Aston Villa have turned themselves into something of European regulars under Unai Emery.
The Villans have had periods of struggle, particularly towards the end of the 2010s. They spent three eyars in the Championship and then had to battle against relegation in their Premier League return in 2019-20. But Unai Emery has transformed the club, bringing back fond memories of Martin O’Neill’s excellent side.
For three successive seasons between 2007 and 2010, the Midlands club secured sixth-placed finishes in the Premier League. In 2009-10 they fell just six points short of finishing in the final Champions League spot and even reached the final of the EFL Cup, where they were narrowly defeated 2-1 by Manchester United.
O’Neill departed on the eve of the 2010-11 campaign and that — coupled with a gradual restriction on the club’s transfer budget — resulted in Villa plummeting down the league in subsequent seasons.
But what happened next to Villa’s class of 2009-10?
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Goalkeeper: Brad Friedel
- Current club: Retired
- Career path: USSF, Columbus Crew, Liverpool, Blackburn, Aston Villa, Tottenham
- Aston Villa apps: 131
Brad Friedel was a Premier League veteran by the time he arrived at Villa Park in 2008. But he was in the form of his life while playing for the club, despite his advancing years.
Following three stellar seasons between the sticks, the American moved onto Tottenham Hotspur where he was first-choice prior to Hugo Lloris’ arrival in 2012. Friedel announced his retirement in 2015 at the age of 44, and has been a club ambassador for Tottenham in the United States. He went into coaching and has had spells in charge of USA’s Under-19s side and New England Revolution in MLS. Friedel has also had a brief spell behind the scenes at Besiktas.
Right-back: Carlos Cuellar
- Current club: Retired
- Career path: Numancia, Calahorra, Osasuna, Rangers, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Norwich City, Almeria, Maccabi Petah Tikva, Maccabi Petah Tikva, Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Beitar Jerusalem, Bnei Yehuda
- Aston Villa apps: 120
Carlos Cuellar was snapped up by Aston Villa after an outstanding season with Rangers, helping the Glasgow side reach the last ever Uefa Cup final.
Despite being a centre-back by trade, the Spaniard predominantly lined up on the right side of Villa’s defence and to great effect too, playing 28 league matches in his debut season.
Cuellar stayed at Villa Park for four years before moving to Sunderland, Norwich City and Almeria. He then left Europe before making a name for himself in Israel. Cuellar moved into management after retiring and his currently in charge of Elche’s reverse team.
Centre-back: Richard Dunne
- Current club: Retired
- Career path: Everton, Manchester City, Aston Villa, QPR
- Aston Villa apps: 111
Richard Dunne was an unfortunate casualty of the influx of multi-millions at Manchester City — a club where he had won the Player of the Year four years running between 2005 and 2008. He joined Villa on deadline day in 2009 and became a fixture in the side from then on.
Dunne was a first-team regular in his first three seasons at Villa but after suffering from injury problems and losing his place under Paul Lambert, he left in 2013 to join Queens Park Rangers whom he helped achieve promotion to the Premier League in 2014.
Dunne has since returned to Man City, working as a coach in their youth academy
Centre-back: James Collins
- Current club: Retired
- Career path: Cardiff City, West Ham, Aston Villa, West Ham, Ipswich Town
- Aston Villa apps: 108
After spending four years in and out of the West Ham United team, James Collins opted to join the other claret and blue Premier League side Villa in 2009. He slotted straight into the heart of defence alongside Dunne.
Collins was an undisputed regular in his three years at Villa, making over a century of appearances before being surprisingly sold by Lambert in 2012, making a return to east London. He spent six more years at West Ham, again becoming a regular in their team. Collins announced his retirement in October 2020, having spent a few months at Ipswich Town in 2019.
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Left-back: Stephen Warnock
- Current club: Retired
- Career path: Liverpool, Coventry City (loan), Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Bolton (loan), Leeds, Derby County, Wigan Athletic, Burton Albion, Bradford City (loan)
- Aston Villa apps: 104
The fourth and final member of the back four, Stephen Warnock was also signed in pre-season of 2009, joining the club following a few impressive years with Blackburn Rovers.
His form during the 2009-10 campaign was rewarded with a place in England’s World Cup squad. However, he failed to dislodge Ashley Cole from the starting team.
After slipping down the pecking order, Warnock dropped down into the Championship with Burton and spent the final few months of his career on loan at League One side Bradford. Warnock regularly features as a pundit now, across channels.
Right midfield: Ashley Young
- Current club: Ipswich
- Career path: Watford, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Aston Villa, Everton, Ipswich
- Aston Villa apps: 247
The outstanding talent in Villa’s side under O’Neill. Eyebrows were raised when Villa parted with a fee of around £10m to sign Ashley Young after he had spent just half a season in the Premier League with Watford. But he proved to be exceptional value for money over the next four-and-a-half years.
Whether playing on the left or right wing or as a No.10, Young was the creative hub of the Villa side and managed to chip in with 38 goals in all competitions for the club in his first spell.
Young was twice named in the PFA Team of the Year while at Villa in that initial stint and his form earned an £18m move to Manchester United in 2011 where he’d go on to win a league title before joining Inter Milan in 2020 and winning the Scudetto.
Young returned to Villa Park in 2021 and captained the club under Emery, starting their return to European football. He left in 2023 to join Everton, where he provided stability and an experienced head in uncertain times. Young joined Ipswich Town in the summer of 2025 following their relegation from the Premier League and has announced his retirement from football, set for the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
Centre midfield: Stiliyan Petrov
- Current club: Retired
- Career path: CSKA Sofia, Celtic, Aston Villa
- Aston Villa apps: 218
Villa captain and leader under O’Neill, Stiliyan Petrov brought exceptional passing ability and composure in the centre of the park, as well as the penchant for scoring the odd spectacular goal.
Unfortunately, the Bulgarian’s top-flight career ended prematurely in 2013 after he was diagnosed with leukaemia. Petrov battled back from the illness, though, and made headlines when he turned out for a local Midlands side in 2014 before joining Villa as part of the coaching set-up the following year.
Petrov turned down a player-coach role with non-league side Nuneaton Town in 2016 but did complete his Uefa pro coaching licence. He also has a degree in Sports Management and is part of a business which aims to help players post-retirement.
Centre midfield: James Milner
- Current club: Brighton
- Career path: Leeds United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, Brighton
- Aston Villa apps: 126
It could be said that James Milner was better in his 30s than in any other period of his career. But arguably the best form he exhibited regularly in his career was while playing as a central midfielder for Villa.
With Petrov happy to sit deep and dictate the tempo, Milner had the license to break forward and support the attack and he managed to contribute seven league goals in 2009-10.
His performances led to a place in the Premier League Team of the Year and a £26m move to Manchester City, where he won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and a League Cup prior to his move to Anfield in the summer of 2015.
Under Jurgen Klopp he lifted another Premier League title and won the Champions League. He left Liverpool in 2023 to join Brighton and Hove Albion, where he remains, still playing at the age of 40. Milner broke the record for most Premier League appearances of all-time, overtaking former Villa teammate Gareth Barry.
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Left midfield: Stewart Downing
- Current club: Retired
- Career path: Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Liverpool, West Ham, Middlesbrough, Blackburn Rovers
- Aston Villa apps: 79
Brought in following the relegation of his homegrown club Middlesbrough, Stewart Downing’s crossing ability played a key role in Villa’s European charge and he was integral in both of his seasons at the club.
The England international left under a cloud in 2011 to join Liverpool for £20m but his time at Anfield was a major disappointment as he famously failed to score a goal or provide an assist in his debut campaign.
After Brendan Rodgers deemed him surplus to requirements, Downing moved to West Ham where he starred before returning to Boro in 2015. He then went on to Blackburn Rovers after four seasons at the Riverside Stadium and bowed out of the game in 2021. Downing is back at Liverpool, as a scout.
Striker: Gabriel Agbonlahor
- Current club: Retired
- Career path: Aston Villa
- Aston Villa apps: 391
Gabriel Agbonlahor’s searing pace was pivotal to Villa’s counter-attacking style and the three consecutive sixth-place finishes were undoubtedly the peak years of the Birmingham-born forward’s career.
His 13-goal haul that season remains comfortably Agbonlahor’s best return in front of goal and the ensuing years have seen him drop from being a fan favourite and club captain to a sorry symbol of their decline.
The season in which Villa were relegated, Agbonlahor’s behaviour off the pitch attracted negative press while his club were on the brink of relegation.
However, Bruce afforded him several opportunities in the 16/17 season, which saw him play 13 league games as Villa finished 13th. He finally left the club in the summer of 2018 before hanging up his boots. Agbonlahor has now moved into punditry.
Striker: John Carew
- Current club: Retired
- Career path: Valarenga, Rosenborg, Valencia, Roma, Besiktas, Lyon, Aston Villa, Stoke City, West Ham
- Aston Villa apps: 127
The Norwegian forward was one of the first additions of the O’Neill regime, joining in January 2007, and he spent four years at Villa Park, netting 47 times across all competitions.
His partnership with Agbonlahor up front was an effective one with his aerial prowess complementing his colleague’s pace.
Carew ended his career at West Ham in 2012. He’s taken a big career change, since moving into acting. His filmography includes Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and a handful of Scandinavian TV shows.
