Aston Villa have celebrated a fantastic 2023 which has seen the club continue to build on an impressive seventh-placed finish in the Premier League and enjoy a return to European competition.
In part 1 of our three-part series, we've already taken a look back at months January to April as the Villans announced new signings, celebrated memorable wins home and away and welcomed special guests to the club.
Join us for part II of our review of the year as we take a look back through May to August for the men's first team...
MAY
Hopes of European qualification take a knock with a second consecutive 1-0 defeat, this time by Wolves at Molineux, but Villa bounce back with a 2-1 home victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Jacob Ramsey opens the scoring before Douglas Luiz doubles our lead courtesy of a well-taken free-kick, with the visitors restricted to a late Harry Kane penalty.
Head coach Emery is named Premier League Manager of the Month for April in recognition of his team’s five wins and one draw in seven games. He is the fifth Villa boss to win the monthly award, following in the footsteps of Brian Little, John Gregory, Martin O’Neill and Dean Smith.
Villa are agonisingly close to victory over Liverpool at Anfield. After Ollie Watkins misses a penalty, Ramsey establishes a 27th-minute lead which the visitors hold until Roberto Firmino grabs an 89th-minute equaliser.
Aston Villa Women celebrate an historic fifth-placed finish in the Barclays WSL, while Rachel Daly collects the league’s Golden Boot and Player of the Season awards, as well as the club’s Supporters’ Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season honours.
At Villa’s End of Season Awards Dinner, Brazilian midfielder Luiz is voted men's Supporters’ Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season.
Victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park on a dramatic final day secures seventh place in the final Premier League table and qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League.
JUNE
Belgium international midfielder Youri Tielemans becomes the club’s first signing of the summer after being snapped up on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract with Leicester City.
Ramón Rodriguez Verdejo, popularly known as Monchi, is appointed as the club’s new President of Football Operations.
Club captain and Scotland international midfielder John McGinn, who joined Villa in August 2018, signs a contract extension.
Villa Park is packed for two nights of memorable music as global pop icon P!NK wows the crowd before Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band rock the venue.
JULY
Shortly after two summer music concerts at Villa Park, our famous stadium is transformed into a racetrack for the opening round of the 2023 World Supercross Championship.
Spain international Pau Torres arrives from Villarreal, while France international winger Moussa Diaby is signed from German club Bayer Leverkusen.
After a draw at Walsall in the club’s first pre-season fixture, Villa continue their 2023/24 preparations by taking part in the Premier League Summer Series in the USA. Watkins and Emi Buendía, twice, are on target in a 3-3 draw against Newcastle United in Philadelphia before goals from Jaden Philogene and Diaby clinch a 2-0 victory over Fulham in Orlando.
The USA trip concludes with a 3-3 draw against Brentford in Maryland, Villa’s goals coming from Ezri Konsa, Diaby and Matty Cash.
AUGUST
Villa continue their pre-season schedule with a 3-0 win against Lazio at the Bescot Stadium, where Watkins and McGinn are on target before Seb Revan’s cross is deflected in for an own goal.
Watkins opens the scoring again against Valencia at Mestalla, with Buendía adding a second as our pre-season schedule is completed with a 2-1 success. Buendía, unfortunately, is injured during training a few days later.
Villa's Premier League campaign gets underway with a 5-1 defeat by Newcastle United at St James’ Park, the only consolation being provided by Diaby's goal on his debut. To add to the misery, Tyrone Mings suffers a knee injury which requires surgery.
Goals from McGinn, Luiz, Leon Bailey and substitute Jhon Durán ensure a comfortable 4-0 home win against Everton, while Cash is on target twice in the first 20 minutes in a 3-1 success at Burnley. Diaby adds a third in the second half.
Villa are comfortable winners over Hibernian in their Europa Conference League play-off. The 5-0 first-leg win at Easter Road, featuring a Watkins hat-trick, equals our highest score in UEFA competition. Bailey and Luiz are the other scorers in Scotland, while goals from Durán, Bailey and sub Cash clinch a 3-0 home win to complete an 8-0 aggregate success – the club’s highest in European competition.
Italy international Nicolò Zaniolo arrives on loan from Turkish champions Galatasaray, while French defender Clément Lenglet is signed from Barcelona on the same arrangement.
Join us on New Year's Eve for the third and final part of our Aston Villa Year in Review looking back at September to December...
