Aston Villa qualify for UEFA Europa Conference League

A 2-1 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion on the final day of the 2022/23 Premier League season clinched European football for Aston Villa in 2023/24.

Villa finish in seventh place in the league table and qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League play-offs. The club last competed in Europe in 2010/11, losing to Rapid Vienna in the Europa League play-off round.

Douglas Luiz — the supporters’ and players’ Player of the Season — opened the scoring in the eighth minute when he finished off a low left-sided cross by Jacob Ramsey in the box.

Ramsey assisted on Villa’s second goal, too, providing the crucial legwork in a counter-attack that resulted in Ollie Watkins’s 15th league tally of the season.

“It means a lot…”

“I’m very proud of our work, our supporters, the club, everybody that works here,” said manager Unai Emery. Villa were in 16th place when the Spaniard took charge on November 1.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – MAY 28: Unai Emery the head coach / manager of Aston Villa celebrates qualifying for the UEFA Conference League after the 2-1 victory over Brighton during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park on May 28, 2023 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) /

“It’s important because we’re going to be one step ahead in our objective to be in Europe,” he added. “To play in the Conference League is very important.”

“It means a lot,” said John captain John McGinn after the match. “Obviously I was here when we failed to get promoted and then the owners came in. They had a plan and an ambition to get this club back to where it belongs.

“The club’s got no ceiling. There’s a long waiting list for season tickets and everyone wants to be a part of Aston Villa.”

Aston Villa’s UECL future explained

Villa’s final league position ensures they will participate in the play-off round of the Europa Conference League next season. They must win a two-legged tie in August to qualify for the competition’s group stage.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – MAY 28: Fans of Aston Villa celebrate the victory over right and Hove Albion which resulted in them qualifying for the UEFA Conference League during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park on May 28, 2023 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) /

The UECL play-off draw takes place on August 7, and depending on how teams in other leagues qualify for the competition, Villa could be either seeded or unseeded. If seeded, Villa — in theory — would draw a more favorable opponent.

Should Villa qualify for the Group Stage and win the competition outright they would qualify for the UEFA Europa League for the 2024/25 season.

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