Aston Villa's Europa League success last month cements their definitive return to the forefront of international football.

Furthermore, it is the direct result of a process of institutional and sporting rebuilding.

The turning point in this transformation coincides precisely with the signing of Emiliano Martínez in September 2020, the Argentine goalkeeper arriving at a club that had endured years of instability and had only just avoided relegation on the final day of the season.

His arrival brought an immediate leap in quality and changed the competitive mindset of the entire squad, just as it did with the Argentina national team, which won a World Cup, two Copa América titles and a Finalissima, no less.

His consistency and decisive performances for Aston Villa and the ‘Albiceleste’ have established him as a two-time winner of the Yashin Trophy, the highest individual honour for a goalkeeper. This recognition is reaffirmed week after week in the demanding Premier League.

It can be argued too that May's European final is the culmination of a project that flourished under the security provided by its goalkeeper. Martínez’s impact redefined Aston Villa’s aspirations: the team stopped looking anxiously at the bottom of the table and began competing on equal terms against the big clubs.

The starting point: The battle for survival

In May 2019, Aston Villa returned to the Premier League after three seasons in the Championship. However, their return campaign (2019–20) was one of sheer agony: the team finished 17th and avoided relegation by a single point on the final day.

In the transfer window following that season, the Birmingham club’s directors opted to sign Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez, who was not getting regular game time at Arsenal and was looking for a club that would allow him to play regularly at the top level.

The signing of Martínez, who cost around £20 million, brought defensive solidity and an improvement reflected in the statistics. The team’s progression in the league table shows steady progress since his arrival in the first team:

  • 2019/20 season: 17th place (before Martínez’s arrival)

  • 2020/21 season: 11th place (Martínez’s first season)

  • 2021/22 season: 14th place

  • 2022/23 season: 7th place (Qualification for the Conference League)

  • 2023/24 season: 4th place (Qualification for the Champions League)

  • 2024/25 season: 6th place (Qualification for the Europa League)

  • Current season: 4th place (Still in Champions League places)

Literally, within a few years of their return to the top flight, Aston Villa went from being in the relegation zone to establishing themselves among the elite of English football. A historic milestone for the club.

250 matches and 79 clean sheets: Golden statistics

'Dibu' Martínez’s individual performance and statistics underpin this collective growth. Recently, the goalkeeper surpassed 250 competitive matches in an Aston Villa shirt and reached a record of 79 clean sheets.

Keeping a clean sheet in almost a third of his appearances in the world’s most competitive league confirms his consistency and reliability, qualities that enabled him to win two consecutive Yashin Trophies (2023 and 2024).

His leadership and winning mentality have been influential in the team’s structure. Now, Aston Villa play with the peace of mind that comes from having a reliable goalkeeper, allowing them to adopt more ambitious tactical approaches against the league’s top sides.

The ultimate goal: to be crowned champions

Emiliano Martínez is the defensive linchpin and the charismatic leader of this transformation, just as he has been for the Argentina national team in recent years.

In just a few years, Aston Villa have gone from the Championship to lifting a continental title, something they previously achieved during the golden era of the 1980s.