Aston Villa took a huge leap forward in their bid to return to the big time on Tuesday evening, as the Villans secured Champions League football for next season, with more than just the current crop of heroes to thank.
What a season it’s been for Aston Villa who on Tuesday night, saw their Champions League status confirmed as Manchester City beat Spurs.
The Lilywhites can no longer finish above Villa with one game remaining, securing the Midlands club’s dream of returning to Europe’s elite.
All credit will rightfully go to Unai Emery, who has orchestrated a new level of performance and expectation at the club, taking charge of the squad from Steven Gerrard when Villa were 16th in the table.
While the Spaniard has earned his flowers for his work at Villa Park, the highs of the club reaching the Champions League stem back to years of development, with more than just the current manager playing a part in the transformation of Villa.
Aston Villa’s Champions League goal stems from the work of several managers
In 2018, owners NSWE made a five-year plan detailing that they wanted to see Villa in the Champions League by 2023/24, a dream that has become a reality right on cue.
The arrival of Emery in 2022 certainly boosted the plan to ensure NSWE’s ambitions remained on target, as the former Arsenal boss took charge to rescue to squad from the mediocrity of Gerrard’s reign.
While Gerrard’s time at Villa was underwhelming, other managers prior to Emery were part of the puzzle to see the club where it is now, with the likes of Dean Smith and Steve Bruce involved.
Smith ensured that the Villans returned to the top flight, securing promotion from the Championship in 2019 to continue the work done by Bruce, who settled the storm at Villa Park.
Why Steve Bruce is to thank for Aston Villa qualifying for the Champions League
When Bruce took charge in October 2016, the Englishman became the seventh manager to lead the squad in a year, with managers and interim managers coming and going as Villa failed to progress time and time again.
If it wasn’t for the gentle progress of Bruce’s guidance for two years, Villa could have been in a completely different position to where they are now, as the former Manchester United defender ensured the dust settled so Smith could walk into a simpler job.
Aston Villa managers between October 2015 and October 2016
- Tim Sherwood
- Kevin MacDonald – Interim
- Remi Garde
- Eric Black – Interim
- Roberto di Matteo
- Steve Clarke – Interim
- Steve Bruce
Bruce secured a fourth-place finish in the Championship in his final season with the Villans, with one of the highest points of his time at the club prevailing to be his capture of current club captain, John McGinn.
Perhaps the former Villa boss overstayed his welcome to some degree, but in hindsight, his actions truly steadied the ship to enable those after him to run forward.
From Emery to NSWE, to Smith and to Bruce, Villa’s Champions League glory has come as a result of those who have wanted to see the club return to the very top, which the Spaniard has now confirmed.
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