When Aston Villa attempts to create history in Istanbul later this month, they have a trump card to play.
He is 6 feet 3 inches tall, has the physique of a center-forward, and is as knowledgeable about football as the best managers. The Prince of Wales will try to be their 12th man as Villa looks to put up a historic performance to defeat Freiburg and win the Europa League, their first major title since 1996, even though he is unable to be in Unai Emery’s starting lineup.
Prince William is friendly with a number of Villa players, including Tyrone Mings, and has been known to speak to the team prior to important games, most notably the 2020 League Cup final, in which Villa were the overwhelming underdogs but were narrowly defeated 2-1 by Manchester City.
Before Villa plays the German team on May 20, an inspiring speech might be just what they need to give them a decisive advantage.
The Prince frequently travels to the club’s Bodymoor Heath training facility in addition to attending European matches. The heir apparent is really well-liked by the team, but he could never be just one of the boys.
“We hear from him quite a bit,” Villa defender Matty Cash remarked following the Prince’s observation of the team’s 1-0 Europa Conference League victory over Zrinjski Mostar in October 2023. He attends training classes. “Arise, Sir Emi” 😅 He speaks to us like a regular guy, and we treat him accordingly.
Buendia’s goal was much enjoyed by Prince William 🙌
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After Emi Buendia’s penalty gave Villa a 2-1 aggregate lead, Prince William gave a fist pump.
As Villa scored a third goal against Nottingham Forest on Thursday, his unadulterated enthusiasm was evident. “He likes to be around the lads because he is a massive Villa fan.” He is familiar with all of our names and nicknames. He enjoys visiting Villa Park and is a true supporter. I believe Tyrone talks to him a lot.
The fact that William hurried north for a group match in Europe’s third-tier championship against a Bosnian and Herzegovinian team tells it all. While anyone may go to the major Champions League matches against PSG or Bayern Munich, as the Prince did last season, very few would want to spend their Thursday nights watching their team struggle against a team that many fans had never heard of.
Football seems to be the Prince’s outlet since those who are in the spotlight frequently long for the anonymity that the rest of us take for granted. He has acknowledged participating on Villa message boards (under a pseudonym, of course), meeting supporters for a pint in Wetherspoons on the way to their January 2025 match against Everton, and voicing thoughts that only a true football enthusiast would have.
Numerous well-known individuals have overstated their fan credentials only to be caught by a simple error.
William won’t experience this. He named midfield playmaker Vitinha as PSG’s important player in an interview with TNT Sports prior to Villa’s Champions League match against PSG last season, recalling how he had found it difficult to make an impression while on loan at Wolves in the 2020–21 campaign.
A paragraph about a 26-year-old Portuguese football player who plays in France is hard to conceive appearing in royal briefing notes. Only those who are truly interested in the game are aware of such details.
The Prince was a lifelong fan of Villa, but his interest really took off in 2016 after the team was demoted to the Championship following a terrible season.
When Villa defeated PSG last year thanks to Morgan Rogers, Prince William and his son George rejoiced.
Prince William has spent time with Villa star Morgan Rogers and occasionally visits the team.
When they finally triumphed over Derby in the 2019 play-off final after a three-year hiatus, William was seen hugging former Villa forward John Carew in the luxurious seats. It’s still one of the most unlikely pictures in sports.
When Morgan Rogers gave Villa a first-half lead at the Parc des Princes last season, the Prince and his son Prince George were seen punching the air like true die-hards. This was as startling.
William also admitted to losing his voice after Villa defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 in the Champions League’s opening round in the autumn of 2024, precisely as they had done in the 1982 European Cup final.
As previous manager Dean Smith remembers, William’s connection to Villa extends much beyond what occurs on the pitch. When Smith visited Bodymoor in May 2021, the Prince gave a heartfelt tribute to his father, Ron, who had died during the first Covid lockdown in 2020.
In 2021, His Royal Highness speaks to the players at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training facility.
Smith remarked at the time, “He wore the club colours on that day.” “We were aware that he was a Villa supporter, but I had no idea how much of a fan he was until I chatted with him. “He was very knowledgeable about everything that goes on at the club and probably wanted the photos with the players as much as we wanted a photo with him.” That royal seal of approval is fantastic for the club. “He made a heartfelt tribute to my dad which I didn’t expect,” I said. My family and I were both taken aback but honoured. They heard his kind remarks and watched the presentation. I expressed my gratitude to him for them.
William is fundamentally claret and blue, rain or shine. As Villa looks to achieve their most memorable outcome in a generation, he might be the perfect source of encouragement.
