- Former Aston Villa midfielder Andy Townsend says he will be “cheering the loudest” if John McGinn lifts the Europa League on Wednesday night
- Townsend was the last captain to win a major trophy since 1996
- Winning the final will end a 30-year wait, and put McGinn among the legends of Villa Park
Former Aston Villa captain Andy Townsend has declared he will be “cheering the loudest” if John McGinn ends the club’s 30-year silverware drought on Wednesday night.
Townsend, who skippered Villa to their last major trophy in the 1996 League Cup, believes there is no one more deserving than the current captain to lead the club back to the podium.
Since the 62-year-old lifted that trophy three decades ago, generations of Villa supporters have endured a grueling wait for tangible success. The club’s dramatic modern journey has seen them plummet into the Championship, face the terrifying brink of financial ruin, and now, under Unai Emery, rebuild into a European competitor.
Throughout this volatile era, McGinn has been ever-present. Signing for just £2.75 million, he has turned into the emotional and tactical heartbeat of the entire squad.
On Wednesday, the Scot will lead his team out against SC Freiburg in the Europa League final. A chance to replace Townsend in the club’s history books and become a legend in Villa folklore.
From one captain to another
Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, Townsend reflected on how he would feel if McGinn were to lift the Europa League.
“I’ll be cheering the loudest if he gets it done. I can’t think of a better guy to go and lift it for the club than John.
“I really can’t because he’s a bit of a throwback to me, I think he could have played in any era because he gets on with his job and he gets his head down.
“He’s not always brilliant every week, he doesn’t expect to be, but he always shows up and just lately his goals have been fantastic – and he will always do his fair share of stuff without the ball.”
Townsend on McGinn’s impact
Townsend also highlighted how the 31-year-old inspires his teammates on the pitch by his presence and that he is the glue to the team.
“He doesn’t have to go grabbing people by the scruff of the neck. I think it’s just his mere presence out there on the field makes everybody feel better.
“When Villa were struggling at the turn of the year without Kamara, John and Youri in particular, it showed – and then all of a sudden John come back and things very quickly started to knit together again. That’s not a coincidence.
“As I said, I can’t think of anybody better to go and pick a trophy up after 30-odd years since I’ve done it than him. I think he deserves it.
“He’s already a modern day Villa legend, he’s seen a lot since he’s been at the club. He came at a time when back, in Bruce’s time, there was talk about one minute the club might not even exist because they were going to go skint.
“So he’s seen all of that period, he was a bargain, and I remember watching, I think his first Premier League game at Spurs away and thinking to myself, ‘This kid’s decent’, he always caught my eye because of his left foot.
“From there, he’s just gone on to become such an effective leader and an effective captain for the team.”
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Andy Townsend’s endorsement carries immense weight, bridging the gap between Villa’s historic past and its ambitious present. For 30 years, the 1997 League Cup triumph has stood as a solitary beacon for generations of Villa supporters.
On Wednesday night in Istanbul, McGinn has the monumental opportunity to finally reset that clock and carve his own name into history.
Lifting the Europa League trophy would provide the ultimate validation for a player who has stuck by the club through its darkest Championship days. McGinn represents the perfect encapsulation of Villa’s resilience.
As he prepares to lead Emery’s side out against Freiburg, he carries not just the tactical blueprint of his manager but the blessing of the last man to captain the Villans to glory. The stage is set for a modern legend to become immortal.
