7th July 2019 | Football |
Under the stewardship of James Clark, Aston Villa have had a resurgence of form and popularity. Villa fans had endured a number of difficult seasons. Once considered a solid Premier League team, a club that was constantly knocking on the door of the top four, found themselves struggling for form and success for a number of years. Some fans blamed the succession of managers who failed to meet expectations. Some blamed the arrival of Randy Lerner, whose stranglehold on finances saw limitations on the development of the team. Whoever was to blame, the reality was bleak for Aston Villa fans, who saw their club slide from a top 6 side, to one who flirted with relegation on one too many occasions.
Villa were eventually relegated to the Championship for the 2015/16 season, and it fell upon a young English manager to steer the club back to the promised land. The then 27 year old manager was given his first managerial position by Randy Lerner, and given the ultimatum to achieve promotion at the first time of asking. Clark, a rookie who saw his own professional career ended by injury, was given a one-year contract, and a transfer budget of £0. What hope did he stand?
Promotion at the first time of asking, and then a 14th placed finish in his first season in the Premier League. Not bad. Many said it couldn't continue. But it did. His third season saw Villa finish 5th in the league, their highest placed finish in 22 years. To put that in context, the last time Aston Villa finished higher than they did in Clark's fourth season, he was just 7 years old.
This brought European football back to Villa Park. Clark, still a rookie manager, and his side were given long odds on winning the Europa League, and most fans were just happy to be competing on the European stage again. And whilst Clark's fifth season at the Midland's club saw them slip to an 8th place finish in the league, he did the unthinkable. Clark steered his side to the Europa League final. And they won.
"It was surreal," he said. "To have been able to compete in Europe was a dream for a lot of fans, who had waited a ridiculous length of time for it to return to Villa. But to get the chance to play, and to win the competition, is more than I thought possible. It's a night that will stay with me forever."
Clark has already broken the Aston Villa transfer record. Twice.
"The chance to sign Mauro Icardi was one I couldn't pass up on. We needed a real goal threat, and I'd admired him for a long time. I was excited when he signed for City, I thought, 'Here's my chance, I'll get to see him in the flesh, and compete against him.' It was the closest I thought I'd get to managing him. But his time at City was stifled, and he was out of the side. We knew Chelsea were interested, and when we approached his agent, he was really forthcoming."
The Argentinian repaid his new managers faith. He made 28 appearances for Manchester City, and scored 13 goals. After joining Aston Villa for a record £25m in January, he played in 24 games, and notched up 23 goals.
"This guy had a near 1-in-2 record at City, and when he joined us it became almost a goal a game. I couldn't have been happier."
Recent reports have shown that the success that Clark has brought Villa has seen their stature rise. The European Club Rich List has Villa at the 12th wealthiest club in Europe, ahead of Roma, AC Milan, Liverpool, and Dortmund. Their victory in the Europa League has also secured them Champions League football for the next season.
"Expectations are high, and the pressure is on. We need to continue building this side, and to push on and achieve more. It's a challenge, but what a challenge to have. Who wouldn't want to be in this position?"
Club captain, Matias Kranevitter, has departed for new pastures. The Italian midfielder has moved to Manchester City for £23m, whilst Croatian defender Dejan Lovren has joined Tottenham for £7.5m. However, Villa have been busy in bringing in reinforcements.
"I thought we needed to fill out the defence. We conceded too many silly goals last season, and it cost us important points. We needed a new left back, to provide cover and competition to Jorge, and a new centre back. I also thought we could do with some more experience and steel in the midfielder. Kranevitter is a great guy, but he spent so much of last season injured, I wanted a little more consistency. And Lewis Cook has progressed so well, I wanted to look at a more specialised defensive midfielder. I looked at who was available, and I'm happy with what we've got."
What the club have "got" is some very interesting prospects. To replace the outgoing Kranevitter, Clark has managed to sign Julian Fernandez and Sergi Samper. Fernandez, an Argentinian midfielder who started his career with All Boys, joins in a £4m deal from Mexican side Morelia, whilst the former Barcelona midfielder Samper joins in an £8.75m deal. Furthermore, the squad was further bolstered by the addition of Andrew Robertson, a £5.75m recruit from Hull City, and the new club record transfer of Jose Gimenez from Atletico Madrid for £34.5m.
"Jose is arguably one of the finest young defenders in European football, and I think he will prove to be a bargain in time."
And the spending hasn't stopped there. In the last twelve hours the club have announced they have agreed a deal to sign Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund, for an initial fee of £11.5m. What makes the deal more impressive is the fact Villa have beaten FC Barcelona to the signing of the highly-rated American winger.
The rise of this club is impressive. From relegation threatened minnows, to competing on the grandest stage of them all and beating European giants to the signing of players. If Clark can continue the upwards arc he has started with Villa, who knows what the future holds.
Aston Villa, Champions of England. Has a ring to it, don't you think?
