Aston Villa are a team that has boasted plenty of glory down the year. And we’ve decided to take a look at some of the most interesting facts, numbers and stats behind the success that the Villains have enjoyed. Of course, numbers and figures are being increasingly used in the science behind the sport, as well as associated fields such as football betting and fantasy league, to name but a few. But right here, we just want to learn more of the history of our beloved club. Enjoy!
20) Founding members
Villa were not only founding members of the Premier League back in 1992, but were one of the original teams of the first ever English league way back in 1888. That’s longevity and legacy right there!
19) Youngest ever player
When Jimmy Brown took to the pitch against Bolton Wanderers back in September 1969, he became Villa’s youngest ever representative in a professional game, a record that stands to this day. Jimmy was just 15 years 349 days old.
18) Oldest ever player
On the other end of the scale is American goalkeeper Brad Friedel. The big stopper was four days past his 40th birthday when he played in goal against Liverpool in a Premier League game in May 2011.
17) Most appearances
So who has pulled on the famous shirt the most times? Scottish left back Charlie Aitken made an incredible 657 appearances between 1959 and 1976, which is more than a hundred more than anyone else.
16) Most goals
What about goals? Villa have had some great strikers down the years, but none have been as prolific as Billy Walker, who scored an incredible 244 goals in the period between 1919 and 1933.
15) Most goals in a season
But it isn’t Walker who holds the record for most goals in a single season. That honour goes to Tom “Pongo” Waring, who was part of the same side as Walker. Good old Pongo scored an incredible 50 goals in the 1930-31 season. 49 of those goals were in the league.
14) Villa’s most capped player
If you were going to hazard a guess here, there would be some notable contenders. But it’s Ireland’s Steve Staunton who proudly holds this record, with 102 of his caps coming while the defender was pulling on his boots for the Villains in the Premier League.
13) Most capped player for England
But what about for England? Which Villa player has won the most three lions caps while turning out at Villa Park? Well, that would be the current England manager Gareth Southgate, who won 42 of his 57 caps while playing for Villa.
12) Most World Cup appearances
It’s another popular Irish player, Paul McGrath, who made the most appearances at a FIFA showpiece while turning out for the club. McGrath featured in a total nine games spanning World Cups 1990 and 1994.
11) Highest transfer fee paid
Unsurprisingly, our record transfers are all recent. At the time of writing it is current player Emi Bunedia, signed from Norwich for an initial £33 million, rising to £38 million, who holds the distinction as the biggest fee paid by the club. Buendia arrived in June 2021.
10) Highest transfer fee received
Just two months after Buendia arrived, Villa recouped that money and then some by selling homegrown Jack Grealish to Manchester City for £100 million, a British transfer record. The player sitting third on the Villa list for fees received is James Milner, also sold to City, this time for £26 million.
9) Longest serving manager
This record will take some beating. The club’s first ever manager / secretary was one George Ramsay, who was involved soon after the club’s inception. Ramsay was in charge for 1,327 games, which is quite something. Even more so when you consider it spanned the period from August 1884 to May 1926.
8) Most successful manager
It’s no surprise to see the same George Ramsay here. The Scot’s record includes six of Villa’s seven league championships, and six of Villa’s seven FA Cups. What is an interesting side note here is that Ramsay became the first ever paid football manager in 1886. It was worth the investment.
7) Record league win
Ramsay was also at the helm when Villa claimed the club’s biggest ever victory. It was Accrington who went down 12-2 way back in March 1892. In the Premier League, Villa’s record success was a 7-1 thrashing of Wimbledon in February 1995.
6) Highest attendance
The club’s highest attendance came for an FA Cup game back in 1946. No fewer than 76,588 souls saw the 6th Round game against Derby County. Derby went on to win the cup that year. However, Villa were also involved in the FA Cup game with the highest ever attendance. 121,919 witnessed Villa’s final win over Sunderland at the Crystal Palace in 1913.
5) First foreign coach
When Dr. Jozef Vengloš was appointed first team manager in 1990, he became the first person outside the British Isles to manage a top-flight team in England. Hard to believe now that this was true only just over 30 years ago.
4) European success
Villa are one of only five English clubs to have won the European Cup / Champions League. Villa claimed the ultimate European club prize in 1982.
3) All-star season
Villa’s Andy Gray had a staller campaign in the 1976-77 season, becoming the first man to claim the PFA Young Player of the Season award as well as the PFA Player’s Player of the Season gong.
2) Peak fee
Villa were big spenders back in the day. In 1983 Willie Groves joined from rivals West Brom for the first ever football transfer fee of more than £100. That was a lot of money then, to be fair.
1) Goals, goals, goals
In the 1930-31 season Villa set a league scoring record that stands to this day. Villa scored an incredible 128 goals that year, with 86 coming at Villa Park. Incredibly, that still wasn’t enough to claim the league title, with Herbert Chapman’s Arsenal beating the Villains to that prize.
