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The English Premier League is undoubtedly the most famous and prestigious football league in the world. It is reported that the league is broadcasted in 212 countries and draws a viewership of about 4.7 billion people in the world.
None of the so-called big European leagues such as the Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1 or Serie A can match these numbers. The reason why the Premier League is so popular among football enthusiasts on the planet is that it is probably the most colourful and competitive football league there is.
Up to date, about 49 different teams have played in the Premier League and among them is none other than Aston Villa Football Club. Also nicknamed as the Villans or the Lions, Aston Villa has one of the richest histories for a football club in the English Premier League.
This football club has been through it all. It has tasted glory at the biggest stage of them all, and it has also experienced what being at the very bottom feels like.
Regardless of all of this, Aston Villa still has some of the most loyal fans any football club can ask for. This can be shown by how passionate they’re for their team, especially during their home games at Villa Park.
Villa fans can create a very hostile atmosphere that would be a nightmare for any opponent. They have been there while the team were winning trophies or languishing in the lower leagues.
This is one of the reasons why when you’re mentioning some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League, such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs, you can’t omit Aston Villa.
This is because the football club has accomplished more in its history than some of the biggest football clubs you can think of. So what makes Aston Villa so popular not only in the Premier League but also in the world?
Below are some lesser-known facts about the football club that will bring you into terms with the fact that Aston Villa belongs at the top with the very best.
Stadium naming rights
Villa Park is undoubtedly one of the oldest football venues in the world. Aston Villa has been calling this stadium home for well over a century. Since Aston Villa started playing at Villa Park back in 1897, the stadium has gone ahead to host some of the biggest football matches in the world.
This includes the World Cup, international fixtures, the European Championship matches and some of the FA cup top tier games before they were moved to Wembley.
Even with all this success, it might interest you to know that Aston Villa has never sold its stadium naming rights to any private entity.
The second team to achieve the double
Another lesser-known fact about Aston Villa Football Club is that it was the second team in England’s dop division ever to complete the double back in 1897.
A team achieved this feat by winning both the top division and winning the FA Cup. The first team to achieve this was Preston North End.
It is well decorated
This might come as a surprise based on the recent Premier League seasons, but in reality, Aston Villa is one of the most successful football clubs out there.
This is because the team is among the few clubs in the English Premier League that have lifted the European Cup, currently known as the UEFA Champions League. The club lifted this prestigious trophy back in 1982.
Also, Aston Villa has lifted both the Division One title and FA Cup trophies seven times. This is more than some of the big clubs in the English top-flight today. It’s also important to note that the club has also won the European super cup and the League Cup a total of five times.
A unique first match
With Aston Villa being a football club, you might think that their first match was against another football club. This is not the case, however. The first match Aston Villa ever played after being established was against Aston Brook St. Mary, a rugby team.
The match was unique because, during the first half, Aston Villa had to follow rugby rules. During the second half, the match had to be played using football rules.
Most top-flight goals
Another fact about Aston Villa that might come as a surprise is that in the history of the English top-flight, the team has the most goals ever scored in a single season. Aston Villa managed to score a total of 128 goals during the 1930/1931 season, a figure that has never been topped ever since.
The new crop of players
Over the recent seasons, Aston Villa has invested majorly in a new crop of players bound to take the club to the next levels and replicate its success back in the 1980s.
Among the most noteworthy players in the Aston Villa team is Jack Grealish, who recently shared a unique post-match ritual that most Aston Villa fans will love. Grealish confirmed that after every match shares a moment with the young fans waiting outside.
He signs their programmes and usually holds a talk with them to lift their spirits. There is a world of professional sports including football, rugby, American football and tennis with top players’ rituals. You can learn more about some of the rituals of the sports of your favourite professional athletes by visiting the Lottoland website.
Conclusion
With the current Aston Villa side looking more promising than ever, it might be the start of another golden run for the football club.
We might witness the team winning more trophies sooner than we might have anticipated.
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