Thursday, July 12, 2007

Aston Villa

History:-
Original members of the Football League in 1888, Aston Villa are one of the Premier League's founding clubs. Formed in late 1874, Villa were the team to beat in the league's early years with a series of titles and FA Cup victories. A move to a purpose-built ground, Villa Park, from their Perry Barr home in 1897 came just a week after their league and FA Cup Double triumph that year. The Villans secured their sixth league title in 1910 and added further FA Cup glories in 1913 and 1920 as their trophy cabinet bulged. FA Cup success in 1957 and a League Cup triumph in 1961 increased their haul of silverware, but by 1970 Aston Villa were playing Third Division football. However, the club were about to enjoy a remarkable turn of fortunes, with two more League Cups and a return to the top flight followed by their greatest triumph - the European Cup in 1982.

Present :-
Aston Villa have brought together a strong squad which has helped the club flourish in the Premier League. Villa's defence is built around the experience of Sweden international Olof Mellberg and Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen while the emerging talent of Steven Davis brings a spark to the club's midfield. Ron Atkinson took Villa to the brink of Premier League title glory in 1993, but they were pipped to the post by Manchester United. Atkinson then overcame his former club in the League Cup final in 1994 and successor Brian Little emulated the feat in 1996, defeating Leeds United 3-0. John Gregory kept up the high standards, and the side never finished below halfway in the Premier League under his tenure. A run to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 1998 was an outstanding achievement, as Villa retained their hard-to-beat reputation. Former England boss Graham Taylor - who took Villa to second place in the old First Division in 1990 - returned in 2002 for a second brief stint in charge which ended in May 2003. Ex-Leeds manager David O'Leary stepped in and managed the club for three years, before leaving Villa Park in July 2006 in 'an amicable parting of ways', before Martin O'Neill was named as the Irishman's successor. There were changes in the boardroom too, with American billionaire Randy Lerner replacing Doug Ellis as the club's chairman in September 2006.

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
1893-94, 1895-96, 1896-97,1898-99, 1899-00, 1909-10, 1980-81 CHARITY/COMMUNITY SHIELD WINNERS 1981
F.A. CUP WINNERS 1887, 1895, 1897, 1905, 1913, 1920, 1957
LEAGUE CUP WINNERS

1961, 1975, 1977, 1994, 1996

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