Aston Villa returns to Premier League after 3-year absence
By Jason Cole
One of the Premier League’s tradition-rich clubs returns three years after being relegated by beating Derby 2-1 in the EFL championship Monday.
Aston Villa, one of the most decorated clubs in English soccer history, completed its return to the Premier League by winning the English Football League championship Monday.
The 2-1 victory over Derby County assured Aston Villa will return to the Premier League in August after a three-year absence. In the process, Aston Villa returns to a league it once dominated like only a handful of clubs.
Aston Villa returned after going through five managers in the past four seasons. In 2015-16, the team went through two managers on the way to being relegated after the season. After controlling interest in the team was purchased by Chinese businessman Tony Xia in June 2016, the club entered the English Football League.
It failed to make the playoffs in the first two years in the EFL, firing managers after each season before settling on Dean Smith in 2018. Smith got the team to the playoffs this season. Along the way, Aston Villa put together a 10-match win streak. The team had last been relegated in 1987 prior to the 2016 humiliation.
As a result of Monday’s victory, which precedes the Champion’s League final on June 1, Aston Villa and it’s 144-year history in English soccer returns to the Premier League. Only Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham have won more titles than Aston Villa in the history of the Premier League. Aston Villa will play its 106th season in the Premier League when it returns, a mark on Everton with 117 season can top.
Aston Villa has won the championship in England seven times and took the European title in 1982.