How we got here

Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup is a date Aston Villa have had in their diary for close to three months, after an unforgettable night in Istanbul.

May 20 saw the Villans descend on Beşiktaş Park for the final of the Europa League, where a dominant performance saw Unai Emery’s men defeat SC Freiburg of Germany 3-0 to lift the trophy.

It was a historic occasion on Turkish soil, as the club claimed its first piece of silverware for 30 years in only our second-ever major European final, making it a hugely significant evening in Villa history, and an occasion which would live long in the memory of the 11,000 supporters inside the stadium, and the thousands more lining the streets of the city.

Now, 84 days later, Emery takes his men to Salzburg to face off against back-to-back Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, in the 2026/27 curtain-raising Super Cup clash.

In the lead-up to the game at Villa’s official Fan Park in Kapitelplatz, VillaTV spoke to supporters young and old, who told emotional stories with their memories of the Europa League Final, the pride that delivered, and how special it is to be in Austria, following their side in another European final…

Andy Milford - 52 years old, from Tamworth

“I was at the Sports Illustrated Warehouse for the Europa League Final. It was absolutely fantastic.

“I was there with my son, a bit of a scramble to get last-minute tickets, I was so delighted. What a fantastic moment for Birmingham.

“The thing that I’ll remember about it the most was going outside of the arena, and literally the whole community coming out and coming together, and it was so beautiful.

“We were on the steps of The Holte End chanting villa songs. What an incredible night. What a great one for the memories. I loved it, and I love Villa. Amazing.

“I’m here today, I’m actually getting involved myself, I’m going to be going on the turntables tonight (as DJ), and helping out with the fanzone.

“We’re really looking forward to this. Because we were at the Sports Illustrated Warehouse at Villa, we missed out on going to Istanbul, but we’ve made sure we’ve come here today, and it’s going to be fantastic.

“PSG, they think they’ve got it in the bag, but never write off the Villa. We are Aston Villa!”

Theo Weaver - 14 years old, from Four Oaks

“We went down two days before to Heathrow, to the airport, and went to check in for our flight.

“We needed five months on our passport to go to Turkey, and I was just one day out, so they wouldn’t let us get on the flight, so we had to come back!

“I said my dad could go, but he said he wanted to stay with me. So, we drove all the way back home, watched it on the TV.

“Still a great day, best moment of being a Villa fan, but such a shame we couldn’t go. We had all the flights, tickets.

“It means a lot (to be in Salzburg). First final as a Villa fan, and I get to watch it. It’s just brilliant, getting to experience all this.”

Evan McCarvill - 16 years old, from London

“My experience at Istanbul is that there wasn’t really one!

“I would have managed to get a ticket, although it was the day before my English language exam, so my dad managed to go, and me and my mum sat (and watched) on the TV.

“As soon as those three goals went in, it was mayhem in the house. I was so happy, and I’m so glad to be here today, because I’ve now followed Villa home, away, and finally abroad. It’s taken me 16 years to do it, but the experience of a lifetime.

“This is the secondary option, but what a secondary option it is. I’m so happy to be here!”

Aaron - 16 years old, from London

“Istanbul, for me, was magical. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend because I had a GCSE exam the next day, but genuinely, that final got me through the whole period.

“It means so much to me. Unai Emery, this team has genuinely brought me out of a really dark place.

“I can’t put it into words, how much this team needs to me, and the success we’ve had over the (past few) years.

“I’ve been supporting since the Championship, and to see Villa win a major European trophy, it just brings out the life in me today. It just means so much to me.

“To be here today as well, I just can’t put it in words. I love seeing everyone here. It’s such a great experience being a Villa fan.

“It just feels like I’m part of the journey with the players. Being part of that experience, to be able to win something with this team, it’s just amazing.

“It’s something that I don’t think anything else can come close to the sort of experience we’ve had together. It just feels like I’ve been welcomed as part of a family, the Villa family, and it’s just amazing to be here today.”

Jude and Andy Hicks - 17 and 61 years old, from Twickenham

(Jude)

“When I went to Istanbul, it was a great memory. It’s something that will live with me forever. Probably the best day of my life,

“Finally seeing us lift a major trophy was special, and it’s always nice to follow Villa in a different country, meet new people.

“As soon as we landed, we had to drop our bags off at the hotel, then the next thing you know, get to the stadium. We literally landed and we were at the stadium.”

(Andy)

“We’ve come here today, we were in Istanbul. It was quite surreal really because we booked Istanbul the night before, managed to get tickets, and a very, very last-minute flight, so you can do the maths on that!

“Same again. We managed to get tickets yesterday, and we got the plane this morning, and we only booked in last night. It was scary stuff, getting there an hour before Istanbul, but today, we got here in plenty of time.

“It was an experience for me, and to feel the electric atmosphere of Istanbul and the fans around, it was just absolutely amazing in that stadium, the way the Villa fans just didn’t give in, and kept going.

“It was so electric throughout the day, the best match we’ve been to, and let’s hope for the same tonight.

“I think it’s great for a father and son to connect and do it. To bring my son here is great. He’s going to have more experiences going forward than I will, because Villa are in a position to keep going.”

George Hadley - 34 years old, from Kingstanding 

“I was working in New York and the lad I had gone to work with was a Bluenose. I was gutted I wasn’t going to Istanbul, but to be in New York was pretty special. So, I said to him: ‘mate, we need to watch the final!’

“We went to this bar, and it was heaving, full of Villa. We were overstimulated because they had all the American Villa fans there.

“Amazing experience, Villa won, goals were great. Everyone was jumping all over me, and everyone was jumping all over my pal, and no-one knew he was a Blues fan!

“They got all the Villa fans in for a video, so I’ve been up standing on this table, giving it absolute spuds to the camera, and 20 minutes later, I got a message saying someone had seen me on Midlands Today! It was live from New York, and I was the main character on the table! It was funny.  

“Honestly, it was probably the best moment ever, as a Villa supporter.

“First and foremost, Salzburg is stunning. What a beautiful place. Fan zone is stunning. To be involved with another trophy. At the end of the day, take the trophy back!

“To be here with my dad and my friends, this is what it’s all about. Just creating great memories with Villa fans. Up the Villa!”

Leon Jennings - 34 years old, from Lichfield

“The final was just something different. To see so many people I know from different walks of life – I saw people I haven’t seen in 20 years, being in Istanbul. It was just special to be there.

“The game itself, I always say that second goal, the first goal was good, but the second one, Emi Buendía, was a feeling like no other. We sung Emi Buendía songs all through half-time, and that vibe was great.

“To be honest, the last 10 minutes of Istanbul, we knew we’d won at that point. The last 10 minutes were just special.

“We did our signing at half-time. The last 10 minutes, you just looked around and it was more emotional than loud. You could see everyone embracing, and when the final whistle went, it was just relief more than anything.

“I FaceTimed my boys back home. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get them tickets. They’re only seven and eight, they’ve never seen anything like this.

“They’re nearly crying. It was emotional. I wouldn’t say I’d cried at a football game, but I had to take a few moments. It was really special.

“This, to me, feels more of a celebration of the Europa League. No pressure from me. Go out there, if we win, we win, and it’s a replay of one of my favourite ever games at Villa Park against PSG. Up the Villa!”