Tracking Aston Villa's wild journey to Champions League

The promotion capped an incredible five-year journey for The Villians.
In spring 2019, Aston Villa — desperately trying to win promotion back to the Premier League — held fifth place in England's second division.
By winter 2022, Aston Villa was back in the Premier League but struggling. Coach Steven Gerrard failed to win the support of his players and left the squad languishing just outside the relegation zone in 16th place.

Led by largely the same players — captains John McGinn and Tyrone Mings have played with the club through all of it — the team has transformed itself from second-division also-rans to one of the most in-form teams in Europe.

The difference-maker is coaching.

Villa's promotion from the second division was masterminded by British coach Dean Smith, who signed McGinn and players like him and recognized their usefulness to the club.

Blame the fallow years at the bottom of the Premier League shortly thereafter on Gerrard, whose inability to provide clear direction made the same players Smith championed look significantly worse.

The skill gap between Smith and Gerrard is evident in their post-Villa careers: Smith is leading MLS franchise Charlotte FC to a playoff berth while Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq finished mid-table in the Saudi Pro League.

When Gerrard left before the 2022 World Cup, Villa fans stressed about the quality of coach their struggling team would attract. They needn't have worried.

Basque coach Unai Emery, famous for winning the Europa League and bringing Spanish minnows Villarreal to the Champions League semifinals, saw something in the club and signed on as head coach. His impact cannot be overstated. 

Emery's Aston Villa team is almost identical to the one that Gerrard had, but he coached it to fourth while Gerrard coached it to 16th. 

Emery instilled confidence in his players and gave each of them a sense of purpose. Under his clear, purposeful direction, Villa thrived.

Emery's coaching style is centered on highlighting player strengths while improving player weaknesses. For instance, he noticed goalkeeper Emi Martinez wasn't great at placing long balls, so he placed midfielder Douglas Luiz deeper into defense to give Martinez options to play the ball short instead.

Doing so freed up Luiz to dictate play from the center of the park, something he excelled at — and allowed striker Ollie Watkins to focus on receiving balls instead of creating passes for others.

"I grew up thinking that the coaches did not help me to be better with my weaknesses as a player," Emery told Sky Sports earlier this spring. "I started coaching 19 years ago and always I have to remember when I was a player. Why? Because I want to coach them how I would like to have been coached."

Emery doesn't just bring positive energy to his players. He's detail-oriented, which aids the team in improving at the micro level. Emery is considered one of the smartest and hardest-working coaches in the league by players and peers alike.

After 18 months' effort — and years of struggle in the second division — that hard work has finally paid off. Aston Villa, champion of Europe in 1982, is finally returning to the European stage.

Villa will close out its wildly successful Premier League season Sunday against Crystal Palace.