Aston Villa’s growth this season has revealed the staggering success of owners NSWE as the duo’s five-year plan continues to be checked off.
It’s been an incredible season for Aston Villa, who yesterday confirmed their spot in the 2024/25 Champions League after securing a fourth-place finish.
With one game to go, Villa can relax slightly following Tottenham’s defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday night, as the top four was confirmed, with Spurs now unable to catch the Midlands club.
READ MORE: Exactly how much Aston Villa are set to make after qualifying for the Champions League
All credit must go to Unai Emery for his development of the squad at Villa Park, raising more than just the standard on the pitch as his players continue to aim high for the road ahead on what is an extremely exciting journey.
Rightfully, all attention is on Emery and his ambitious players for their efforts this season however, Villa’s mission to reach such heights started back in 2018, when owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens (NSWE) took control.
Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens five year plan for Aston Villa after takeover
NSWE saved Villa from a financial plummet under Dr Tony Xia back in 2018, where an ambitious five-year plan was mapped out in the bid to return the club to glory.
The road to glory started immediately for the billionaire duo, as Villa were promoted from the Championship in the 2018/19 season, starting the rebuild back to the top.
Edens and Sawiris’ ideas were clear, with their messages being the aim to see Villa ‘restored to the highest level’, words that were uttered during their first interview after taking over.
Fast forward to 2024, and NSWE’s plans are being put into action, with Emery’s side’s confirmation of Champions League football for the 2024/25 campaign only cementing the leap that the Midlands club have taken under their ambitious ownership.
What Aston Villa owners promised fans and what they have achieved since
In 2021, a column for BirminghamLive written by journalist Ashley Preece reinforced just how well things were going for the pair at Villa, with the success of their plan now recognisable today.
Preece detailed that NSWE wanted to qualify and compete in the Champions League by the 2023/24 campaign, a feat that Villa have just pulled off thanks to the performance of Emery and his squad.
Considering that Villa were 16th in only October 2022 when Steven Gerrard was replaced by the Spaniard, it’s remarkable that the former Arsenal boss was able to deliver European football in his first full season at Villa Park.
The Midlands club can now trade the Europa Conference League for the Champions League, with one step of NSWE’s five-year plan able to be ticked off.
Champions League involvement isn’t the only element able to be crossed off the plan, with Preece’s 2021 column also mentioning the desire to bolster the academy and the ambition to redevelop Villa Park.
In 2022, Villa were granted permission to enter the first phase of their development of Villa Park, with the bid to make the stadium’s capacity 50,000 and transform it into a ‘world-class sports and entertainment venue’.
Villa Park’s revamp is underway, as is the squad’s progression and the hive of the academy, with the club focused on developing and promoting youngsters from Bodymoor Heath to keep up the tradition of the club’s value in upcoming talent.
Studying the five-year plan of NSWE and Preece’s column on the owners’ early success is fascinating six years on, with all the hopes well underway, despite Villa being laughed at at that time as they sat in the second-tier of English football.
It’s been a remarkable transformation at the club, who are well on their way back to restoring former glory, with NSWE in safe hands with Emery and vice-versa.
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