Former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has revealed the classy message that the club’s owners sent him upon securing Champions League qualification.
Smith is currently managing Charlotte FC in the MLS, but was Aston Villa manager between 2018 and 2021.
The lifelong Villa man saw his dream come true as he was appointed manager of the club in October 2018 and oversaw a remarkable turnaround, steering the side to promotion via the Championship play-offs in charge.
He then kept Villa up by the skin of their teeth in the first season back in the Premier League but was sacked in November 2021 after a run of five straight defeats in the league.
Despite this, Smith feels no ill-will towards his former employers and remains a staunch supporter of the club and he has now revealed a heartwarming exchange between himself and Villa owners NSWE upon Champions League qualification.
Aston Villa Champions League journey started with Dean Smith
Smith was delighted when the club secured a top four finish under Unai Emery, with Steven Gerrard the manager who initially took over from Smith in 2021.
Smith, who has since managed Norwich City and Leicester City as well as Charlotte FC, has been speaking to The Times about the MLS, as well as his former club, and revealed the classy message the received from NSW.
The 53-year-old explained: “I’ve messaged both the owners [Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens] and they came back and said, ‘The process started with you’ which they didn’t have to say.”
“I messaged Unai Emery as well. I’m really pleased for everyone there. It’s a big club and I still support them.”
He also explained that this achievement was no fluke, as it had always been the plan, as he said: “The owners had a five-year plan to get to the Champions League and this is their fifth year, so they’ve done what it said on the tin. And I’m looking forward to watching them over the next five years.”
Smith players a reminder of how far Aston Villa have come
What is remarkable is that a number of players who played under Smith in the Championship have been crucial to getting the club to where it is today.
Tyrone Mings and John McGinn, currently captain and vice-captain of the club, are the most notable pair.
This is testament to the players themselves, as well as Smith who helped shape them into the players we sere today.
Jack Grealish was another player who Smith managed, before he was sold to Manchester City for £100 million in 2021, with the winger thriving with the freedom Smith allowed him to play with in their time at the club together.
Smith came from humble beginnings and arrived at the club following success at Brentford, but the fact they now have a four-time Europa League winner and former manager of Arsenal and PSG at the helm shows just how far the club have come.
Now, they are preparing for their first season in Europe’s elite club competition in 41 years and it is nice to know that the owners have not forgotten the role Smith played in such an achievement.
The post Dean Smith reveals classy message NSWE sent him after Aston Villa secured Champions League appeared first on Aston Villa News.