Aston Villa have qualified for the next Champions League campaign, following Tottenham’s defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday.

Tottenham was the only team that could have surpassed Villa for fourth place before Tuesday, but they are now five points behind Unai Emery’s side with one game remaining.

Villa have not competed in the Champions League since 1991-92, when it was rebranded from the European Cup.

They last competed in the European Cup 41 years ago, in 1982-83, after winning the competition the previous season.

Aston Villa are in the Champions League

Villa finished second and fourth in the Premier League in 1992-93 and 1995-96, respectively, but only first place qualified them for the Champions League in both seasons.

Villa’s players and staff were celebrating their annual awards night at Villa Park on Tuesday night when the outcome at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was announced.

The club shared photographs on social media showing Emery and his teammates shouting and spraying champagne.

“It’s a very special day,” Emery explained. “This is our dream; we started the season with the goal of being here. We suffered injuries, but the team remained focused. That’s wonderful. “To play in the Champions League is the best.”

“Nobody expected us to be there, but we believed in ourselves and our dream,” said defender Lucas Digne on Instagram, external. “It was hard but the achievement is amazing.”

Centre-half Diego Carlos added, externally: “After more than four decades, we are back in the Champions League.” We are having a spectacular season! “Up, Villa!”

Fans, notably the Prince of Wales, who attended Villa’s latest match against Olympiakos, reacted positively to the news.

“We are Champions League!” he wrote on X (external). “A historic season and incredible success. Thank you to Unai, the entire squad, and everyone at Aston Villa. Can’t wait until next season.”

Emery was appointed manager of Aston Villa in October 2022, when the club was 14th in the Premier League and three points from relegation.

The Birmingham-based club had finished 14th and 17th the previous two seasons, and they had just been in the Championship three years prior in 2019.

But Emery has turned Villa’s fortunes around. Only Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal have scored more Premier League points than Villa since the Spaniard took over.

He will also be managing his sixth different Champions League club, following Valencia, Spartak Moscow, Sevilla, Paris St-Germain, and Villarreal.