The Greatest Footballers to Play for Aston Villa

An insight into the top 5 greatest Aston Villa players of all-time and their achievements with the club.

Time and time again, questions are asked about the greatest Aston Villa players to don the famous claret and blue jersey.

Making a list of the top 5 greatest Aston Villa players is no easy feat, as the club has played home to hundreds of talented footballers.

Names like Olof Mellberg, Gareth Barry, Charlie Aitken, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Gordon Cowan, Sylvian Petrov, Peter Withe, Dennis Mortimer, Paul McGrath and many more get thrown around the place.

While the younger generation might know Aston Villa as an average club that fights year after year to maintain its Premier League status, the Villians used to be a European heavyweight in the 1980s and 1990s.

The Villians trophy cabinet holds remarkable laurels, such as 1 European Champions Clubs’ Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 7 English Champions, 7 FA Cups, 5 League Cups and 1 English Super Cup. No mean feat, right?

Just as the club’s trophy cabinet is home to the biggest trophies in club football, Aston Villa has also had some of the best footballers to play the game on its roster.

Let’s take a look at the top 5 greatest Aston Villa players of all-time!

5. Gabriel Agbonlahor

Appearances: 391

Goals: 87

Popularly known as ‘Gabby’ by club fans, Agbonlahor is the only 21st-century player to make this illustrious list.

Born and raised in Birmingham, Agbonlahor began his Aston Villa career at the club’s academy.

Agbonlahor made his long-awaited debut at the age of 20 in 2006, after short loan spells at Watford and Sheffield Wednesday.

Gabby stands amidst legends like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and John Terry as recent English players to have only featured for one club throughout their careers.

Gabby scored 87 goals in 391 appearances for the Villians and he is the club’s leading Premier League goalscorer with 74 goals.

While Gabby can be described as a divisive figure due to his inconsistency, his talent and ability were never in question.

Agbonlahor was renowned for his pace and his ability to hit screamers from the edge of the box.

While Gabby can lay claim to many important goals, the ones that impressed Villians the most were his goals against eternal rivals Birmingham.

None could be better than his goal in the 0-1 victory on 13 September 2009.

With the game evenly poised at 0-0, 5 minutes from the end of normal time, Agbonlahor rose high to head home John Carew’s cross, sending the fans away in delirium.

4. Paul McGrath

Appearances: 232

Goals: 7

Widely known as ‘God’ by Villa fans, McGrath is one of six defenders to have won the Premier League Player of the year award, and the only Aston Villa player to do so.

Signed from Manchester United in 1989, following the arrival of Sir Alex Ferguson, McGrath quickly became a fan favourite due to his no-nonsense defending and his commanding presence.

In no time, McGrath made Villa's defence one of the strongest in the league, helping the club finish second in his first season.

The arrival of his former Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson to Aston Villa in 1993 saw McGrath attain new levels.

In Ron Atkinson’s first year, Aston Villa finished second in the league behind Manchester United, and McGrath won the English PFA Player of the Year trophy.

He also won his first of 2 League Cup trophies with Aston Villa.

McGrath was Aston Villa’s player of the year for 4 consecutive seasons.

He went on to make 232 appearances for Aston Villa, scoring 7 goals and adding 3 assists.

3. Peter Withe

Appearances: 232

Goals: 92

Peter Withe is fondly remembered by many as the man who scored the winning goal in Villa’s famous European Cup victory.

Signed from Newcastle for a then-record fee of 500,000, Withe joined Aston Villa on the eve of the 1980-1981 season.

In his first season at the club, he helped Villa secure the Football League Division 1 title.

He went one step further in his second season by helping the club secure the European Cup.

Despite many claims of his famous final goal being a lucky finish, as the ball came off his shin and into the net, Withe says “I can tell you, it's changed to a right foot volley from 35 yards when I do my Happy Birthday messages to people.”

Withe made 232 appearances during his 5-year stay at the club, scoring 92 goals and providing 5 assists.

His record of 20 goals in Villa’s title-winning season remains the most goals scored by a Villa player in a league season.

2. Charlie Aitken

Apperances: 660

Goals: 14

With 660 appearances in the claret and blue jersey, Charlie Aitken is Villa’s most-capped player and the best left-back to have ever featured for the club.

Aitken’s story is a special one because he only joined Villa by coincidence.

Aitken attended football trials with his friend Wilson Briggs, with the primary intention of providing company for his friend and making up the numbers.

After trials at Villa, both Aitkens and his friend Briggs were offered contracts.

While Aitkens went from strength to strength to become a Villa legend, his friend made two solitary appearances for Aston Villa.

This unexpected turn of events saw Aitkens win a Third Division title and a League Cup title with the club.

Aitkens was known for his discipline in defence and excellent ball-playing ability going forward.

During his 17 years at the club, Aitken made 660 appearances, of which a staggering 657 were starts.

1. Gordon Cowans

Appearances: 453

Goals: 49

Who else would be appropriate to top the list of the greatest Aston Villa players if not the legendary Gordon Cowans?

Born in West Cornforth, County Durham, Cowans joined Villa as a 12-year-old boy.

Cowans signed a professional contract in 1976, and he went on to enjoy 3 different spells at the club.

Revered as one of the best two-footed midfielders of his generation, Cowans was adept at passing, tackling, creating chances and scoring.

Cowans was the focal point of Villa’s greatest-ever team. While many would falter or rush passes under pressure, Cowans always found a way to create extra time and space on the ball.

His time at Villa saw him become one of the most decorated players at the club.

During his 12 seasons at the club, he helped the club to 1 First Division title, 1 League Cup, 1 European Cup and 1 European Super Cup.

Upon retiring, he returned to the club to help nurture future talents. His time at the club academy saw the rise of talents such as Gabriel Agbonlahor, Gary Cahill, Craig Gardner and Luke Moore.

Who would you add to our list? Let us know in the comments!