Magic John McGinn, five-star Unai Emery and what next for Aston Villa? - Storylines on a night of glory in the UEFA Europa League final

Ahead of joining Villa in the summer of 2018, one of McGinn’s last games for Hibernian came against Asteras Tripolis in a Europa League second qualifying round match – a match which he would score to help his side advance.

Eight years later, McGinn is lifting the trophy as Villa skipper, becoming the first Scotsman to captain a winning side in a European final since Graeme Souness for Liverpool against Roma in the 1984 European Cup final.

When he signed for the club, they were mired in the championship, and he has since become synonymous with their rise over that period.

Of all the player chants from the raucous Villa crowd in Istanbul, none was louder than the ‘Super John McGinn’ anthem which echoed around the stadium.

The 31-year-old repaid that support with a typical all-action display as he led his side to victory, with nobody involved with the club more deserving.

"Tonight was everything we built coming together,” he told TNT Sports afterwards. ”The pride I felt with 10 minutes to go knowing we were about to be champions - I can't describe it.

"It means a lot. As a kid growing up, I remember Celtic in 2003. It wasn't a great night for them, but it was special. I was lucky enough to go to the final at Hampden in 2007 [when Sevilla beat Espanyol on penalties].

”To be here, in 2026, as captain of Aston Villa is incredible. It's the proudest night of my career.”

Having won five Europa Leagues, does he get to keep it now?

Of course, Villa were overwhelming favourites, but despite the man himself attempting to downplay the past, there is surely a psychological advantage, no matter how slight, having ‘been there, done that’ in this competition.

However, the difference this time is that while some of Sevilla and Villarreal sides went into finals either as underdogs or at least evenly matched with their opponents, the Villa team he has built is a formidable outfit who were more than worthy of delivering his fifth Europa League trophy and will probably be more at home in the UEFA Champions League when they are back competing there next season.

For all his success and ever-growing reputation with this trophy, the time has surely come for him to make a proper run at the big one.

Is it too far-fetched to suggest he can do that with this Villa team? Well, given the continued growth and progress he’s made since his arrival, what’s to say he can’t keep that up and, consequently, why wouldn’t more European glory also be on the agenda?  

With omens such as Emery's winning streak, as well as Emi Martinez and Jadon Sancho's record in finals, the fates also suggested that the location would help Villa's cause.

Victory means that this is the third European success for English clubs in Istanbul following Liverpool's 2005 Champions League win and Manchester City's 2023 triumph in the same competition.

The Turkish city is becoming a home away from home for Premier League sides.

This victory could and should provide a springboard for greater success for Villa going forwards.

For all their improvement under Emery, seasons have tended to finish with a feeling of ‘what if?’ when it comes to the pursuit of silverware.

In 2022/23, there was defeat in the semi-final of the Conference League, albeit that was offset by a top four finish.

In 2023/24, the final months of the season saw a Champions League quarter-final exit, and FA Cup semi-final loss in the space of a few weeks.

Add to that Villa’s four domestic cup final defeats since that 1996 League Cup win and the tag of ‘nearly men’ seemed tough to shake.

That has now changed and the taste of silverware for this team may well lead to greater glories in the coming years.

Does that happen with the team as it is? Success will undoubtedly attract admiring eyes, with goal hero Rogers among others often linked with a move and even Emery himself touted for other roles based on his impressive spell at Villa Park.

Retaining their best and brightest is essential for further growth, but recruitment will also be key.

The average age of Aston Villa’s starting XI was 29 years and 342 days, which screams experience but does suggest that the club will need to replace certain players in the coming years.

There may be some big decisions to make as the club looks to take the next step.

Emery, amid the celebrations, admitted the club is working hard to maintain their progress.

"We are trying to be demanding inside. Playing in Europe, Conference League, Champions League, Europa League... next year we're going to play again in the Champions League.

"It makes sense how we're getting this development with the players, extending their contracts.

"But it's important we must be so, so demanding in our process, in our project.

"The project can only make sense if we are winning, if we are getting our objectives during this process."

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