Unai Emery made a promise the night he arrived at Villa Park. On Wednesday evening in Istanbul, he kept it.

Aston Villa lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy with a commanding 3-0 victory over Freiburg, captain John McGinn raising the silverware to end the club's 29-year wait for major honours and write a new chapter in their European story.

The triumph came in the presence of nine members of Villa's 1982 European Cup-winning side, including captain Dennis Mortimer and goalscorer Peter Withe — the very men who set the standard Emery's squad have now matched.

Goals fit for a final

Youri Tielemans broke the deadlock with a spectacular volley from a short corner routine, and Emi Buendia doubled the advantage with a curling finish into the top corner. Morgan Rogers added the third to seal an emphatic win that was never seriously in doubt.

By half-time the Villa fans packed inside Besiktas Park had already begun celebrating. Villa's official ticket allocation stood at 10,758, but an estimated 20,000 supporters made the journey to Turkey, filling the bars and cafes around Istanbul's famous Taksim Square.

Among those watching from the stands was Prince William, who had posted a good luck message on social media before the game and later filmed the trophy lift on his phone.

Emery: a serial European winner

The victory handed Emery a fifth UEFA Europa League title — a record for any manager in the competition's history. His previous four had already set that benchmark, and he now owns six finals from five wins in the tournament.

When Emery arrived at Villa Park in October 2022, the club sat three points above the relegation zone. He has since guided them into European competition every season, reaching the Conference League in his first campaign, and now delivering continental glory.

The £5.2 million Villa paid Villarreal to secure his services stands as one of the great bargains in modern football.

Emotion runs deep for players and staff