Aston Villa F.C./import

Aston Villa" redirects here. For the French musical group, see Aston Villa (band). Aston Villa Full name Aston Villa Football Club Nickname(s) The Villa, The Villans, Villa[1] The Lions Founded 1874[2] Ground Villa Park Aston Birmingham B6 6HE England (Capacity: 42,640[3]) Owner  Randy Lerner Manager  Martin O'Neill League Premier League 2007–08 Premier League, 6th

Home colours Away colours Third colours Current season Aston Villa Football Club (also known as The Villa, Villa and The Villans)[1] is an English professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, who currently play in the Premier League. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founding members of The Football League in 1888 and the Premier League in 1992.[4] The club was floated by the previous owner and chairman Doug Ellis, but in 2006 full control of the club was acquired by Randy Lerner.

They are one of the oldest and most successful football clubs in England, having won the First Division Championship seven times and the FA Cup seven times.[5] Villa also won the 1981–82 European Cup, one of only four English clubs to win what is now the UEFA Champions League.[6] Aston Villa has the fourth highest total of major honours won by an English club.[7]

They have a long-standing and fierce rivalry with local rivals Birmingham City, although West Bromwich Albion is actually the closest professional football club. The Birmingham derby between Aston Villa and Birmingham City has been played since 1879.[8] The club's traditional kit colours are claret shirts with sky blue sleeves, white shorts and sky blue socks. Their traditional crest is of a rampant gold lion on a light blue background with the club's motto "Prepared" underneath; a modified version of this was adopted in 2007.[9]