Aston Villa made a triumphant return to top-tier European competition after 41 years, defeating Swiss club Young Boys 3-0 in their Champions League debut. The victory was especially poignant as it came a day after the passing of club legend Gary Shaw, a forward who won the 1982 European Cup with Villa.
Prince William, a known Aston Villa supporter, expressed his excitement about the team’s return to Europe on social media, noting that the last time Villa won in the top European competition was before his birth. He also extended his condolences to Shaw’s family and friends.
Villa’s players wore black armbands to honor Shaw, and manager Unai Emery dedicated the win to him and his family. Emery expressed his desire to emulate Shaw and his 1982 European Cup-winning teammates, aiming for similar success on the European stage.
Shaw, a rising star of English football at just 21 years old, unfortunately saw his career derailed by a serious knee injury a year after winning the European Cup. He passed away on Monday at the age of 63.
Aston Villa’s last European campaign was in the 1982-83 season, where they reached the Champions League quarterfinals before losing to Juventus, the eventual champions.
Emery, who previously led Villarreal to the Champions League semifinals in 2022, has transformed Villa into a formidable team capable of competing with the best in the Premier League.
Goals from Youri Tielemans and Jacob Ramsey in the first half gave Villa a commanding lead, while Amadou Onana added a third in the 86th minute. Striker Ollie Watkins, who set up Ramsey’s goal, had to be substituted off in the 60th minute due to an apparent ankle injury. However, Emery later assured fans that Watkins’ injury wasn’t serious.
This victory marks a significant step forward for Aston Villa as they embark on a new European adventure, honoring the legacy of Gary Shaw and aiming to create their own chapter in the club’s rich history.
