Prince William Celebrates Aston Villa's Historic Europa League Victory

Prince William's enthusiastic reaction to Aston Villa's Europa League victory has captured the attention of fans worldwide. The team ended a 44-year wait for a European trophy with a decisive 3-0 win over Freiburg. The Prince, a lifelong supporter of the club, expressed his joy on social media, congratulating the players and staff. This victory also marks a significant achievement for manager Unai Emery, who has now won the Europa League five times. Read on to learn more about this historic moment for Aston Villa and the royal family's connection to the club.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 21, 2026, 09:29 IST

Aston Villa's Triumph in Istanbul

Prince William's ecstatic response to Aston Villa's Europa League victory in Istanbul has taken social media by storm. Aston Villa's last European trophy win occurred before Prince William was born, making this moment particularly special for him. The team secured a 3-0 victory over Freiburg, thanks to goals from Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia, and Morgan Rogers, ending a 44-year wait for European silverware. In a post on X, he expressed his excitement, stating, "Amazing night!! Huge congratulations to all the players, team, staff, and everyone connected to the club! 44 years since the last taste of European silverware! Special shout-out to Boubacar Kamara, who has been out injured but is such an integral part of our team and helped lay the foundations of this success."

Prince William has been a dedicated Aston Villa supporter since his school days in Berkshire, opting for the club over more popular teams like Manchester United or Chelsea. He mentioned in a 2015 interview with the BBC, "I didn’t want to follow the run-of-the-mill teams. I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments."

Support from the Royal Family

Prince William's Visit to the Dressing Room

Aston Villa's captain, John McGinn, shared that Prince William visited the team's dressing room prior to the match to show his support. He remarked, “He's a classy man. He was in the dressing room before the game. He's a massive Villa fan; he was never going to miss it. He's just a normal guy, and it's great to have his support.”

Unai Emery's Remarkable Achievement

A Record Feat For Unai Emery

This victory marks a significant milestone for Villa's manager, Unai Emery, who has now claimed the Europa League title five times, having previously won it three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal. Additionally, this triumph secures Aston Villa's qualification for the upcoming season's Champions League, following their recent win against Liverpool.