Aston Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 to win the Europa League, ending a 30-year wait for major silverware. Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans, and Brennan Rogers scored the goals. Rogers netted twice, with his third sealing victory in Istanbul. Emi Martinez overcame a finger injury concern in warm-up, and the 20,000 traveling fans were celebrating by half-time.

The win caps a remarkable season for Unai Emery, who now boasts six finals and five wins across European competitions. Villa entered the final having already secured a top-five Premier League finish and a return to the Champions League. Supporters who filled Besiktas Park outnumbered Freiburg's following, with Prince William watching from the stands.

Villa operated under severe financial restrictions, selling players every year to meet Profit and Sustainability rules. Emery arrived from Villarreal for £5.2m in 2022, one of football's best bargains. Rogers, who joined from Middlesbrough for £16m, may leave this summer but leaves as a Europa League winner after 2.5 years at the club.