What is the Europa League?
The UEFA Europa League is Europe’s second-biggest club competition after the Champions League. Clubs that finish in certain mid-table Premier League positions — or win domestic cups — qualify. The standard of football is very high, just below the very elite level of the Champions League.
Want to know more? See our Europa League Explained page.
The Final: Aston Villa 3-0 Freiburg
Aston Villa beat German club SC Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final in Istanbul, Turkey, on 20 May 2026. It was one of the most dominant finals in the competition’s history.
Goals from Youri Tielemans (a stunning volley just before half-time), Emiliano Buendia (a beautifully curled shot into the top corner minutes later) and Morgan Rogers (a second-half tap-in from a Buendia cross) gave Villa a comprehensive victory.
It was the club’s first major trophy since the 1996 League Cup — ending a 30-year wait. And their first European trophy since 1982, when Villa famously beat Bayern Munich to win the old European Cup (the predecessor to the Champions League).
The Manager: Unai Emery and His Record-Breaking Win
Villa’s manager Unai Emery lifted the Europa League for a fifth time — a record no other manager has come close to matching. He had previously won it with Sevilla (three times) and Arsenal, but this one, he said, felt the most special.
Emery is widely regarded as the best manager in the world at this specific competition — he understands its rhythms, its pressures and its knockout format better than anyone. His achievement with Aston Villa, a club with a fraction of the resources of the Champions League elite, is extraordinary.
What This Means for Villa
Aston Villa had already qualified for the Champions League through their Premier League finish (4th place). Winning the Europa League means they go into next season on two fronts — European royalty after decades of being a mid-table club. Morgan Rogers was named Player of the Tournament.
