Fans line Birmingham streets to greet Aston Villa after Europa League success

Aston Villa were welcomed home by thousands of fans during an open-top bus parade around the streets of Birmingham city centre to celebrate the club’s Europa League success.

Unai Emery’s side beat Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul on Wednesday night, ending a 30-year wait for silverware.

The squad had returned to Birmingham International Airport on Thursday afternoon, posing on the tarmac for an official club photo with the trophy.

The players, many wearing sunglasses to perhaps hide signs of a very late night, took to the bus with ‘Winners 26’ on the back of their shirts, with drinks in hand – including the odd beer.

With Villa boss Emery – who claimed a fifth Europa League title – proudly at the front, the team bus made its way to Branston Street in the city’s Jewellery Quarter, with fans turning the 4.5km route a sea of claret and blue, utilising every vantage point, waving flags and setting off celebratory flares.

The club parade – which featured three open-top buses, including one for staff and also media either side of the claret ‘WINNERS’ bus carrying the squad – snaked along towards Sand Pits and Broad Street through to Centenary Square, where an estimated 23,000 more supporters had been gathered for several hours.

Villa, celebrating a first European success since the club’s memorable 1982 European Cup triumph, stopped the parade for a trophy lift by captain John McGinn which sparked an explosion of confetti and tickertape.

Emery dedicated the trophy to the club’s fans.

“Good evening! We are delighted to be here with you, sharing this trophy, we are bringing it for you,” the Spaniard said as he addressed the crowds from the bus. “Of course we are so proud of you, how we did all of the season.

“Today we are enjoying it here, but the process we did with you in Villa Park, each match we played – your energy – and were supporting us travelling away matches and in Europe. We were really feeling your support.

“Today we are here with all the emotions we have created all season and it makes sense ending here with you and to enjoy the moment we have.

“This trophy is yours – our heart is your heart, your heart is our heart. We are together – up the Villa.”

Scotland midfielder McGinn reflected on the club’s journey, having been part of the side which came back up into the top flight in 2019 after winning the Championship play-off final.

“Thank you for the last seven or eight years,” he said. “You have been through so much pain, so much disappointment, but these group of players have provided so much satisfaction over the last few years.

“We have got a decent manager and we are going to enjoy tonight, let’s keep going next season – you never know what can happen.”

Defender Tyrone Mings admitted the squad had “one hell of a party” and celebrated “very hard”.

Mings added: “We are so grateful for all of you showing up today. I’m drunk, I’m sure some of you are drunk. I hope that continues long into the night.”