Aston Villa had an unforgettable night as they beat Bayern Munich in their first Champions League home match in 41 years. Jhon Duran’s late goal sent the Villa Park crowd wild, in a repeat of the club’s 1982 European Cup final victory against the German giants. Prince William, a lifelong Villa supporter, was among the elated fans at the stadium, although he admitted he had lost his voice.
After the match, Unai Emery, Villa’s manager, had a chat with the Prince of Wales. Emery encouraged him to enjoy the victory, saying “I told him (William) the best moments we can have is days like today and try to enjoy the way.” The Spaniard added: “Because when you are getting at the end, I don’t know where, but everything we are doing on the way, every day, every match, try to enjoy it, enjoy the way.”
Prince William was first drawn to Villa during his school days, and while most of his school friends supported either Manchester United or Chelsea, he opted for a “more mid-table” team that allowed him to experience some exhilarating, rollercoaster moments. The prince has previously professed his love for the club, despite their ups and downs. He attended the Championship play-off final victory against Derby County in 2019, alongside former Villa striker John Carew.
The prince has a deep affinity for football and was recently appointed as Patron of the Football Association, a role that had been held previously by Queen Elizabeth II before her passing in September 2022. Prior to this appointment, Prince William had been the President of the FA, a post he took up in 2006. He was accompanied by his son George when they attended the Euro 2024 final in June, where England lost 2-1 to Spain in Germany.
George is a regular attendee at Villa matches and has been to several games with his father, including the Europa Conference League victory against Lille at Villa Park last season and the semi-final exit against Olympiakos. The Prince of Wales’s deep interest in football is evident, and his unwavering support for Villa certainly reveals his passion for the sport.
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