force under Unai Emery.

How many Premier League/First Division titles have Aston Villa won?

Aston Villa have won seven English top-flight titles in their history. All seven championships came before the creation of the Premier League in 1992, during the old Football League First Division era. Their league titles came in:

• 1893-94
• 1895-96
• 1896-97
• 1898-99
• 1899-1900
• 1909-10
• 1980-81

They were one of England’s dominant clubs during the late 19th century, winning five league titles in just seven seasons. That early success helped establish the Birmingham side as one of the foundational powers of English soccer.

The club’s most recent top-flight championship came in 1980-81 under manager Ron Saunders. That title set the stage for Aston Villa’s historic European Cup triumph the following season.

Although they have never won the Premier League era title, they have remained one of the most decorated traditional clubs in England thanks to their historic success before 1992.

How many FA Cups have Aston Villa won?

Aston Villa have won the FA Cup seven times. That total places them among the most successful clubs in the history of England’s oldest domestic cup competition. Their FA Cup victories came in:

• 1887
• 1895
• 1897
• 1905
• 1913
• 1920
• 1957

Their first-ever major trophy was the 1887 FA Cup, when the club defeated West Bromwich Albion in the final. The victory helped launch Aston Villa into the elite level of English soccer during the sport’s early professional era.

Their most recent FA Cup title dates back to 1957 after beating Manchester United 2-1 at Wembley Stadium. That United team became famously known as the “Busby Babes”, making the victory one of the most significant finals.

When did Aston Villa win the European Cup?

Aston Villa won the European Cup in 1982. The club secured the title on May 26, 1982, by defeating Bayern Munich in the final at De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam.

Peter Withe scored the only goal of the match in the second half, while backup goalkeeper Nigel Spink became a club legend after replacing the injured Jimmy Rimmer early in the game and producing several crucial saves.

They qualified for the tournament after winning the 1980-81 First Division title under Ron Saunders. Although Saunders resigned late in the European campaign, assistant manager Tony Barton guided the club through the final stages.

What was Aston Villa’s last major trophy?

Aston Villa’s last major trophy came in 2026, when they beat Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League final and lifted the trophy thanks to a 3-0 win, with goals scored by Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia and Morgan Rogers.

Under Unai Emery, Aston Villa reemerged as a serious contender in both England and Europe. Their run to the 2026 Europa League title saw them return to glory after years of wait.

How many League Cups have Aston Villa won?

Aston Villa have won the League Cup six times. They remain one of the competition’s most successful clubs historically. Their League Cup victories came in: 1961, 1975, 1977, 1994, 1996 and 2026.

The 1975 triumph was particularly memorable because they won the competition while still outside England’s top division. The club defeated Norwich City in the final shortly before returning to the First Division.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s 1994 League Cup victory over Manchester United was one of the biggest surprises of the early Premier League era. The team defeated Sir Alex Ferguson’s heavily favored side 3-1 at Wembley.

Which managers won the most trophies with Aston Villa?

George Ramsay won the most trophies in Aston Villa history. The legendary Scottish manager, known as the club secretary during that era, helped transform Villa into one of the dominant teams in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

During Ramsay’s tenure, they won 6 First Division titles and 6 FA Cups. His influence on Aston Villa is so significant that many historians still consider him one of the most important figures in the development of English soccer itself.

Other iconic Aston Villa managers include:

• Ron Saunders — led Villa to the 1980-81 league title
• Tony Barton — guided Villa to the 1982 European Cup
• Brian Little — won the 1996 League Cup
• Unai Emery — led Villa back into Europe and to the 2026 Europa League title

What is Aston Villa’s most successful era?

Aston Villa’s most successful era came between the late 1890s and early 1900s. During that stretch, they won multiple league titles and FA Cups while becoming one of the sport’s first powerhouse clubs.

Between 1894 and 1900 alone, they captured five First Division titles and two FA Cups. Their dominance during soccer’s formative years helped establish the club as one of England’s traditional giants.

Another iconic era arrived in the early 1980s. Under Ron Saunders and Tony Barton, they won the First Division title in 1981 before conquering Europe with the 1982 European Cup victory over Bayern Munich.

The Spanish coach built his legendary reputation in Europe through an extraordinary run with Sevilla before adding another continental crown years later with Villarreal. His relationship with the league has become almost mythical.

Now managing Aston Villa, he arrived at yet another Europa League final with the chance to extend not only Aston Villa’s trophy cabinet, but also his own record even further. In 2026, the Villa boss prepared himself for his sixth final as a manager and led the club to victory.

Which teams did Unai Emery win the Europa League with?

Unai Emery has won the UEFA Europa League with Sevilla, Villarreal and Aston Villa. The Spanish coach first built his legacy with Sevilla FC before later guiding Villarreal CF to the biggest European title in club history.

Emery’s dominance with Sevilla became one of the defining eras of the modern Europa League. Between 2014 and 2016, the club won three consecutive titles under his leadership, a feat no manager had previously achieved in the competition’s modern format.

He later returned to the top of the tournament with Villarreal in 2021, defeating Manchester United in a legendary penalty shootout final. That victory gave him his fourth Europa League title overall and officially established him as the competition’s most successful manager.

In 2026, he extended that legacy even further by winning the Europa League with Aston Villa in a match against Freiburg, completing a rare achievement of lifting the trophy with multiple clubs across different leagues and eras.

When did Unai Emery win each Europa League title?

• 2014 — Sevilla defeated Benfica
• 2015 — Sevilla defeated Dnipro
• 2016 — Sevilla defeated Liverpool
• 2021 — Villarreal defeated Manchester United
• 2026 — Aston Villa defeated Freiburg

The 2016 victory against Liverpool remains especially memorable because Sevilla came from behind to win 3-1 and complete an unprecedented Europa League three-peat. The 2021 final became one of the most dramatic in European history.

Villarreal defeated Manchester United 11-10 in penalties after every outfield player converted their spot kick before goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli scored and then made the decisive save.

Has any manager won more Europa League titles than Unai Emery?

No manager has won more Europa League titles than Unai Emery. With five Europa League trophies, he holds the all-time managerial record in the competition.

Before his rise, legendary coaches such as Giovanni Trapattoni were considered the gold standard in the UEFA Cup and Europa League era. Trapattoni won the competition three times, but Emery surpassed that mark through his success.

How many Europa League finals has Unai Emery coached in?

Unai Emery has coached in six Europa League finals, including the 2026 final with Aston Villa. UEFA confirmed ahead of the Freiburg matchup that the Spanish manager is preparing for his sixth Europa League final appearance as a coach.

His Europa League finals are:

• 2014 — Sevilla vs Benfica
• 2015 — Sevilla vs Dnipro
• 2016 — Sevilla vs Liverpool
• 2019 — Arsenal vs Chelsea
• 2021 — Villarreal vs Manchester United
• 2026 — Aston Villa vs Freiburg

Very few managers in European history have reached six finals in the same continental competition. His repeated success in knockout soccer has made him synonymous with the Europa League itself.

What is Unai Emery’s record in Europa League finals?

Unai Emery has a 5-1 record in Europa League finals entering the 2026 final with Aston Villa. The only Europa League final he lost came in 2019 while managing Arsenal against Chelsea.

His four victories came with Sevilla and Villarreal, giving him the best finals record of any modern Europa League manager. His ability to prepare teams for high-pressure knockout matches has become one of his defining characteristics.

The 2019 defeat against Chelsea remains the lone blemish on an otherwise extraordinary European résumé. Chelsea defeated Arsenal 4-1 in Baku, denying Emery a fourth consecutive Europa League final victory.

Why is Unai Emery called “Mr. Europa”?

Unai Emery is called “Mr. Europa” because of his unmatched success in the UEFA Europa League. The nickname emerged after his dominant run with Sevilla and has followed him throughout his managerial career.

Between 2014 and 2016, he transformed Sevilla into the defining club of the competition, winning consecutive Europa League titles. Later, he added another trophy with Villarreal and guided Aston Villa to the 2026 final.

The nickname has become so widespread that fans across social media frequently joke that the tournament should be renamed after him. One viral thread ahead of the 2026 final featured fans calling the competition the “Unai Emery League”.

Even so, Emery himself has repeatedly rejected the “king of the Europa League” label, insisting that every final is a completely different challenge.

Did Unai Emery ever win the UEFA Champions League?

No, Unai Emery has never won the UEFA Champions League as a manager. Despite his Europa League dominance, Europe’s biggest club trophy has remained out of reach throughout his coaching career.

He came closest during his time with Villarreal in 2022, when the Spanish club reached the Champions League semifinals after eliminating Juventus and Bayern Munich. Villarreal were eventually knocked out by Liverpool.

His spell with PSG also carried enormous Champions League expectations because of the club’s superstar roster. However, PSG suffered painful knockout exits during his tenure, including the famous collapse against Barcelona in 2017.

What was Unai Emery’s most famous Europa League victory?

Unai Emery’s most famous Europa League victory is widely considered Villarreal’s 2021 triumph over Manchester United. The final instantly became one of the most memorable matches in modern soccer because of its penalty shootout.

After a 1-1 draw, the match went to penalties, where all 20 outfield players converted their attempts before Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli scored and then saved David de Gea’s shot to secure an 11-10 victory.

That title delivered Villarreal’s first major European trophy and gave Emery his record-breaking fourth Europa League crown. The victory also cemented his reputation as the greatest manager in the history of the competition.

How has Unai Emery performed with Aston Villa in Europe?

Unai Emery has transformed Aston Villa into one of Europe’s biggest surprise stories since taking charge of the club in 2022. Under Emery, the club returned to continental relevance and reached its first major European final since 1982.

When he arrived at Villa Park, Aston Villa were struggling near the bottom of the Premier League table. UEFA highlighted this week that the club sat 17th in England when he took over in November 2022.

Since then, he has completely changed the trajectory of the club. Aston Villa qualified for European competitions again, reached the Conference League semifinals in 2024 and advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals in 2025.

Villa’s run to the 2026 Europa League final included victories over Lille, Bologna and Nottingham Forest, further strengthening the coach’s reputation as one of soccer’s elite knockout managers as Aston Villa claimed the Europa League’s prize money.

According to reports out of Uruguay, Diego Muñoz from ESPN has reported that Emery is looking to have former pupil Edinson Cavani join the squad on a free transfer this season.

Edinson Cavani was recently with Manchester United where he played 59 games and scored 19 goals for the Red Devils. Cavani was a UEFA Europa League runner up with Manchester United losing the cup ironically to Villarreal.

History between Unai Emery and Edinson Cavani

Unai Emery coached PSG from 2016-2018 and Edinson Cavani played for the French powerhouse from 2013-2020. Together they won 7 championships for PSG and Cavani had his best seasons at the club scoring 49 and 40 goals respectively.

Emery would leave PSG in 2018 and took over Arsenal but that did not work out and in 2020 took over Villarreal where he led the Yellow Submarine to the Europa League. Emery has won four Europa Leagues with Sevilla (3) and Villarreal.