Forty years ago, Aston Villa were crowned Football League champions for the first time in 71 years as the club celebrated First Division title success on May 2, 1981.
The following season, with virtually the same small squad of players, Villa defied all the odds to win the European Cup, securing a famous 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich at De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam on May 26, 1982.
To celebrate these two remarkable achievements etched forever in the club’s history, BT Sport is to produce a documentary, Super Villans, that will include contributions from Villa captain Dennis Mortimer and many of his team-mates during those two memorable seasons.
Super Villans will air on BT Sport in 2022 to tie in with the 40th anniversary of Villa becoming champions of Europe and will be the latest in the award-winning BT Sport Films series.
The documentary will be a further addition to the anniversary celebrations of the club and the players’ own AV40 project that was launched in August 2020, including the book, The Aston Villa 40th Anniversary Tribute.
Villa’s Championship and European Cup-winning captain Mortimer said: “Along with all of the players who were members of the AV40 squad, I am really looking forward to working with BT Sport.
“This documentary will enable us all to share with our amazing Villa fans and BT Sport viewers the memories and special moments created during of two of the greatest seasons in the club’s history.”
Sally Brown, executive producer of BT Sport Films, said: “This is the story of how Aston Villa went from the Third Division to champions of Europe in just 10 years.
“Super Villans is a joyful celebration of a team who conquered Europe and the story of how the club shocked the football world by toppling the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona, their opponents in the 1982 European Super Cup, uncovering some barely believable tales along the way. We’d like to thank all of those working with us to help make this documentary happen.”
Special edition: Subbuteo poster
1980/81 league champions